Whitney (TV series) explained

Genre:Sitcom
Creator:Whitney Cummings
Composer:Ed Alton
Country:United States
Language:English
Num Seasons:2
Num Episodes:38
List Episodes:List of Whitney episodes
Producer:Nancy Haas
Editor:Richard Candib
Camera:Multi-camera
Runtime:22 minutes
Network:NBC

Whitney is an American television sitcom that ran on NBC from September 22, 2011, to March 27, 2013. The series originally aired in the 9:30 pm (E/P)/8:30 pm (C) Thursday night timeslot.[1] The show stars Whitney Cummings and is based on her real-life experience and her comedy routines. On September 25, 2011, the pilot of Whitney was multipurposed on various Universal Television networks, including Oxygen, E!, Style, and Bravo.

On May 9, 2013, Whitney was canceled by NBC after two seasons.[2]

Synopsis

The series follows Whitney Cummings, as she portrays a fictionalized version of herself, and her very supportive live-in boyfriend, Alex. Even though the two have decided that they will not commit to marriage, she does question how committed they are in their 3-year relationship and tries to go as far to prove a point. She begins to fear what she sees as "relationship boredom" and worries what will happen next that could possibly end their relationship. Because of what she sees and hears around her involving other relationships, she uses unconventional methods to keep the romantic flames glowing with Alex, often seeking the help of her close friends. The sitcom is set in Chicago.[3]

Cast and characters

Main

Recurring

Episodes

See main article: List of Whitney episodes.

Development and production

Whitney was one of two network television shows created by Whitney Cummings to premiere during the 2011-12 United States television season. The other, which she shares creator credit with Michael Patrick King and does not star in, is the CBS series 2 Broke Girls which is produced by Warner Bros. Television.[7]

For Whitney, Cummings serves as the executive producer, creator and writer with Scott Stuber, Quan Phung, and Betsy Thomas for Universal Television.[8] Beverly D'Angelo originally played Patti, Whitney's mother, in the pilot episode before being replaced by Jane Kaczmarek, with parts of the pilot being reshot as a consequence.[9] The tabloid, New York Post reported that Cummings received $60,000 per episode for the first three episodes, and was to receive a salary increase after the show ordered for a full season because of good ratings.[10]

NBC moved the series to Wednesday beginning January 11, 2012.[11] On May 11, 2012, NBC renewed the series for a second season, which was to premiere on October 19, 2012. On October 8, 2012, the premiere date for Whitney was delayed by NBC to give it proper marketing.[12] On October 18, 2012, NBC announced it would air the season 2 premiere of Whitney on November 14, 2012.[13]

After the poor critical reception of the show upon its debut that was largely directed at Cummings herself, the producers of Whitney changed the direction of the series to a more ensemble-like show in the style of Friends to reduce the pressure on Cummings, who was also experiencing personal troubles. At the time, her mother had suffered a stroke, and her sister was entering rehab.[14] Wil Calhoun replaced Betsy Thomas as showrunner for the second season.[15] Additionally, Maulik Pancholy did not return to the show for the new season as the show focused more on the relationship between the two leads and less on the ensemble cast as seen in the later part of the previous season.[16] It was also announced that NBC Stand Up For Diversity winner Tone Bell would join the cast as a character named "RJ".[6]

On November 9, 2012, NBC ordered five additional scripts for the television series, but only picked up three, increasing its season order to sixteen.[17]

International broadcasts

The series had been picked up in Canada by CTV, where it premiered on September 19, 2011, after the season premiere of Two and a Half Men. It continued air on the same night as the NBC telecasts, but was also scheduled in different timeslots by region. Whitney ended up becoming the No.1 new comedy of the season during 2011–12 in Canada on CTV. The second season began airing on October 20, 2012.[18] In the United Kingdom, India, and Ireland, Whitney had been picked up by Comedy Central, and began airing on July 3, 2012.[19]

The series premiered in Australia on the Seven Network on October 11, 2012.[20]

