The Carmichael Show

The Carmichael Show is an American sitcom television series created by Nicholas Stoller, Jerrod Carmichael, Ari Katcher, and Willie Hunter that premiered on August 26, 2015, on NBC and concluded on August 9, 2017, after three seasons and 32 episodes. Starring Carmichael, it follows a fictional version of his family. The multi-camera show is set in Charlotte, North Carolina.
On May 15, 2016, NBC renewed the series for a 13-episode third season, which premiered with back-to-back episodes on May 31, 2017. On June 30, 2017, NBC canceled the series after three seasons when Carmichael announced that he would be departing to pursue other projects. The series received positive reviews throughout its run.
Premise.
"The Carmichael Show" follows a fictional version of comedian Jerrod Carmichael's family, set in Charlotte, North Carolina. Family members include Jerrod's father Joe, mother Cynthia, and brother Bobby. Other characters include Jerrod's live-in girlfriend (later wife) Maxine, and Bobby's estranged wife Nekeisha. Episodes often tackle serious societal issues and current events in a humorous context.
Production.
Development and filming.
Carmichael began developing and executive producing the series in November 2014, based upon his real life as a stand up and his family. On December 18, 2014 the series changed from "Untitled" to "Go Jerrod, Go". On March 10, 2015 NBC ordered the pilot to series under the final title "The Carmichael Show" with restrictions such as ordering six episodes to air during the summer.
On September 14, 2015, the series was renewed by NBC for a second season of 13 episodes, which premiered on Wednesday, March 9 with a sneak preview episode after "The Voice". It then premiered in its regular timeslot Sunday, March 13, 2016 at 9/8c with back-to-back episodes.
Casting.
On December 18, 2014, Loretta Devine was cast as Carmichael's mother, and Amber Stevens West as Carmichael's girlfriend. On January 5, 2015, David Alan Grier was cast to play Carmichael's father. On January 7, 2015, Lil Rel Howery was cast to play Carmichael's brother.
Reception.
Critical reception.
The series has received positive reviews. On Metacritic, the first season has a score of 64 out of 100, based on 15 critics, generally praising the show for its originality; one described it as "a smart and crafty comedy". The second season received better reviews, with a score of 80 out of 100 on Metacritic, indicative of "generally favorable reviews"; critics praise the series for its writing and the topics it discusses. The third season also received "generally favorable reviews" with a score of 79 out of 100, based on 8 critics.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season received 67% "fresh" ratings. The second season received 100% "fresh" ratings. As of late July 2017, the third season has received an 88% "fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes. TV critic Alan Sepinwall wrote, with regard to the third season, "Few sitcoms are built to handle the kind of provocative content that "The Carmichael Show" embraces as its reason for being... Carmichael not only keeps the jokes flying the whole time, but makes them better when it's at its most Very Special."
Controversy.
On June 14, 2017, after mass shootings in Virginia and San Francisco, NBC pulled the original episode, "Shoot-Up-Able," which saw Carmichael's character surviving a mass shooting physically unharmed but psychologically scarred. They replaced it with the episode "Lesbian Wedding." That same day, Carmichael appeared on the Netflix talk show "Chelsea", which was filmed after the shootings but before NBC had made the final decision to pull the episode. Carmichael told host Chelsea Handler that he hoped NBC would not pull "Shoot-Up-Able," and that doing so would be a "disservice" to viewers. The episode was not centered around political discussions such as gun control, but Carmichael and his family afterward. It eventually aired on June 28.