Grown-ish explained
Genre: | |
Theme Music Composer: | Chloe x Halle |
Opentheme: | "Grown" by Chloe x Halle |
Composer: | Vincent Jones |
Country: | United States |
Language: | English |
Num Seasons: | 6 |
Num Episodes: | 105 |
List Episodes: | List of Grown-ish episodes |
Producer: | Yara Shahidi |
Camera: | Single-camera |
Runtime: | 20–23 minutes |
Channel: | Freeform |
Related: | Black-ish |
Grown-ish (stylized as ish) is an American teen comedy drama television series and a spin-off of the ABC series Black-ish. The single-camera comedy follows the Johnson family's children as they go to college and begin their journeys to adulthood, only to quickly discover that not everything goes their way once they leave the nest. The first four seasons follow eldest daughter Zoey (Yara Shahidi), with Deon Cole, Trevor Jackson, Francia Raisa, Emily Arlook, Jordan Buhat, Chloe Bailey, Halle Bailey, Luka Sabbat and Chris Parnell also starring, while the fifth season onward follows eldest son and Zoey's younger brother Andre Junior (Marcus Scribner) as he attends college after Zoey's graduation, with Diggy Simmons and Daniella Perkins also starring.
Created by Black-ishs Kenya Barris and Larry Wilmore, the series is produced by Khalabo Ink Society, Cinema Gypsy Productions and Principato-Young Entertainment, with Anthony Anderson, Brian Dobbins, and Helen Sugland acting as executive producers. Freeform officially ordered 13 episodes of the spin-off in May 2017, and it premiered on January 3, 2018. In January 2018, Freeform renewed the series for a second season of 21 episodes which premiered on January 2, 2019.[3] In February 2019, Freeform renewed the series for a third season, which premiered on January 16, 2020. In January 2020, the series was renewed for a fourth season, while the second half of the third season premiered on January 21, 2021.[4] The fourth season premiered on July 8, 2021. The second half of the fourth season premiered on January 27, 2022, with the majority of the original cast departing at the end of the season.[5] In March 2022, the series was renewed for a forthcoming fifth season and Marcus Scribner and Daniella Perkins upped to series regulars, the former following the series finale of Black-ish, replacing Shahidi as lead character and narrator of the series. The first half of the fifth season premiered on July 20, 2022. In January 2023, the series was renewed for a sixth season. In March 2023, it was announced that the sixth season is going to be its final season. The sixth and final season premiered on June 28, 2023 and was split into two parts, with the second arriving March 27, 2024.[6]
Plot
The first four seasons follow the Johnson family's firstborn daughter Zoey leaving the family to go to college. As she attends the fictional California University of Liberal Arts (Cal U for short)[7] while befriending some people, she discovers that her journey to adulthood and her departure from the family does not go the way she hoped. The fifth season onward follows the Johnson family's oldest son, Zoey's younger brother and former college dropout Junior as he attends Cal U following Zoey's graduation.
Cast and characters
Main
- Yara Shahidi as Zoey Johnson (seasons 1–5; recurring season 6), the narrator and main protagonist of the series who is shown in the break of a scene. She meets her six core friends in Professor Telphy's class. She originally intended to become a fashion designer but has since created her own major, "The Sociology of Fashion", and has turned her career goals toward fashion styling. She is a freshman in season 1, a sophomore in season 2, a junior in season 3, and a senior in season 4. She dated Luca until their breakup at the end of season 2. She began dating Aaron in the season 3 finale. As of the season 3 break, she dropped out of Cal U. to further her career as a designer after having accepted an opportunity with Luca's company, Anti Muse. However, she resigns from her job and returns to Cal U. to finish her junior year. In season 4, she takes internships with big-name companies as a way to advance her career, but she has troubles with Aaron. She is graduated from college at the end of season 4. In season 5, she is a successful designer living in New York, while bouncing back to Los Angeles to continue her now long-distance relationship with Aaron.
