Blockbuster (TV series) explained

Genre:Workplace comedy
Creator:Vanessa Ramos
Starring:
Country:United States
Language:English
Num Seasons:1
Num Episodes:10
Executive Producer:
Producer:
  • Bridger Winegar
  • Robert Petrovic
  • Payman Benz
Location:Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Cinematography:Rick Page
Camera:Single camera
Runtime:26-28 minutes
Company:
Channel:Netflix

Blockbuster is an American workplace comedy television series created by Vanessa Ramos, who also serves as showrunner and is executive producer. Based upon the Blockbuster brand, the series stars Randall Park as Timmy, the manager in a fictionalized version of the last Blockbuster Video store, set in Grandville, Michigan. The series premiered on Netflix on November 3, 2022. In December 2022, the series was canceled after one season.[1]

Cast and characters

Main

Recurring

Guest

Production

Development

Originally, the series was pitched to executives at NBC; however, they were not interested in green-lighting the series. Universal Television began shopping the series to other networks eventually gaining approval from Netflix; Randall Park was then cast in the lead role.[5] Netflix had previously acquired streaming rights to 1091 Pictures' 2020 documentary film The Last Blockbuster.[6]

Netflix officially announced the series on November 17, 2021. The series is created by Vanessa Ramos who previously worked on shows such as Superstore and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Along with the series announcement it was confirmed that the series would be produced by Davis Entertainment and Universal Television.[2] It was also announced that David Caspe and Jackie Clarke would be serving as writers on the series, and John Davis would serve as an executive producer under Davis Entertainment. Clarke, Caspe, John Fox and Ramos will serve as executive producers with Bridger Winegar and Robert Petrovic serving as co-executive producers.[3] In February 2022, Deadline Hollywood reported that Payman Benz would be directing four episodes of the series including the pilot. Benz will also serve as an executive producer for those four episodes.[7] In addition, Aleysa Young and Katie Locke O'Brien would serve as directors in the first season in addition to Benz.[8] Rick Page serves as cinematographer for the series.[9]

A first look at the series was released on May 5, 2022 during the Netflix Is A Joke festival, the first look included a look at the style of the series as well as a promo featuring Fumero and Park's characters.[10] The series released on November 3, 2022.[11] On December 16, 2022, Netflix canceled the series after one season.[12]

Casting

With the announcement of the series in November 2021, Randall Park joined the cast as a character named Timmy, who is described as a dreamer and a lover of movies, per Deadline Hollywood.[2] [3] In February 2022, Melissa Fumero was cast as a character named Eliza who is described as a mother whose marriage to her high school sweetheart is on thin ice, per Hollywood Reporter.[13] In March 2022, Tyler Alvarez, Madeleine Arthur, and Olga Merediz were announced as series regulars playing Carlos, Hannah and Connie, respectively. Additionally, J. B. Smoove was cast as Timmy's best friend Percy and Kamaia Fairburn was cast as Percy's daughter, with both appearing as recurring guest stars.[14] In May 2022, it was reported that Ashley Alexander and Robyn Bradley will appear in guest-starring roles as Mila and Miranda, respectively.[8]

Filming

Production on the first season began on February 28, 2022. Filming began taking place in Vancouver, Canada, in April 2022, with filming expected to conclude on May 2.[2] [3] [9] However, Fumero confirmed that the series had "almost" wrapped production on May 2 with an Instagram story.[8] [15] Filming for the first season concluded on May 4, 2022.[16]

Release

The sole season of Blockbuster was released onto Netflix on November 3, 2022, and consisted of 10 episodes. A trailer was released on October 7, 2022.[17]