Reception

Critical reception

Whitney originally premiered to mixed reviews from critics, with Cummings herself receiving criticism in online articles and reviews for the series. The first season holds a Metacritic score of 49/100.[21] [22] [23] The New Yorkers Emily Nussbaum suggested that Cummings was 2011's "sexy-girl hate magnet", experiencing a disproportionate amount of attention for being successful as well as attractive.[22] An example of this saw Andrew Goldman of The New York Times asking Cummings in an interview if she had slept her way to success.[24] Much criticism was also aimed at what was perceived as an overly aggressive ad campaign for the show by the network. The critics also found issue with the content of the ads, which were described as "regressive" and "old-fashioned".[25] [26] [27] [28] Upon its debut, the pilot episode received mixed reviews, holding a score of 49 out of 100 on the review aggregator Metacritic.[29] Alessandra Stanley of The New York Times found that the episode was the funnier of the two shows by Cummings debuting that season because the humor was more original.[30] Robert Lloyd of the Los Angeles Times found that despite some missteps, the series was promising, writing that "[e]ventually the mood relaxes, even as the slapstick amps up, and what may prove to be a charming comedy begins to emerge."[31] Other reviews found the series to be a retread of past sitcoms, with dated jokes.[29] The Huffington Post called the series uninspired, and found many of the characters to be tenuous at best.[32] The premiere was given a D− by The A.V. Club reviewers Erik Adams and Steve Heisler, who highlighted the weakness of Cummings' acting.[33]

As the series progressed, some reviewers remarked about improvements in the show. Willa Paskin of Salon found that the series improved structurally from the eighth episode, while the chemistry of the two leads was brought to the forefront. However, she still found that the jokes were not good enough.[34] Jaime Weinman of Maclean's agreed with Paskin, additionally noting that the series depicted a more realistic relationship compared with other freshmen sitcoms such as New Girl.[35] Stephan Lee, writing for Entertainment Weekly, compared Whitney favorably to Cummings' other series, 2 Broke Girls, citing what he perceived to be an increasingly stronger and more multidimensional supporting cast in the former.[36] Jesse David Fox of Splitsider found that the series began to find its footing as it progressed from its pilot and misleading initial ad campaign.[37]

Ratings

The series debuted on Canada's CTV on September 19, 2011, three days before its U.S. premiere on NBC. The show won its timeslot with two million viewers, buoyed by its lead-in, the much-anticipated ninth-season premiere of Two and a Half Men.[38]

The series made a modest debut in the US, scoring with 6.8 million viewers and a 4.0/6 rating. However, it premiered more importantly to a strong 3.2 18–49 demo rating (on which the cost of advertisement is often dependent).[39] By December it had dropped to 4 million viewers and a 1.9 rating, being described by Entertainment Weekly as in "a ratings murk".[40]

The show moved to Wednesdays at 8 pm midway through its first season, getting 4.5 million viewers and a 1.7 18–49 demo rating on its first airing.[41]

Ratings history for Whitney
SeasonTimeslot (ET)EpisodesPremieredEndedTV SeasonRankViewers
(in millions)
DatePremiere
Viewers
(in millions)		DateFinale
Viewers
(in millions)
122September 22, 20116.84[42] March 28, 20124.09[43] 2011–2012
  1. 109[44]
5.11
2Wednesday 8:00 pm16November 14, 20124.22[45] March 27, 20132.88[46] 2012–2013
  1. 107[47]
4.19