- Deon Cole as Professor Charlie Telphy (seasons 1–2; recurring seasons 3–4), a close friend of Zoey's family and an adjunct professor teaching evening classes at Cal U., including one called "Digital Marketing Strategies", which is all about drones. He becomes dean of students in season 2.
- Trevor Jackson as Aaron Jackson, a student at Cal U. He is "woke," as evidenced by his many buttons referencing various African American-centered causes and issues. In season 2, he takes a job as an RA for Hawkins Hall. He is a sophomore in season 1, a junior in season 2, and a senior in season 3. In the season 3 finale, he graduates. In season 4, he teaches night classes at Cal U.
- Francia Raisa as Analisa "Ana" Patricia Torres (seasons 1–4; guest seasons 5 and 6),[8] a student at Cal U. She was born to Cuban immigrants, is a devout Catholic, and a Republican. She was Zoey's roommate in season 1. In season 2, she and Zoey move into an apartment with Nomi, and she develops a romantic interest in Aaron. Ana is a freshman in season 1, a sophomore in season 2, a junior in season 3, and a senior in season 4. In season 2, episode 19, her major is revealed as Political Science. Others observe her need to get the answers she wants, even where doing so necessitates spying and snooping.
- Emily Arlook as Nomi Segal (seasons 1–4; guest seasons 5 and 6),[9] is Jewish American. She is bisexual, but she is not out to her family until season 2. She is a freshman in season 1, a sophomore in season 2, a junior in season 3, and a senior in season 4. At the start of the third season, she is revealed to be pregnant from a one-night stand. During the first half of season 3, she drops out of Cal U., returning to her parents' home while dealing with her pregnancy. In the second half of season 3, she returns to campus with her newborn daughter Luna. At the end of season 4, she moves to Connecticut to attend Yale Law School.
- Jordan Buhat as Vivek Shah (seasons 1–4; guest seasons 5 and 6), a first-generation Gujarati Indian American. His parents are devout Hindus. He deals drugs to support his clothing choices. He is an engineering major and has shown great intelligence throughout the series. He originally lived in the rich-kid Winthrop house but was kicked out in season 2 and has been crashing at Hawkins Hall with Aaron and Doug. He is a freshman in season 1, a sophomore in season 2, and a junior in season 3. He is best known for having a style that is highly influenced by black culture. In season 3, after a substantial raise in his drug-dealing income, he rents a house off campus for him and the girls to live for the remainder of their time in college. He also starts dating a girl named Heidi until the season finale. In season 4, Vivek gets expelled from Cal U., following his arrest last season, which leads to his father disowning him. They are on the verge of reconciling when his father dies of a heart ailment. At the end of the season, he re-enrolls in a new college to complete his engineering degree, and moves to Miami with Ana, who he is now dating.
- Chris Parnell as Dean Burt Parker (season 1), the dean of students. He is also Nomi's uncle. He leaves the university for unknown reasons before the events of season 2.
- Chloe Bailey as Jazlyn "Jazz" Forster (seasons 1–4), Sky's twin sister and a track athlete at Cal U. From South Los Angeles, she is intensely smart, sassy, but focused on the bigger picture. Her focus is lost after getting into a relationship with Doug, causing a rift to form between her and her sister. She is a freshman in season 1, a sophomore in season 2, a junior in season 3, and a senior in season 4. Her major is in Economics, as revealed in season 2.
- Halle Bailey as Skylar "Sky" Forster (seasons 1–3; recurring season 4), Jazz's twin sister and a track athlete at Cal U. From South Los Angeles, she is intensely smart, sassy, but focused on the bigger picture. She remains focused on her goals even while also partying and meeting guys, something her sister has trouble with which causes a rift between them. She is a freshman in season 1, a sophomore in season 2, and a junior in Season 3. Her major is in Early Childhood Education, as revealed in season 2. She leaves for Tokyo at the end of season 3 after gaining a spot on the Olympic Team.
