The fourth season of Black-ish aired from October 3, 2017, to May 15, 2018, on ABC in the United States. It is produced by Khalabo Ink Society, Cinema Gypsy Productions, Principato-Young Entertainment and ABC Studios, with creator Kenya Barris, who also serves as executive producer alongside Anthony Anderson, Brian Dobbins, Jonathan Groff and Helen Sugland.
| Black-ish | |
|---|---|
| Season 4 | |
 Promotional poster | |
| No. of episodes | 24 |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC (episodes 1–23) Hulu (episode 24) |
| Original release | October 3, 2017 – May 15, 2018 |
| Season chronology | |
The series revolves around Dre, portrayed by Anthony Anderson, a family man who struggles with finding his cultural identity while raising his kids in a white neighborhood. He lives with his wife, Bow (Tracee Ellis Ross).
From this season forward, Yara Shahidi is a recurring character, due to her character receiving her own spin-off show, Grown-ish.
Cast
edit
Main castedit
Recurring castedit
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Guest castedit
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Episodes
edit| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code | U.S. viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 73 | 1 | "Juneteenth" | Anton Cropper | Peter Saji | October 3, 2017 | 401 | 4.71[1] |
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The Johnsons go to Jack and Diane's school play about Columbus Day and Dre is dismayed by the historically inaccurate way that the holiday is portrayed. He feels like there aren't enough black holidays, so he enlists Aloe Blacc at work to help him create a catchy song to raise awareness for a holiday worth celebrating: Juneteenth. | |||||||
| 74 | 2 | "Mother Nature" | Ken Whittingham | Corey Nickerson | October 10, 2017 | 402 | 4.43[2] |
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Bow feels overwhelmed after Devante's birth and learns that she is suffering from postpartum depression. Dre urges her to get help and stands by her side while she works through it. Meanwhile, the kids try to help their parents by baby-proofing the house. | |||||||
| 75 | 3 | "Elder Scam" | Anton Cropper | Courtney Lilly | October 17, 2017 | 404 | 4.13[3] |
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When Ruby gets scammed, Dre suspects that she isn't as sharp as she used to be, particularly because she was the one who used to scam others. Elsewhere, Diane develops a crush on Zoey's friend Aaron. | |||||||
| 76 | 4 | "Advance to Go (Collect $200)" | Anton Cropper | Gail Lerner | October 24, 2017 | 406 | 3.98[4] |
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Dre brings everyone together for a rowdy family game night and the competition is fierce. The game of choice is Monopoly, and as the night progresses, alliances are formed and some are pushed to their limits. Meanwhile, Bow makes clear how she feels about Junior's girlfriend. | |||||||
| 77 | 5 | "Public Fool" | Kevin Bray | Kenya Barris | October 31, 2017 | 403 | 3.53[5] |
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An incident at school gets Junior expelled from his beloved Valley Glen Prep. Faced with sending their son to public school, Bow and Dre worry over how he will fare in his new environment. | |||||||
| 78 | 6 | "First and Last" | Linda Mendoza | Laura Gutin Peterson | November 7, 2017 | 405 | 3.70[6] |
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Diane experiences a big life event; sensing his dominance on the court coming to an end, Dre conducts psychological warfare on Junior before challenging him to a game of basketball. | |||||||
| 79 | 7 | "Please Don't Feed the Animals" | Michael Schultz | Hale Rothstein | November 14, 2017 | 407 | 3.86[7] |
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Dre's godbrother is released from prison, sparking a debate between Dre and Bow; the kids pressure Ruby to reveal secrets from her past. | |||||||
| 80 | 8 | "Charity Case" | Claire Scanlon | Sam Laybourne | December 5, 2017 | 409 | 4.04[8] |
