United We Fall (TV series) explained
United We Fall is an American television sitcom, created by Julius Sharpe, that aired from July 15 to August 26, 2020 on ABC. It starred Will Sasso and Christina Vidal Mitchell as a couple with young children whose household is turned upside down when his mother (Jane Curtin) moves in with them. In September 2020, the series was canceled after one season.
Plot
A couple with young children and overzealous extended families lets the husband's judgmental mother move in with them.
Cast
Main
- Will Sasso as Bill Ryan,[1] an engineer and father with two young daughters. He and his wife Jo strive to raise their family as hands-off as possible, which often annoys his mother Sandy.
- Christina Vidal Mitchell as Jo Rodriguez, Bill's wife who works for her family's contracting firm called Chuy & Sons Construction.
- Ella Grace Helton as Emily Ryan, Bill and Jo's older daughter who is both very intelligent and slightly antisocial.
- Guillermo Díaz as Chuy Rodriguez, one of Jo's brothers who likes to offer unsolicited advice and criticize his sister for not raising her kids properly.[2]
- Jane Curtin as Sandy Ryan, Bill's neurotic mother who moved in with him while recovering from an illness. She now lives with the family and takes every opportunity to challenge his style of parenting.
Recurring
- Ireland & Sedona Carvajal as Lulu Ryan, Bill and Jo's younger daughter
- Natalie Ceballos as Brie Rodriguez, Chuy's wife.
- Juan Alfonso as Javier Rodriguez, one of Jo's brothers.
- J.R. Villarreal as Felix Rodriguez, one of Jo's brothers.
Guest stars
- Gloria Calderón Kellett as Ms. Molina, the head of Lulu's daycare. ("The Biter")
- Sarah Levy as Kendra, a parent of Lulu's classmate. ("The Biter")
- Sam McMurray as Dave Plonker, Sandy's first husband. ("My Favorite Marta" and "You're Doing It Wrong")
- Olivia Taylor Cohen as Marta Rodriguez, Chuy's daughter. ("My Favorite Marta" and "You're Doing It Wrong")
- Craig Kilborn as Dr. Sharpe, Sandy's doctor. ("My Favorite Marta")
- Greg Romero Wilson as Benicio Rodriguez, one of Jo's brothers, who is very negative. ("The Weekend" and "Re-Wedding Crashers")
Production
Development
On February 8, 2019, it was announced that ABC had given the production a pilot order. The pilot was written by Julius Sharpe and executive produced by Sharpe, Seth Gordon and Julia Gunn.[3] On May 11, 2019, ABC ordered the pilot to series.[4] In March 2019, it was reported Mark Cendrowski directed the pilot.
ABC initially slated the series as a mid-season replacement for the spring of 2020, with an eight-episode order.[5] However, upon the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, ABC left the series off the schedule. In May 2020, Deadline Hollywood reported that ABC was looking to delay the premiere for the fall lineup of the 2020–21 television season, due to the unknown length of the pandemic. The same was done at rival network Fox, where two other new scripted series, Filthy Rich and Next, were also delayed to the 2020–21 fall schedule.[6] The series did not make ABC's fall schedule, but in June 2020, ABC announced that the series would premiere on July 15, 2020.[7] On September 15, 2020, ABC canceled the series after one season.[8]
Casting
It was announced in March 2019, with Will Sasso, Christina Vidal, Jane Curtin, and Jason Michael Snow in the pilot's lead roles.[9] [10] [11] In September 2019, Guillermo Díaz joined the cast in a main role to replace Snow's character.
Filming
United We Fall was filmed at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California, but it is set in Denver, Colorado.
Reception
Critical response
On the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the series has an approval rating of 40% with an average rating of 6/10, based on 5 reviews.[12] Metacritic gave it a weighted average score of 44 out of 100 based on 4 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[13]
Ratings
Notes and References
- Web site: New Comedy "United We Fall" Coming WEDNESDAY JULY 15 8/7c to ABC. Dove. Steve. May 14, 2019. ABC. September 9, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200716040231/https://abc.com/shows/abc-new-shows/news/shows/united-we-fall-coming-to-abc. July 16, 2020. dead.