- Luka Sabbat as Luca Hall (seasons 1–4; guest season 6), a fashion design major at Cal U., and a stoner. He is very independent and a trendsetter, as seen in his outlandish fashion choices and his relaxed attitude toward life. He works alongside Zoey at Teen Vogue, an internship he got by chance. Zoey and Luca become a couple starting season 2, but break up in the season 2 finale. He is a freshman in season 1, a sophomore in season 2, a junior in season 3, and a senior in season 4.[10]
- Diggy Simmons as Douglas Frederick "Doug" Edwards (seasons 3–6; recurring seasons 1–2), Jazlyn's ex-boyfriend. He is best friends with Aaron and Vivek.[11]
- Marcus Scribner as Andre "Junior" Johnson, Jr. (seasons 5–6; recurring seasons 2–3; guest season 4), Zoey's younger brother from Black-ish. He becomes Sky's romantic interest in season 2. Following Zoey's graduation at the end of season 4 and the series finale of black-ish, Junior replaces Zoey as the lead character and narrator of grown-ish, attending Cal U. in the fifth season. He is a freshman in season 5, then a sophomore in season 6.
- Daniella Perkins as Kiela Hall (seasons 5–6;[12] recurring season 4), Luca's younger sister, and Doug's fling and love interest who just started at Cal U. In Season 5, she continues to go to Cal U. as a sophomore, alongside Junior. In season 6, she is a junior, and is now living in a sober building with Anika, Zaara and Lauren.
- Justine Skye as Annika Longstreet (season 6; recurring season 5), She is a freshman in season 5. She is a sophisticated, intelligent go-getter who hardly takes no for an answer and is determined to make it to the top. She also becomes Junior's main love interest.
- Tara Raani as Zaara Ali (season 6; recurring season 5), She is a freshman in season 5. She is a first-generation college student who is extremely focused and is on track to become a doctor. She is Junior's roommate and friend. She is a sophomore in season 6, and was in a new relationship with Drea.
Recurring
- Da'Vinchi as Cash Mooney (seasons 1–2), Zoey's first college boyfriend and star of the school's basketball team. Also, he's her first love and the first person she had sex with.
- Katherine Moennig as Professor Paige Hewson (season 2),[13] the professor of Gender Studies class that Zoey and her friends are in who was also Nomi's love interest.
- Ryan Destiny as Jillian (season 3), a transfer student from Spelman College and Luca's new love interest.[14] [15]
- Henri Esteve as Javier / "Javi" (seasons 3–4), a gorgeous grad student whom Ana interns with at Cal U. Javier and Ana start dating in Season 3.[16]
- Andrew Liner as Rodney (season 3), a soft-spoken, baby-faced babe with a killer smile who becomes Sky's new love interest.
- Raigan Harris as Rochelle (seasons 2–3; guest season 4), an opinionated, well-informed member of the Black Student Union who is always down to fight for a cause. Rochelle ends up dating Aaron most of Season 3. She and Zoey sparks a rivalry due to them both having feelings for Aaron. Before the Season 3 finale, Aaron breaks up with Rochelle after cheating on her with Zoey. In spite of helping Zoey obtain an internship in season 4, she is revealed to still be spiteful and angry towards her for the event.
- Slick Woods as Sharon "Slick" (season 5)
- Ceyair Wright as Zeke (season 5; guest season 6), He is a freshman in season 5. He is a handsome football player that is "just here for football and the ladies. He is one of Junior's new friends and also frat brother. At the start of season 6, he transfers to a different college.
- Amelie Zilber as Lauryn (seasons 5-6), She is a freshman when she is introduced in season 5. She is a singer and undecided major college student that may be a little shy but is always open to having a bit of fun. She is Zeke's girlfriend during season 5. Starting with season 6, she makes frequent appearances and moves in with Junior's friend group but is still credited as a recurring character.
Notable guests
Episodes
See main article: List of Grown-ish episodes.