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Seidman. Robert. NBC Announces Fall Premiere Dates - 'Chuck,' 'Grimm' Premiere October 21; Early Premiere for 'Parenthood'. https://web.archive.org/web/20110709194646/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/07/06/nbc-announces-fall-premiere-dates-chuck-grimm-premiere-october-2-early-premiere-for-parenthood/97330/. dead. July 9, 2011. TV by the Numbers. July 6, 2011. July 6, 2011.
  2. Web site: UPDATE: NBC's 'Whitney' & '1600 Penn' Cancelled, 'Parks & Recreation' Renewed. Andreeva. Nellie. Deadline Hollywood. May 9, 2013. May 9, 2013.
  3. Web site: Whitney - A Decent Proposal - Video . . October 13, 2011 . October 18, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111018162209/http://www.nbc.com/whitney/video/a-decent-proposal/1362082/ . October 18, 2011 .
  4. Web site: Andreeva . Nellie . Maulik Pancholy Departs 'Whitney', Returns To '30 Rock' . Deadline.com . August 22, 2012 . September 29, 2012.
  5. Buckman, Adam (March 14, 2012). Gay or Straight? Little Bit o’ Both as Whitney Explores Bisexuality. Xfinity. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  6. Web site: Lesley . Goldberg . 'Whitney' Adds NBC Diversity Program Winner as New Series Regular . Hollywood Reporter . September 5, 2012 . September 29, 2012.
  7. Web site: "Person of Interest," "Two Broke Girls" First to Series at CBS; Sarah Michelle Gellar-Led "Ringer" Shifts to The CW . The Futon Critic . May 13, 2011.
  8. Web site: Updated: NBC Picks Up "Smash", "Prime Suspects" and Two More Sitcoms to Series . https://web.archive.org/web/20110513224954/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/05/11/nbc-picks-up-smash-prime-suspects-plus-two-more-sitcoms-to-series/92312/ . dead . May 13, 2011 . TV By the Numbers . May 11, 2011.
  9. Web site: N. . Andreeva . Jane Kaczmarek Joins New NBC Comedy Series 'Whitney' . Deadline.com . August 11, 2011.
  10. News: Cummings into her own . NYPOST.com . October 9, 2011 . June 12, 2012.
  11. Web site: NBC Mid-Season Schedule: 'Harry's Law' To Sunday, 'Grimm' Stays Put, 'Up All Night' Moves Later, 'Whitney' To Wednesday, 'Chuck' Series Finale Set & More . https://web.archive.org/web/20111117103547/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/11/14/nbc-mid-season-schedule-harrys-law-to-sunday-grimm-stays-put-up-all-night-moves-later-whitney-to-wednesday-chuck-done-in-january-more/110647/ . dead . November 17, 2011 . Tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com . November 14, 2011 . June 12, 2012.
  12. News: Community and Whitney Premiere Dates Delayed. E! Online. October 8, 2012.
  13. News: NBC Cancels 'Animal Practice,' Adds 'Whitney' to Schedule. O'Connell. Michael. The Hollywood Reporter. October 18, 2012. October 18, 2012.
  14. Web site: Whitney drops stockings - The Howard Stern Show . https://web.archive.org/web/20120721134304/http://www.howardstern.com/rundown.hs?d=1331611200 . dead . July 21, 2012 . Howardstern.com . March 13, 2012 . June 12, 2012.
  15. Web site: Andreeva. Nellie. Wil Calhoun Joins NBC's 'Whitney' As New Showrunner. Deadline. August 23, 2012. May 31, 2012.
  16. Web site: Maulik Pancholy Not Returning to NBC's Whitney - Today's News: Our Take . TVGuide.com . August 22, 2012 . September 29, 2012.
  17. Web site: NBC's 'Whitney' Gets Order For 5 Scripts . Deadline.com . Nellie . Andreeva . November 8, 2012 . April 28, 2013.
  18. Web site: CTV Fall Lineup . Channel Canada . October 30, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111012092117/http://falltvpreview.com/show.php?id=1125 . October 12, 2011 .
  19. Web site: Whitney show profile . Comedycentral.co.uk . October 3, 2011 . June 12, 2012.
  20. Web site: Your first glimpse at what is new to Australian TV in 2012 . The Courier-Mail . September 3, 2011 . November 28, 2011.
  21. Web site: Whitney - Season 1 Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More . Metacritic . September 29, 2012.
  22. Nussbaum . Emily . NBC's 'Whitney' and CBS's '2 Broke Girls' . . June 12, 2012.
  23. Web site: Jessica . Wakeman . In Defense Of 'Whitney' . The Frisky . October 28, 2011 . June 12, 2012.
  24. Web site: Jessica . Wakeman . NY Times Reporter Asks Whitney Cummings About Sleeping Her Way To The Top . The Frisky . September 19, 2011 . June 12, 2012.
  25. Web site: Frucci . Adam . Can 'Whitney' Survive Its Ad Campaign? A Discussion . Splitsider . September 14, 2011 . June 12, 2012.
  26. Web site: Carlos . Cabrera . People don't like ads for 'Whitney'. Nerve.com . September 15, 2011 . June 12, 2012.