Reception

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 23% approval rating with an average rating of 4.7/10, based on 48 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Blockbuster tries to leverage nostalgia for the defunct brand, but this contrived workplace comedy is fatally unfunny—be kind, rewind, and chuck it into the return bin."[18] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 45 out of 100 based on 23 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[19]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Otterson . Joe . Dec 16, 2022 . 'Blockbuster' Canceled After One Season at Netflix . Dec 17, 2022 . December 16, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221216212114/https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/blockbuster-canceled-netflix-1235448173/ . live .
  2. Web site: Netflix Gets Last Laugh With Blockbuster Video Store Comedy Series Starring Randall Park. November 18, 2021. Nellie. Andreeva. Deadline Hollywood. November 18, 2021. November 18, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211118000821/https://deadline.com/2021/11/randall-park-blockbuster-video-store-comedy-series-netflix-from-superstore-duo-david-caspe-1234876166/. live.
  3. Web site: Everything We Know So Far About Netflix's 'Blockbuster' Series. January 5, 2022. Kasey. Moore. What’s On Netflix. January 9, 2022. January 8, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220108201718/https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/news/netflix-blockbuster-comedy-series-everything-we-know-so-far/amp/. live.
  4. Welcome to the last Blockbuster in America in first Blockbuster trailer. October 7, 2022. October 7, 2022. Entertainment Weekly. Maureen Lee. Lenker. October 7, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221007181219/https://ew.com/tv/blockbuster-trailer-netflix/. live.
  5. News: 'Blockbuster' Comedy Starring Randall Park a Go at Netflix. The Hollywood Reporter. Goldberg. Lesley. November 17, 2021. March 8, 2022. January 19, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220119172618/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/blockbuster-comedy-starring-randall-park-a-go-at-netflix-1235049329/. live.
  6. Web site: 'The Last Blockbuster': Netflix Users Hilariously Point out Cruel Irony of Documentary. Daniel S.. Levine. popculture.com. March 14, 2021. October 29, 2022. October 29, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221029215351/https://popculture.com/streaming/news/the-last-blockbuster-netflix-users-hilariously-point-out-cruel-irony-documentary/. live.
  7. News: Andreeva . Nellie . February 10, 2022 . 'Blockbuster': Payman Benz To Direct, Co-Executive Produce Netflix Video Store Comedy . . March 8, 2022 . October 8, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221008034148/https://deadline.com/2022/02/blockbuster-payman-benz-direct-co-executive-produce-netflix-video-store-comedy-1234931188/ . live .
  8. Web site: Netflix 'Blockbuster' Comedy Series: Everything We Know So Far. May 5, 2022. Kasey. Moore. What’s On Netflix. May 8, 2022. May 4, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220504090030/https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/news/netflix-blockbuster-comedy-series-everything-we-know-so-far-05-2022/amp/. live.
  9. News: Production Has Started on Blockbuster Video Sitcom From Netflix. ComicBook.com. Burlingame. Russ. March 4, 2022. March 8, 2022. March 8, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220308170811/https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/amp/news/production-has-started-on-blockbuster-video-sitcom-from-netflix/. live.
  10. News: 'Blockbuster': First-Look At Randall Park & Melissa Fumero In Netflix Video Store Comedy — Photo. Deadline Hollywood. Petski. Denise. May 5, 2022. May 5, 2022. July 26, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220726182730/https://deadline.com/2022/05/blockbuster-first-look-randall-park-melissa-fumero-netflix-video-store-comedy-photo-1235016639/. live.
  11. Web site: 'Blockbuster': Randall Park and Melissa Fumero-Led Series Reveals Premiere Date; First-Look Photos. Deadline Hollywood. Rosy. Cordero. August 26, 2022. August 26, 2022. August 26, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220826190208/https://deadline.com/2022/08/blockbuster-randall-park-melissa-fumero-series-premiere-date-first-look-photos-trailer-1235101085/. live.
  12. Web site: 'Blockbuster' Canceled By Netflix After One Season. Deadline Hollywood. Nellie. Andreeva. December 16, 2022. December 16, 2022. December 16, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221216211319/https://deadline.com/2022/12/blockbuster-canceled-netflix-randall-park-1235192820/. live.
  13. News: Melissa Fumero to Star Opposite Randall Park in Netflix's 'Blockbuster' Series. Hollywood Reporter. Goldberg. Lesley. February 17, 2022. March 8, 2022. March 9, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220309000309/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/melissa-fumero-to-star-opposite-randall-park-in-netflixs-blockbuster-1235094476/. live.
  14. News: Netflix's 'Blockbuster' Comedy Series Adds Five To Cast. Deadline Hollywood. Otterson. Joe. March 3, 2022. March 8, 2022. March 7, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220307181353/https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/netflix-last-blockbuster-comedy-series-cast-1235195167/amp/. live.
  15. News: 14 Movies and TV shows filming in Vancouver this April. DailyHive. Pudsey. Allison. March 31, 2022. April 1, 2022. April 1, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220401013044/https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/14-movies-tv-shows-filming-vancouver-april. live.
  16. Web site: Goodbye first showrunner office. That's a wrap on Blockbuster season one and my heart is so full of love for everyone who was a part of it. (Lucy had to be recast due to an incident at catering).. Instagram. May 4, 2022. May 30, 2022. thatvanessaramos. October 5, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221005130826/https://www.instagram.com/p/CdH0PpoOIl1/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=. live.
  17. Web site: Blockbuster - Official Trailer - Netflix. October 7, 2022. October 7, 2022. YouTube. October 7, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221007164728/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDA-phXyYH8. live.
  18. blockbuster. Blockbuster. tv. 1. April 14, 2024.
  19. blockbuster. Blockbuster. tv. 1. November 4, 2022.

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