Production
"Liberal Arts", the 23rd episode of season 3 of Black-ish, functioned as a backdoor pilot for this spin-off, featuring Yara Shahidi's character, Zoey Johnson, as she goes to college.[17] Shahidi stars in the series, with Chris Parnell, Mallory Sparks, Matt Walsh, and Trevor Jackson guest starring in the backdoor pilot.[18] [19] [20] The series was later titled College-ish, with Parnell and Jackson reprising their roles from the backdoor pilot, and Emily Arlook replacing Mallory Sparks in the role of Miriam.[21] In August 2017, Francia Raisa joined the cast as Ana along with Jordan Buhat as Vivek.[22] Music duo Chloe and Halle would also star as twin sisters Sky and Jazz.[23]
On May 19, 2017, Freeform (ABC's sister network) officially ordered 13 episodes of the spin-off under the final title, Grown-ish.[24] [25] On January 18, 2018, Freeform renewed the series for a second season.[26] On February 5, 2019, the series was renewed for a third season.[27] On November 7, 2019, it was announced that the third season will premiere on January 16, 2020.[28] On January 17, 2020, Freeform renewed the series for a fourth season.[29]
On May 19, 2020, Freeform announced that the remaining episodes from season three will premiere in 2021 due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic in the television industry.[30] [31]
The fourth season premiered on July 8, 2021, with the majority of the original cast leaving at its conclusion.[32]
On March 7, 2022, Freeform renewed the series for a fifth season with Marcus Scribner joining the cast, replacing Shahidi as lead character of the series, as Junior Johnson, Zoey's younger brother from black-ish, with Zakiyyah Alexander and Courtney Lilly showrunning the season, which follows Junior as he finally decides to attend college.[33] On May 4, 2022, it was announced that the first half of the fifth season would premiere on July 20, 2022.[34] On January 11, 2023, Freeform renewed the series for a sixth season.[35] On March 29, 2023, it was reported that the sixth season is going to be its final season.[36] The sixth and final season premiered on June 28, 2023.[37]
Release
The series premiered on January 3, 2018, on Freeform. Grown-ish airs in Canada on ABC Spark, simulcast with Freeform in the United States. Globally, the series is also available on Disney+.[38]
Reception
Critical response
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the first season has an approval rating of 95% based on 39 reviews, with an average rating of 7.90/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "grown-ish quickly works through its growing pains to establish itself as its own socially aware show with a fresh perspective on the college experience, driven by the charming and capable Yara Shahidi."[39] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 71 out of 100, based on 15 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[40]
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the second season has an approval rating of 100% based on 5 reviews, with an average rating of 7.70/10.[41]
Accolades
Notes and References
- Web site: grown-ish on hulu . January 3, 2019 . Commonsensemedia.
- Web site: grown-ish on commonsensemedia . January 3, 2019 . Commonsensemedia.
- Web site: August 8, 2018 . grown-ish on Twitter . October 1, 2018 . . en . y'all ain't ready. @grownish season 2 premieres january 2019 only on @freeformtv . // art by @DEERDANA..
- BRAND NEW YEAR, BRAND NEW SEMESTER AT CAL U . December 8, 2020 . December 15, 2020 . Walt Disney Television Press.
- Freeform Kicks Off 2022 with New Premieres . November 16, 2021 . . The Futon Critic.
- Web site: 'Grown-ish' Teases It's 'Ready to Take It to the Next Level' in Star-Studded Final Season (Exclusive) .
- Web site: Is Cal U A Real School? The 'grown-ish' College Takes A Cue From TV History . September 19, 2022 . Bustle . January 3, 2018 . en.
- Web site: Haring . Bruce . March 24, 2022 . 'grown-ish' Sees Six Original Cast Members Exit In Season 4 Finale . March 24, 2022 . Deadlie Hollywood.
- Freshmen Comedies Grown-ish And Alone Together Premiering January 2018 . October 18, 2017 . Freeform . October 21, 2017 . .
- Romero, Ariana (February 14, 2018). "Grown-ish Season 1, Episode 8 Recap: 'Erase Your Social'". Refinery29.
- Steirnberg, Bonnie (March 25, 2019). "Diggy Simmons Returning to 'grown-ish' as a Series Regular & Performing at 2019 Freeform Summit: Exclusive". Billboard.
