Love Is (stylized as Love Is ___) is an American drama television series created and produced by Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil. Based on the Akils’ real-life relationship, the series follows a modern-day power couple in Black Hollywood balancing successful careers and family over three decades. The series premiered on June 19, 2018, on the Oprah Winfrey Network.[1]
| Love Is | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Comedy drama |
| Created by | |
| Starring |
|
| Composer | Akira Kosemura |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 10 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Running time | 42 minutes |
| Production companies |
|
| Original release | |
| Network | Oprah Winfrey Network |
| Release | June 19 – August 21, 2018 |
On July 31, 2018, it was renewed for a second season,[2] but on December 19, 2018, the series was cancelled by OWN after a woman accused Salim Akil of domestic violence in their alleged extramarital affair and for copyright infringement alleging that her screenplay was used as the basis for the series.[3]
Plot
editIn 2017, a Black power couple tell the story of how they found love in one another and of their rise to fame in Hollywood starting in the 1990s. When they meet, Nuri is a comedy sitcom staff writer who longs to work in drama and Yasir is an aspiring but out-of-work writer and director.
Cast and characters
editMain
edit- Michele Weaver as Nuri Summers in the year 1997
- Will Catlett as Yasir Omar in the year 1997
- Wendy Davis as Nuri in the year 2017
- Clarke Peters as Yasir in the year 2017
- Idara Victor as Angela in the year 1997
- Tyrone Brown as Sean in the year 1997
- Yootha Wong-Loi-Sing as Ruby in the year 1997
- Kadeem Hardison as Norman in the year 1997
Recurring
edit- Tammy Townsend as Carol, the mother of Nuri
- Loretta Devine as Betty, the mother of Yasir
- Tim Reid as Sean in 2017.
- Vanessa Bell Calloway as Angela in 2017
- Lucius Baston as Lionel Woods
- Tosin Morohunfola as Keith
- Michael King as Will
- Jef Holbrook as the Bookstore Manager[4]
- Robert Crayton as Big Bob
Episodes
edit| No. | Title [5] | Directed by | Written by | Original air date [5] | US viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Nuri and Yasir" | Mara Brock Akil | Mara Brock Akil | June 19, 2018 | 1.00[6] |
| 2 | "First Date" | Robert Townsend | Mara Brock Akil | June 26, 2018 | 0.976[7] |
| 3 | "(Her) Questions" | Tanya Hamilton | Mara Brock Akil | July 3, 2018 | 0.709[8] |
| 4 | "(His) Answers" | Cheryl Dunye | Jerron Horton | July 10, 2018 | 0.983[9] |
| 5 | "Acceptance" | Oz Scott | Michelle Listenbee Brown | July 17, 2018 | 1.14[10] |
| 6 | "Supportive" | Karen Gaviola | Story by : Jerron Horton & Will Catlett Teleplay by : Jerron Horton | July 24, 2018 | 0.868[11] |
| 7 | "Not Valentine's Day" | Salli Richardson | Mara Brock Akil & Jerron Horton | July 31, 2018 | 0.614[12] |
| 8 | "Rose (Going Home)" | Neema Barnette | Michelle Listenbee Brown | August 7, 2018 | 0.700[13] |
| 9 | "A First Script" | Rachael Holder | Melora Rivera | August 14, 2018 | 0.980[14] |
| 10 | "Love Is Engagement" | Mara Brock Akil | Mara Brock Akil | August 21, 2018 | 1.06[15] |
Production
editDevelopment
editThe series originated under the title Documenting Love, a multi-camera comedy project at ABC with a pilot production commitment in August, 2016.[16] The project, which did not go to production at ABC network, later was rewritten as a one-hour single-camera dramedy. On July 18, 2017, it was announced that the project, now titled Love Is, was ordered direct-to-series on Oprah Winfrey Network for airing in 2018.[17]
Casting
editOn December 6, 2017, it was announced that newcomers Michele Weaver and Will Catlett would star as Nuri, a sitcom staff writer, and Yasir, a writer-director.[18][19] On January 16, 2018, Idara Victor, Tyrone Brown, Kadeem Hardison, Yootha Wong-Loi-Sing, and Lana Young have been cast as series regulars.[20] On February 15, 2018 Clarke Peters joined the cast as regular.[21] On February 16, 2018, it was announced that Tammy Townsend, Loretta Devine, Tim Reid and Vanessa Bell Calloway were cast for recurring roles on the series.[22]
On April 13, 2018, it was announced that Wendy Davis would replace Lana Young as Nuri in the year 2017.[23]
Reception
editCritical response
editOn the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the series has an approval rating of 80% based on 10 reviews, with an average rating of 6.7/10.[24] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 66 out of 100 based on 6 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[25]
Ratings
edit| No. | Title | Air date | Rating (18–49) |
Viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Nuri and Yasir" | June 19, 2018 | 0.3 | 1.00[6] |
| 2 | "First Date" | June 26, 2018 | 0.3 | 0.976[7] |
| 3 | "(Her) Questions" | July 3, 2018 | 0.2 | 0.709[8] |
| 4 | "(His) Answers" | July 10, 2018 | 0.3 | 0.983[9] |
| 5 | "Acceptance" | July 17, 2018 | 0.3 | 1.14[10] |
| 6 | "Supportive" | July 24, 2018 | 0.2 | 0.868[11] |
| 7 | "Not Valentine's Day" | July 31, 2018 | 0.2 | 0.614[12] |
| 8 | "Rose" | August 7, 2018 | 0.2 | 0.700[13] |
| 9 | "A First Script" | August 14, 2018 | 0.3 | 0.980[14] |
| 10 | "Love Is Engagement" | August 21, 2018 | 0.3 | 1.06[15] |
References
edit- ^ Petski, Denise (May 8, 2018). "'Love Is___' Premiere Date Set On OWN". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
- ^ Petski, Denise (July 31, 2018). "'Love Is ___' Renewed By OWN For Season 2". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
- ^ Patten, Dominic (December 19, 2018). "OWN Breaks Up With 'Love Is _' Amidst EP Salim Akil Domestic Violence Claims".
- ^ "Love Is_ (TV Series 2018) - IMDb". IMDb.
- ^ a b "Love Is_ Listings". The Futon Critic. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (June 20, 2018). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.19.2018". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on June 20, 2018. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (June 27, 2018). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.26.2018". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on June 28, 2018. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (July 5, 2018). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.3.2018". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on July 5, 2018. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (July 11, 2018). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.10.2018". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on July 12, 2018. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (July 18, 2018). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.17.2018". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on July 18, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (July 25, 2018). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.24.2018". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (August 1, 2018). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.31.2018". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on August 2, 2018. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (August 8, 2018). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 8.7.2018". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on August 9, 2018. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (August 15, 2018). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 8.14.2018". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on August 16, 2018. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (August 22, 2018). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 8.21.2018". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on August 25, 2018. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (August 26, 2016). "ABC Nabs Mara Brock Akil & Salim Akil Romantic Comedy 'Documenting Love' With Pilot Production Commitment". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (July 18, 2017). "OWN Orders Relationship Dramedy Series From Mara Brock Akil & Salim Akil". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
- ^ Pedersen, Erik (December 6, 2017). "'Love Is___': Michele Weaver & Will Catlett Set As Leads For OWN Series From Akil Productions". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
- ^ Otterson, Joe (December 6, 2017). "OWN Drama 'Love Is___' Casts Michele Weaver, Will Catlett in Lead Roles". Variety. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
- ^ Petski, Denise (January 16, 2018). "'Love Is___': OWN Relationship Dramedy From Mara Brock Akil & Salim Akil Adds Five To Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
- ^ Petski, Denise (February 16, 2018). "'Love Is___': Clarke Peters To Co-Star In OWN Relationship Dramedy From Mara Brock Akil & Salim Akil". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
- ^ Petski, Denise (February 16, 2018). "'Love Is___': Tammy Townsend, Loretta Devine, Tim Reid & Vanessa Bell Calloway Set To Recur In OWN Dramedy". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
- ^ Petski, Denise (April 13, 2018). "'Love Is ___': Wendy Davis Joins OWN Relationship Dramedy In Recasting". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
- ^ "Love Is ____: Season 1 (2018)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
- ^ "Love Is ____ Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved August 1, 2018.