Wikipedia

Little America (TV series)

Little America is an American anthology television series produced for Apple TV+. It premiered on January 17, 2020.[1] The series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on December 9, 2022.

Little America
Genre
Based onLittle America
by Epic Magazine
Developed byLee Eisenberg & Emily V. Gordon & Kumail Nanjiani
Starring
ComposerMichael Brook
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes16
Production
Executive producers
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time30 minutes
Production companies
  • Alan Yang Pictures
  • Quantity Entertainment (season 1)
  • Piece of Work Productions (season 2)
  • Epic Magazine
  • Universal Television
Original release
NetworkApple TV+
ReleaseJanuary 17, 2020 (2020-01-17) –
December 9, 2022 (2022-12-09)

Premise

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Little America looks to "go beyond the headlines to look at the funny, romantic, heartfelt, inspiring and unexpected lives of immigrants in America, at a time when their stories are more relevant than ever."[2]

Cast

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The Manager

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The Jaguar

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  • Jearnest Corchado as Marisol
  • Melinna Bobadilla as Gloria
  • John Ortiz as Squash Coach
  • Jamie Gore Pawlik as Charlotte Ansley
  • Chelsea Patricia Ramirez as Shirley

The Cowboy

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The Silence

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The Baker

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The Grand Prize Expo Winners

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  • Angela Lin as Ai
  • X. Lee as Bo
  • Madeleine Chang as Cheng

The Rock

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  • Shaun Toub as Faraz
  • Shila Vosough Ommi as Yasmin
  • Justin Ahdoot as Behrad

The Son

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The 9th Caller

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Episodes

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Series overview
SeasonEpisodesOriginally released
18January 17, 2020 (2020-01-17)
28December 9, 2022 (2022-12-09)

Season 1 (2020)

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No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byTeleplay byOriginal release date [5]
11"The Manager"Deepa MehtaRajiv JosephJanuary 17, 2020 (2020-01-17)
22"The Jaguar"Aurora GuerreroDan LeFrancJanuary 17, 2020 (2020-01-17)
33"The Cowboy"Bharat NalluriStory by : Janicza Bravo & Brian Savelson
Teleplay by : Brian Savelson & Mfoniso Udofia		January 17, 2020 (2020-01-17)
44"The Silence"Sian HederSian HederJanuary 17, 2020 (2020-01-17)
55"The Baker"Chioke NassorCasallina KisakyeJanuary 17, 2020 (2020-01-17)
66"The Grand Prize Expo Winners"Tze ChunTze ChunJanuary 17, 2020 (2020-01-17)
77"The Rock"Nima NourizadehLee Eisenberg & Emily V. Gordon & Kumail NanjianiJanuary 17, 2020 (2020-01-17)
88"The Son"Stephen DunnAmrou Al-Kadhi & Stephen DunnJanuary 17, 2020 (2020-01-17)

Season 2 (2022)

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No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byTeleplay byOriginal release date
91"Mr. Song"Deepa MehtaTeleplay by : Sian Heder & Alan Yang
Story by : Jenny Zhang & Sian Heder		December 9, 2022 (2022-12-09)
102"The Bra Whisperer"Tara MieleMfoniso UdofiaDecember 9, 2022 (2022-12-09)
113"The 9th Caller"Tinge KrishnanEmily V. Gordon & Kumail NanjianiDecember 9, 2022 (2022-12-09)
124"Camel on a Stick"Sunu GoneraLee Eisenberg & Idil IbrahimDecember 9, 2022 (2022-12-09)
135"Space Door"Darya ZhukDarya Zhuk & Erika ShefferDecember 9, 2022 (2022-12-09)
146"Columbus Starlings LLC"Diane ParagasNaomi Brodkin & Ali LiebegottDecember 9, 2022 (2022-12-09)
157"Paper Piano"Aron Gaudet & Gita PullapillyBrian SavelsonDecember 9, 2022 (2022-12-09)
168"The Indoor Arm"Patricia RiggenJoe HortuaDecember 9, 2022 (2022-12-09)

Production

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On February 8, 2018, it was announced that Apple was developing a television series based on the true stories collection "Little America" featured in Epic Magazine. The show was set to be written by Lee Eisenberg, Kumail Nanjiani, and Emily V. Gordon, all of whom also executive produced alongside Sian Heder, Alan Yang, Joshuah Bearman, and Joshua Davis. Arthur Spector acted as co-executive producer. The series was showrun by Lee Eisenberg and Sian Heder. Production companies involved with the series include Universal Television.[2][6][7][8] On June 19, 2018, it was announced that Apple had given the production a series order.[9][10][11] The show began filming in New Jersey in early 2019;[12] however, the eighth episode of the first season, "The Son" (which is about a gay asylum seeker from Syria), was shot in the Canadian province of Quebec because the American Executive Order 13780 prevented some of its actors from being able to enter the United States for filming.[13]

The series was renewed for a second season in December 2019, prior to the series premiere.[1] The second season premiered on December 9, 2022, with an eight episode season.[14]

Reception

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Critical response

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On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season has an approval rating of 95% based on 37 reviews, with an average rating of 8.92/10. The site's critics' consensus is, "Joyous, heartfelt, and very human, Little America's thoughtful collection of immigrant tales is as inspirational as it is relatable."[15] The second season has an approval rating of 100% based on 10 reviews.[15] On Metacritic, the series has a score of 85 out of 100 based on 26 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[16]