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Dre is chosen to lead Stevens and Lido's new charity campaign, which helps people give back to their community. When Bow advises Dre that there is more to giving back than cutting checks, he decides to donate some of his clothes to a man in need. The man's striking resemblance to Dre results in people thinking he has become homeless himself. Meanwhile, Junior fails his driving test, so Ruby offers to chaperone him and the twins on an informative outing. | |||||||
| 81 | 9 | "Sugar Daddy" | John Fortenberry | Yamara Taylor | December 12, 2017 | 410 | 4.29[9] |
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Dre is diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and resolves to cure himself; Jack is convinced that baby Devante hates him and enlists the help of Junior and Diane in his attempts to win him over. | |||||||
| 82 | 10 | "Working Girl" | Michael Spiller | Lindsey Shockley | January 2, 2018 | 408 | 4.02[10] |
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Bow struggles to adjust when she returns to work after maternity leave; Ruby teaches the twins a way to manipulate teachers in order to get out of doing homework. | |||||||
| 83 | 11 | "Inheritance" | Millicent Shelton | Stacy Traub | January 9, 2018 | 411 | 3.75[11] |
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Ruby has a talk with Dre and Rhonda (guest star Raven-Symoné) about their inheritance; Bow's sister hires Junior as her assistant. | |||||||
| 84 | 12 | "Bow Knows" | Rob Sweeney | Laura Gutin Peterson | January 16, 2018 | 414 | 3.76[12] |
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Dre runs point on a campaign focusing on the talk black parents have with their children about racial bias; Bow finds an online support group for moms. | |||||||
| 85 | 13 | "Unkept Woman" | Pete Chatmon | Christian Lander | February 6, 2018 | 412 | 3.72[13] |
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Dre and Bow's morning routine with the kids changes; Junior bonds with Diane over teasing Jack's friend Mason now that he is in charge of driving his siblings to school. | |||||||
| 86 | 14 | "R-E-S-P-E-C-T" | Gail Lerner | Steven White | March 13, 2018 | 416 | 3.01[14] |
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Dre and Bow face their own gender biases upon learning that Junior and Zoey have both become sexually active. Ruby's feelings are hurt when she realizes Jack and Diane are spending time with a classmate's grandmother after school. | |||||||
| 87 | 15 | "White Breakfast" | Rob Cohen | Lindsey Shockley | March 13, 2018 | 415 | 2.86[14] |
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Dre and Bow try to figure out the right balance of discipline and support when Jack and Diane get in trouble at school. Ruby believes Junior's Spanish teacher might be coming on to him. | |||||||
| 88 | 16 | "Things Were Different Then" | Todd Holland | Courtney Lilly | March 20, 2018 | 417 | 3.90[15] |
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Dre sees his father's past in a new light when he and Junior plan Pops' 65th birthday party; Jack and Diane take advantage of Bow's decision to say yes to everything for a whole year. | |||||||
| 89 | 17 | "North Star" | Eva Longoria | Laura Gutin Peterson | March 27, 2018 | 418 | 8.58[16] |
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Dre and Bow learn to love each other's cuisines when their families arrive for Easter; Jack and Diane pretend not to be interested in Junior's Easter egg hunt to impress their cool cousins. | |||||||
| 90 | 18 | "Black Math" | Kevin Bray | Doug Hall | April 3, 2018 | 419 | 5.27[17] |
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When Junior is accepted into Stanford, Andre tries to convince him to attend Howard University instead. Jack develops a comedy style and Ruby decides to manage his career, forcing Diane to compete for her attention. | |||||||
| 91 | 19 | "Dog Eat Dog World" | Anton Cropper | Jenifer Rice-Genzuk Henry | April 10, 2018 | 420 | 4.90[18] |
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The family is divided over the idea of getting a dog after Dre and Bow promise Jack he can get one if he gets straight A's -- and he does. Meanwhile, Bow's brother Johan (guest star Daveed Diggs) is in town and doesn't get the warm welcome he expects from Ruby. | |||||||