  27. News: Flock . Elizabeth . 'Whitney' advertised as another sexist TV show . The Washington Post . September 16, 2011 . June 12, 2012.
  28. Web site: Catriona . Wightman . Is it just us, or... Did TV just get really sexist? . Digital Spy . August 25, 2011 . June 12, 2012.
  29. Web site: Whitney - Season 1 Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More . Metacritic . June 12, 2012.
  30. News: Stanley . Alessandra . Three New Sitcoms Put the Focus on Young Single Women. The New York Times. September 18, 2011 . June 12, 2012.
  31. Web site: Critic Reviews for Whitney Season 1. Metacritic. October 9, 2011.
  32. News: 'Whitney' Premiere: What's With The Boozy Divorcee? . Huffingtonpost.com . September 23, 2011. June 12, 2012 . Gazelle . Emami.
  33. Web site: Other Shows: 'Whitney'. Adams . Erik . Heisler . Steve . . September 22, 2011 . September 22, 2011.
  34. Web site: Paskin . Willa . Willa Paskin. "Whitney's" second coming - TV . Salon.com . 21 March 2012 . June 12, 2012.
  35. Web site: Weinman . Jaime . The NBC sitcom counter-backlash. . March 23, 2012 . June 12, 2012.
  36. Valby . Karen . 'Whitney' is better than '2 Broke Girls'. Entertainment Weekly. October 28, 2011 . June 12, 2012.
  37. Web site: David . Jesse . Why Whitney is the Best New Network Sitcom of 2011-2012 . Splitsider . February 28, 2012 . June 12, 2012.
  38. Web site: Ash-tronomical Return: 'Two and a Half Men' Draws Largest Audience Ever in Canada Too with 5 Million Viewers . https://web.archive.org/web/20110925174955/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/09/20/ash-tronomical-return-two-and-a-half-men-draws-largest-audience-ever-in-canada-too-with-5-million-viewers/104380/ . dead . September 25, 2011 . Zap2it . September 20, 2011 . Robert . Seidman . April 28, 2013.
  39. Web site: TV Ratings: 'X Factor' holds, 'Charlie's Angels' off to modest start . Zap2it . September 23, 2011 . Mikey . O'Connell . April 28, 2013.
  40. Web site: Chelsea Handler can't boost 'Whitney' ratings . Entertainment Weekly . December 2, 2011 . James . Hibberd . April 28, 2013.
  41. Web site: Wednesday Final Ratings: 'American Idol,' 'One Tree Hill,' 'Survivor,' 'Whitney,' & 'Criminal Minds' Adjusted Up, 'The Middle,' 'CSI,' 'Rock Center,' & 'Happy Endings' Adjusted Down . https://web.archive.org/web/20120218224042/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/02/16/wednesday-final-ratings-american-idol-whitney-adjust-up-the-middle-is-down/120174/ . dead . February 18, 2012 . Zap2it . February 16, 2012 . Amanda . Kondolojy . April 28, 2013.
  42. Web site: Thursday Finals: 'Big Bang Theory,' 'The X Factor,' 'Parks & Recreation' and 'Whitney' Adjusted Up. https://web.archive.org/web/20110925201258/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/09/23/thursday-finals-big-bang-theory-the-x-factor-parks-recreation-and-whitney-adjusted-up/104707/. dead. September 25, 2011. TV by the Numbers. Seidman. Robert. September 23, 2011. September 24, 2011.
  43. Web site: Wednesday Final Ratings: 'Idol', 'Survivor' 'One Tree Hill' and 'Whitney' All Adjusted Up. https://web.archive.org/web/20120331052622/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/03/29/wednesday-final-ratings-idol-survivor-one-tree-hill-bent-and-whitney-all-adjusted-up/126503/. dead. March 31, 2012. TV by the Numbers. Amanda. Kondolojy. March 29, 2012. March 29, 2012.
  44. Web site: Full 2011-2012 TV Season Series Rankings . Nellie . Andreeva . Deadline Hollywood . May 24, 2012. May 25, 2012.
  45. Web site: Wednesday Final Ratings: 'The Middle', 'Law & Order: SVU', & 'CSI' Adjusted Up . https://web.archive.org/web/20121118075331/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/11/15/wednesday-final-ratings-the-middle-law-order-svu-csi-adjusted-up/157759/ . dead . November 18, 2012 . TV by the Numbers . Sara . Bibel . November 15, 2012 . April 28, 2013.
  46. Web site: Wednesday Final Ratings: 'American Idol', 'Survivor' & 'Arrow' Adjusted Up; 'Whitney' and 'Chicago Fire' Adjusted Down . https://web.archive.org/web/20130331004305/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/03/28/wednesday-final-ratings-american-idol-survivor-whitney-and-chicago-fire-adjusted-down/175358/ . dead . March 31, 2013 . TV by the Numbers . March 28, 2013 . Amanda . Kondolojy . April 28, 2013.
  47. Web site: Full 2012-2013 TV Season Series Rankings. Deadline Hollywood. Patten. Dominic. May 23, 2013. May 24, 2013.

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