- Web site: 'United We Fall': Guillermo Diaz Joins Cast Of ABC Comedy Series. Andreeva. Nellie. September 25, 2019. Deadline Hollywood. live. May 14, 2020. May 24, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200524115950/https://deadline.com/2019/09/united-we-fall-guillermo-diaz-cast-abc-comedy-series-scandal-1202743964/.
- Web site: ABC Orders Drama Pilot From Hank Steinberg & 50 Cent, Directed By George Tillman Jr. & Family Comedy 'United We Fall' From Julius Sharpe. Denise. Petski. Deadline Hollywood. February 8, 2019. May 14, 2019. May 14, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190514070211/https://deadline.com/2019/02/abc-orders-2-pilots-isaac-wright-drama-directed-george-tillman-jr-family-comedy-julius-sharpe-1202553010/. live.
- Web site: Hank Steinberg/50 Cent Drama 'For Life' & 'United We Fall' Comedy Get ABC Series Orders. Nellie. Andreeva. Denise. Petski. Deadline Hollywood. May 11, 2019. May 11, 2019. May 11, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190511170944/https://deadline.com/2019/05/hank-steinberg-50-cent-drama-for-life-united-we-fall-comedy-abc-series-orders-1202612536/. live.
- Web site: ABC Fall 2019-20 Schedule: Very Few Changes, 'The Rookie' Moves To Sunday, 'American Housewife' To Friday. Andreeva. Nellie. Deadline Hollywood. May 14, 2019. May 14, 2019. May 16, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190516044556/https://deadline.com/2019/05/abc-fall-2019-20-schedule-upfronts-new-shows-the-rookie-mixed-ish-emergence-cobie-smulders-1202614248/. live.
- Web site: Fox's 'Filthy Rich' & 'NeXt', ABC's 'United We Fall' Eye Fall Premieres As Nets Look To Secure Originals For 2020-21 Season Amid Pandemic. Nellie. Andreeva. May 6, 2020. Deadline Hollywood. May 7, 2020. May 7, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200507002353/https://deadline.com/2020/05/fox-filthy-rich-next-abc-united-we-fall-fall-premiere-nets-look-originals-2020-21-season-amid-pandemic-1202927794/. live.
- Web site: United We Fall (Finally!) Sets July Premiere at ABC — Watch New Trailer. Rebecca. Lannucci. TVLine. June 18, 2020. June 18, 2020. June 21, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200621075935/https://tvline.com/2020/06/18/united-we-fall-premiere-date-abc-sitcom-trailer-video/. live.
- Web site: Nemetz. Dave. United We Fall Cancelled at ABC. TVLine. September 15, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200916043208/https://tvline.com/2020/09/15/united-we-fall-cancelled-abc-season-2/. September 16, 2020. live.
- Web site: Jane Curtin To Star In 'United We Fall' ABC Comedy Pilot. Nellie. Andreeva. Deadline Hollywood. March 4, 2019. May 14, 2019. May 14, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190514070219/https://deadline.com/2019/03/jane-curtin-star-united-we-fall-abc-comedy-pilot-1202569376/. live.
- Web site: ABC Pilots 'United We Fall', 'Stumptown', 'Baker & The Beauty' & Leslie Odom Jr. Comedy Add To Cast. Denise. Petski. Deadline Hollywood. March 11, 2019. May 14, 2019. May 12, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190512235629/https://deadline.com/2019/03/abc-pilots-united-we-fall-stumptown-baker-and-the-beauty-leslie-odom-jr-jason-michael-snow-adrian-martinez-michelle-veintimilla-alexis-fields-1202573118/. live.
- Web site: Will Sasso & Christina Vidal To Star In 'United We Fall' ABC Comedy Pilot. Denise. Petski. Deadline Hollywood. March 20, 2019. May 14, 2019. March 30, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190330070256/https://deadline.com/2019/03/will-sasso-christina-vidal-star-united-we-fall-abc-comedy-pilot-1202579447/. live.
- Web site: United We Fall: Season 1 (2020). Rotten Tomatoes. August 7, 2020.
- Web site: United We Fall: Season 1. Metacritic. April 24, 2020.