| 92 | 20 | "Fifty-Three Percent" | Tracee Ellis Ross | Gail Lerner | April 17, 2018 | 421 | 4.04[19] |
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Fighting more than usual, Dre and Bow return to their therapist, who suggests they schedule a date night; when a bounce house gets left behind after Devante's first birthday party, Jack and Diane take advantage of it in different ways. | |||||||
| 93 | 21 | "Blue Valentime" | Jonathan Groff | Yamara Taylor | May 1, 2018 | 422 | 4.45[20] |
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Tensions are high between Dre and Bow as their contractor arrives to remodel the kitchen; Dre reflects on the good times in his relationship with Bow. | |||||||
| 94 | 22 | "Collateral Damage" | Gail Lerner | Owen H.M. Smith | May 8, 2018 | 423 | 4.32[21] |
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Feeling that their marriage is on the rocks, Dre and Bow separate. They maintain a civil relationship in front of the kids but, in private, their relationship remains strained. During a graduation party for Junior, Dre and Bow get into a heated argument without realizing their kids are watching, devastating the kids, who blame themselves for their parents' fighting, and diminishing their own hopes for reconciliation. | |||||||
| 95 | 23 | "Dream Home" | E. Langston Craig | Graham Towers & Steve Vitolo | May 15, 2018 | 424 | 4.96[22] |
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Dre and Bow try to lead separate lives by splitting their time with the kids and adapting to their new realities: Dre leases his dream glass house in the Hollywood Hills, which proves to be a challenge with the kids, while Bow struggles to be the man of the house. However, a family tragedy prompts Dre and Bow to come together and reconsider their future. | |||||||
Unaired episode
editThe would-be fourteenth episode of the season, titled "Please, Baby, Please", was shot in November 2017, and originally scheduled to air on February 27, 2018. However on February 22, 2018, ABC announced that the episode would be pulled from the schedule and that a repeat of a past episode would air instead.[23] USA Today stated that the episode "was apparently too political for the network".[24] An ABC spokesperson said that there "were creative differences we were unable to resolve".[25] On March 10, 2018, it was officially announced that the network had no plans to air the episode.[26] In the episode, Dre tries to read a bedtime story to Devante during a thunderstorm, but instead improvises a new story based on recent social and political issues in the United States.[27] It was added to Hulu on August 10, 2020.[28]
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code | U.S. viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 96 | 24 | "Please, Baby, Please" | Kenya Barris | Kenya Barris & Peter Saji | August 10, 2020 (Hulu) | 413 | – |
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Devante keeps everyone awake on a stormy night with his crying, so Dre is given the task of calming him down with a bedtime story, but when that doesn't work, he tells his own story about the current state of the country. | |||||||
Reception
editRatings
edit| No. | Title | Air date | Rating/share (18–49) |
Viewers (millions) |
DVR (18–49) |
Total (18–49) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Juneteenth" | October 3, 2017 | 1.5/5 | 4.71[1] | 0.7 | 2.2[29] |
| 2 | "Mother Nature" | October 10, 2017 | 1.3/5 | 4.43[2] | 0.7 | 2.0[30] |
| 3 | "Elder. Scam." | October 17, 2017 | 1.1/4 | 4.13[3] | 0.8 | 1.9[31] |
| 4 | "Advance to Go (Collect $200)" | October 24, 2017 | 1.1/4 | 3.98[4] | — | — |
| 5 | "Public Fool" | October 31, 2017 | 1.0/4 | 3.53[5] | — | — |
| 6 | "First and Last" | November 7, 2017 | 1.1/4 | 3.70[6] | 0.7 | 1.8[32] |
| 7 | "Please Don't Feed the Animals" | November 14, 2017 | 1.1/4 | 3.86[7] | — | — |
| 8 | "Charity Case" | December 5, 2017 | 1.0/4 | 4.04[8] | 0.7 | 1.7[33] |
| 9 | "Sugar Daddy" | December 12, 2017 | 1.2/5 | 4.29[9] | — | — |
| 10 | "Working Girl" | January 2, 2018 | 1.1/4 | 4.02[10] | — | — |
| 11 | "Inheritance" | January 9, 2018 | 1.0/4 | 3.75[11] | — | — |
| 12 | "Bow Knows" | January 16, 2018 | 1.0/4 | 3.76[12] | — | — |