- Web site: Petski . Denise . July 5, 2022 . 'Grown-ish': Daniella Perkins Upped To Series Regular For Season 5, Six Join As Recurring . July 5, 2022 . Deadline Hollywood.
- Petski, Denise (January 11, 2019). "'Grown-ish': *Katherine Moennig To Appear On Season 2 Of Freeform Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
- Web site: July 8, 2019 . TVLine Items: Star Vet to grown-ish, S.W.A.T. Adds Series Regular and More . TVLine.
- January 30, 2020 . Watch an exclusive clip of Ryan Destiny joining grown-ish season 3 . Entertainment Weekly.
- Web site: Pedersen . Erik . November 9, 2019 . 'Grown-ish': Henri Esteve, Raigan Harris & Andrew Liner To Recur In Season 3 Of Freeform Comedy . March 18, 2020 . Deadline . en.
- News: May 3, 2017 . Black-ish Just Applied for a Zoey at College Spin-Off, and We Accept . en . . October 19, 2018.
- Web site: Andreeva . Nellie . January 19, 2017 . 'Black-Ish' Spinoff Starring Yara Shahidi In Works At ABC From Kenya Barris & Larry Wilmore . January 19, 2017 . Deadline Hollywood.
- Web site: Andreeva . Nellie . April 6, 2017 . Chris Parnell Stars In 'Black-ish' Spinoff, Matt Walsh & Trevor Jackson Also Cast . April 6, 2017 . Deadline Hollywood.
- Web site: April 17, 2017 . (#323) "Liberal Arts" . April 17, 2017 . the Futon Critic.
- Web site: Stanhope . Kate . August 2, 2017 . Freeform's 'Black-ish' Spinoff Adds Trio to Cast . August 2, 2017 . The Hollywood Reporter.
- News: August 30, 2017 . Grown-ish – Francia Raisa & Jordan Buhat Join Cast; Chloe x Halle to Recur . SpoilerTV . October 19, 2018.
- Agard . Chancellor . August 30, 2017 . Grown-ish: Black-ish spin-off adds two cast members . . August 30, 2017.
- Web site: Andreeva . Nellie . May 19, 2017 . 'Black-ish' Spinoff 'College-ish' Starring Yara Shahidi Gets Freeform Series Order . May 19, 2017 . Deadline Hollywood.
- Freeform Picks Up New Black-ish Spin-Off Grown-ish (Formerly College-ish) . May 2017 . . February 29, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170523165047/https://freeform.go.com/news/freeform-picks-up-new-black-ish-spin-off-college-ish . May 23, 2017.
- Web site: Andreeva . Nellie . January 19, 2018 . 'Grown-ish' Renewed For Season 2 By Freeform . January 19, 2018 . Deadline Hollywood.
- Web site: Iannucci . Rebecca . February 5, 2019 . grown-ish Renewed for Season 3 . February 5, 2019 . . February 5, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190205205559/https://tvline.com/2019/02/05/grownish-renewed-season-3-freeform/ . dead .
- Highfill . Samantha . November 7, 2019 . Freeform announces January premiere dates for 'The Bold Type,' 'Good Trouble,' and more . Entertainment Weekly . December 4, 2019.
- Web site: Petski . Denise . January 17, 2020 . 'Grown-ish' & 'Good Trouble' Renewed By Freeform – TCA . January 17, 2020 . Deadline Hollywood.
- Web site: Gelman . Vlada . May 19, 2020 . Good Trouble and grown-ish Returns Both Delayed Until 2021 . May 20, 2020 . . en.
- Web site: grown-ish . May 19, 2020 . hey #grownish fam, while we had planned to be back this summer, we are now coming back with new episodes in 2021. we know that's a bummer, it is for us too, but we will be back stronger and grown-er than ever in 2021. let's just pretend that 2020 never happened.pic.twitter.com/DSavVvpRZg . May 20, 2020 . @grownish . en.
- Bucksbaum . Sydney . May 10, 2021 . Freeform sets premiere dates for Good Trouble, Grown-ish, and Motherland: Fort Salem . . May 10, 2021.