The Atlantic's Hannah Giorgis wrote of the first season, "Its ambitions aren't flashy, but Little America leads with a clear investment in the kinds of people often relegated to the background of other shows. It's a smart, empathetic choice—one that benefits both Apple and viewers."[17] Brian Lowry of CNN said, "The subjects vary, but almost without exception the stories are quirky yet resonant, emotional and relatable, with a sweet (or occasionally slightly bittersweet) payoff."[18]

Reviewing the second season, Craig Matheson of The Sydney Morning Herald wrote, "Just over a half hour in length, these new episodes have a modest but enduring insight and empathy".[19] RogerEbert.com's Clint Worthington wrote, "in its unassuming nature and casual confidence, not to mention the heartwarming humanism of its stories, it might be one of the streamer's greatest secret weapons."[4]

Accolades

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Year Award Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
2020
 Imagen Foundation Awards Best Primetime Program – Comedy Little America Nominated [20]
Best Director – Television Aurora Guerrero Nominated
Best Actress – Television Jearnest Corchado Won
Best Supporting Actor – Television John Ortiz Won
Location Managers Guild Awards Outstanding Locations in a Limited Anthology Television Series Michael Hartel, Rocco Nisivoccia and Adrian Knight Won [21]
2021
 British Academy Television Awards Best International Programme Little America Nominated [22]
GLAAD Media Awards Special Recognition “The Son” Won [23]
Independent Spirit Awards Best New Scripted Series Little America Nominated [24]
Best Male Performance in a New Scripted Series Conphidance Nominated
Adam Ali Nominated
NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series Lee Eisenberg, Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V, Gordon (for "The Rock") Nominated [25]
Rajiv Joseph (for "The Manager") Nominated
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series Aurora Guerrero (for "The Jaguar") Nominated

References

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  1. ^ a b Thorne, Will (December 12, 2019). "'Little America' Scores Early Season 2 Renewal at Apple". Variety. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (February 8, 2018). "'Little America' Immigrant Anthology Series In Works At Apple From 'The Big Sick' Writers, Lee Eisenberg & Alan Yang". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  3. ^ Tumwesigyeq, Joseph. "Uganda's Kemiyondo is "The Baker" in Apple TV+'s "Little America"". NTV Uganda. Archived from the original on 16 November 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  4. ^ a b Worthington, Clint (December 9, 2022). "Little America Returns For More Heartwarming Stories In Its Second Season". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  5. ^ "Little America – Listings". Apple TV+. 16 January 2020. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  6. ^ Otterson, Joe (February 8, 2018). "'Big Sick' Pair, Lee Eisenberg to Shepherd Immigrant Anthology Series 'Little America' for Apple". Variety. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  7. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (February 8, 2018). "'The Big Sick' Writers Plot Immigration Anthology Series for Apple". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  8. ^ Wright, Megh (February 8, 2018). "Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon Developing 'Little America' Anthology Series at Apple". Splitsider. Archived from the original on May 14, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  9. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (June 19, 2018). "Apple Orders 'Little America' Immigrant Anthology Series From 'The Big Sick' Writers, Lee Eisenberg & Alan Yang". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 20, 2018. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  10. ^ Otterson, Joe (June 19, 2018). "Apple Orders 'Little America' Anthology Series From 'Big Sick' Duo, Lee Eisenberg". Variety. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  11. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (June 19, 2018). "Immigration Anthology From 'Big Sick' Writers Ordered to Series at Apple". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  12. ^ Katzban, Nicholas (April 17, 2019). "'Silicon Valley' star shoots Apple TV series in Lyndhurst on immigrant experience stories". Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  13. ^ Daniel Reynolds, "Apple's Little America Spotlights Gay Muslims & Found Family's Power" Archived 2020-11-16 at the Wayback Machine. The Advocate, January 17, 2020.
  14. ^ Nemetz, Dave (September 29, 2022). "The Mosquito Coast, Mythic Quest and More Get Fall Release Dates at Apple". TVLine. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  15. ^ a b "Little America: Season 2". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  16. ^ "Little America". Metacritic. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  17. ^ Giorgis, Hannah (2020-01-23). "Finally, Apple Has Made a Great TV Show With 'Little America'". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  18. ^ Lowry, Brian (2020-01-16). "'Little America' brings a warm look at immigrant stories to Apple TV+". CNN. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  19. ^ Mathieson, Craig (2022-12-28). "Billie Piper returns in I Hate Suzie Too, and it's a punch in the guts". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  20. ^ Evans, Greg (August 5, 2020). "Imagen Awards For Latinx Representation Sets Nominees: 'One Day At A Time', 'I Carry You With Me' On Roster – Complete List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  21. ^ Giardina, Carolyn (October 24, 2020). "Spike Lee at Location Manager Guild Awards: "God Willing We'll All Be Back Working Together"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  22. ^ "BAFTA TV 2021: Nominations for the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards and British Academy Television Craft Awards". BAFTA. 28 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  23. ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (April 8, 2021). "GLAAD Media Awards Winners List: 'Schitt's Creek', 'Disclosure', 'Star Trek: Discovery', 'We're Here' Among Honorees; Deadline's New Hollywood Podcast Receives Special Recognition". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  24. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (January 26, 2021). "Spirit Awards Nominations: 'Never Rarely Sometimes Always', 'Minari', 'Nomadland' & 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' Lead Field". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  25. ^ Davis, Clayton (February 2, 2021). "Viola Davis, Tyler Perry and Regina King Up for Entertainer of the Year at 2021 NAACP Image Awards". Variety. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
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