| 13 | "Unkept Woman" | February 6, 2018 | 1.0/4 | 3.72[13] | 0.6 | 1.6[34] |
| 14 | "R-E-S-P-E-C-T" | March 13, 2018 | 0.9/3 | 3.01[14] | TBD | TBD |
| 15 | "White Breakfast" | March 13, 2018 | 0.9/3 | 2.86[14] | TBD | TBD |
| 16 | "Things Were Different Then" | March 20, 2018 | 1.1/4 | 3.90[15] | TBD | TBD |
| 17 | "North Star" | March 27, 2018 | 2.6/10 | 8.58[16] | TBD | TBD |
| 18 | "Black Math" | April 3, 2018 | 1.5/6 | 5.27[17] | TBD | TBD |
| 19 | "Dog Eat Dog World" | April 10, 2018 | 1.3/5 | 4.90[18] | 0.6 | 1.9[35] |
| 20 | "Fifty-Three Percent" | April 17, 2018 | 1.1/4 | 4.04[19] | TBD | TBD |
| 21 | "Blue Valentime" | May 1, 2018 | 1.2/5 | 4.45[20] | TBD | TBD |
| 22 | "Collateral Damage" | May 8, 2018 | 1.2/5 | 4.32[21] | TBD | TBD |
| 23 | "Dream Home" | May 15, 2018 | 1.2/5 | 4.96[22] | TBD | TBD |
References
edit- ^ a b Porter, Rick (October 4, 2017). "'Fresh Off the Boat,' 'Voice' adjust up, 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine,' 'L&O True Crime' adjust down: Tuesday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 5, 2017. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
- ^ a b Porter, Rick (October 11, 2017). "'Voice,' 'Flash,' 'Lethal Weapon' & 'The Mick' adjust up, 'NCIS: New Orleans' down: Tuesday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 11, 2017. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
- ^ a b Porter, Rick (October 18, 2017). "'NCIS,' 'Voice' and 'This Is Us' adjust up, 'Black-ish' and 'L&O True Crime' down: Tuesday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 18, 2017. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
- ^ a b Porter, Rick (October 25, 2017). "'This Is Us,' 'Fresh Off the Boat,' 'Kevin' & World Series adjust up, 'L&O True Crime' down: Tuesday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 26, 2017. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
- ^ a b Porter, Rick (November 1, 2017). "'The Middle' and World Series adjust up, 'Law & Order True Crime' down: Tuesday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 1, 2017. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
- ^ a b Porter, Rick (November 8, 2017). "'The Middle' adjusts up, 'The Mayor' adjusts down: Tuesday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 9, 2017. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
- ^ a b Porter, Rick (November 15, 2017). "'Fresh Off the Boat,' 'The Flash' and 'Kevin' adjust up, 'Bull' and 'L&O True Crime' adjust down: Tuesday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 16, 2017. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
- ^ a b Porter, Rick (December 6, 2017). "'Chicago Med' adjusts up: Tuesday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on December 7, 2017. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
- ^ a b Porter, Rick (December 13, 2017). "'The Voice,' 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine,' all others unchanged: Tuesday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on December 13, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
- ^ a b Porter, Rick (January 4, 2018). "'Bull' adjusts up: Tuesday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 5, 2018. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
- ^ a b Welch, Alex (January 10, 2018). "'Kevin (Probably) Saves the World' adjusts down: Tuesday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 11, 2018. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
- ^ a b Porter, Rick (January 18, 2018). "Originals all hold, 'Modern Family' rerun adjusts down: Tuesday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 19, 2018. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
- ^ a b Porter, Rick (February 7, 2018). "'NCIS' and 'Bull' adjust up: Tuesday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 8, 2018. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
- ^ a b c d Porter, Rick (March 14, 2018). "'This Is Us,' 'The Voice,' 'NCIS,' 'Black-ish' adjust up, 'Rise' adjusts down: Tuesday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 15, 2018. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