- Web site: Del Rosario . Alexandra . March 7, 2022 . 'Grown-ish' Renewed For Season 5 By Freeform; Marcus Scribner Joins Cast, Zakiyyah Alexander & Courtney Lilly To Co-Showrun . March 7, 2022 . Deadline Hollywood.
- Freeform's Summer Slate Sizzles with Lineup of New and Returning Original Series . May 4, 2022 . . The Futon Critic.
- Web site: 'Grown-ish' Renewed For Season 6 At Freeform. Deadline Hollywood. Katie. Campione. January 11, 2023. January 11, 2023.
- Web site: 'Grown-ish' To End With Season 6 On Freeform; Episodes Will Debut This Summer. Deadline Hollywood. Katie. Campione. March 29, 2023. March 29, 2023.
- Web site: Freeform Sets Premiere Dates For 'Grown-ish' Final Season & 'Cruel Summer' Season 2. Deadline Hollywood. Katie. Campione. April 17, 2023. April 17, 2023.
- Web site: Palmer . Roger . February 23, 2021 . Grown-Ish Coming Soon To Disney+ As A "Star Original" . February 23, 2021 . What's on Disney Plus.
- Web site: Grown-ish: Season 1 (2018) . May 3, 2019 . . Flixster.
- Web site: Grown-ish – Season 1 Reviews . January 10, 2018 . . CBS Interactive.
- Web site: GROWN-ISH: SEASON 2 . Rotten Tomatoes.
- Web site: Nordyke . Kimberley . May 3, 2018 . MTV Movie & TV Awards 2018 Nominations: Complete List . May 25, 2018 . The Hollywood Reporter.
- Web site: Black Reel Awards for TV -Past Winners & Nominees by Category . 2023-03-30 . . en-US.
- Web site: Swift . Andy . June 22, 2018 . Teen Choice Awards 2018: Riverdale Leads Final Wave of TV Nominations . June 22, 2018 . TVLine.
- Web site: Foundation . Imagen . 2018 Imagen Awards Winners & Nominees . 2023-03-30 . . en-US.
- Web site: T. H. R. Staff . 2019-03-30 . NAACP Awards: 'Black-ish,' 'Black Panther' Top Winners List . 2023-03-30 . . en-US.
- Web site: Swift . Andy . July 8, 2019 . Teen Choice Awards: Stranger Things Leads Final Wave of 2019 Nominations . July 17, 2019 . . en . July 8, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190708201032/https://tvline.com/2019/07/08/teen-choice-awards-nominees-2019-stranger-things-full-list-nominations/ . dead .
- Web site: Swift . Andy . July 8, 2019 . Teen Choice Awards: Stranger Things Leads Final Wave of 2019 Nominations . July 17, 2019 . . en . July 8, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190708201032/https://tvline.com/2019/07/08/teen-choice-awards-nominees-2019-stranger-things-full-list-nominations/ . dead .
- Web site: Schaffstall . Katherine . Howard . Annie . 2020-02-22 . NAACP Image Awards: Lizzo Named Entertainer of the Year; 'Just Mercy,' 'Black-ish' Among Top Winners . 2023-03-30 . . en-US.
- Web site: Behzadi . Sofia . July 19, 2022 . 'Euphoria', 'Abbott Elementary' & Apple Among ReFrame Stamp Recipients For Gender-Balanced Hiring; Numbers Down From 2020–2021 . July 27, 2022 . . en-US.
- Web site: Hipes . Patrick . July 13, 2021 . Emmy Nominations: 'The Crown', 'The Mandalorian' Top List; HBO/HBO Max Edges Netflix For Top Spot – Full List Of Nominees . July 13, 2021 . Deadline Hollywood.
- Web site: Freeform - Grown-ish: Roots of Our Roots . 2023-08-15 . . en.
- Web site: Clio Entertainment Winners . 2023-08-15 . . en.
- September 4, 2022 . 2022 Creative Arts Emmys: See full winners list . 2023-03-30 . . en.