- ^ a b Porter, Rick (March 21, 2018). "'The Voice,' 'The Middle' and 'LA to Vegas' adjust up: Tuesday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 22, 2018. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
- ^ a b Porter, Rick (March 28, 2018). "'Roseanne,' 'The Voice' & 'The Mick' adjust up, 'Bull' and 'Splitting Up Together' down: Tuesday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
- ^ a b Porter, Rick (April 4, 2018). "'Rise' adjusts down: Tuesday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 4, 2018. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
- ^ a b Porter, Rick (April 11, 2018). "'Roseanne,' 'The Middle,' 'Lethal Weapon' adjust up, 'Black-ish' down: Tuesday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 12, 2018. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
- ^ a b Porter, Rick (April 18, 2018). "'NCIS,' 'Alex, Inc.,' 'Lethal Weapon,' 'The Flash' adjust up, 'For the People' down: Tuesday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 19, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
- ^ a b Porter, Rick (May 2, 2018). "'Roseanne' and 'Chicago Med' adjust up, 'The 100' adjusts down: Tuesday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 3, 2018. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
- ^ a b Porter, Rick (May 9, 2018). "'The Voice' and 'Chicago Med' adjust up, 'Bull' adjusts down: Tuesday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 10, 2018. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
- ^ a b Porter, Rick (May 16, 2018). "'The Middle,' 'NCIS,' 'Chicago Med' adjust up, 'The 100' adjusts down: Tuesday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 17, 2018. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
- ^ Holloway, Daniel (March 9, 2018). "ABC Shelved 'Black-ish' Political Episode Over 'Creative Differences' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
- ^ Ruiz, Steven (March 12, 2018). "ABC shelved episode featuring a debate on NFL protests". USA Today. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
- ^ Chow, Andrew (March 11, 2018). "ABC Pulls 'black-ish' Episode Over 'Creative Differences'". The New York Times. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
- ^ Stefansky, Emma (March 10, 2018). "A Black-ish Episode About Kneeling Athletes Will Never Be Aired". Vanity Fair. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
- ^ Evans, Greg (March 10, 2018). "Topical 'Black-ish' Episode Pulled Over "Creative Differences"". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
- ^ Patten, Dominic (August 10, 2020). "Censored 'Black-ish' Political Themed Episode To Now Air On Hulu, After Over 2 Years In Limbo At ABC". Deadline. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
- ^ Porter, Rick (October 18, 2017). "'The Orville,' 'Once Upon a Time,' 5 more shows double in week 2 broadcast Live +7 ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 18, 2017. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
- ^ Porter, Rick (October 25, 2017). "'The Good Doctor' is the most-watched show on TV in week 3 broadcast Live +7 ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 25, 2017. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
- ^ Porter, Rick (November 2, 2017). "'Chicago PD,' 10 more shows double in week 4 broadcast Live +7 ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 2, 2017. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
- ^ Porter, Rick (November 27, 2017). "'This Is Us' rides high in week 7 broadcast Live +7 ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 27, 2017. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
- ^ Porter, Rick (December 21, 2017). "'Agents of SHIELD' gets a good bump in week 11 broadcast Live +7 ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on December 21, 2017. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
- ^ Porter, Rick (February 22, 2018). "'The Good Doctor' and 'This Is Us' on top again: Week 20 broadcast Live +7 ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 23, 2018. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
- ^ Porter, Rick (April 26, 2018). "'New Girl' premiere doubles in week 29 broadcast Live +7 ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 26, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2018.