Family Reunion (TV series)
| Family Reunion | |
|---|---|
| Genre | |
| Created by | Meg DeLoatch |
| Starring |
|
| Composer | Wendell Hanes |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 3 (5 parts) |
| No. of episodes | 46 +1 Crossover Episode |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producers |
|
| Cinematography |
|
| Editor | Russell Griffin |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | 24–34 minutes |
| Production company | Mega Diva |
| Original release | |
| Network | Netflix |
| Release | July 10, 2019 – October 27, 2022 |
Family Reunion is an American sitcom created by Meg DeLoatch that was released via streaming on Netflix on July 10, 2019.[1] In September 2019, the series was renewed for a second season which premiered on April 5, 2021.[2] Part 4 was released on August 26, 2021. In October 2021, the series was renewed for a third and final season, Part 5, which premiered on October 27, 2022.[3][4] A bonus crossover episode set before the second half of season 2 was released "Remember the Family's Feud" under the name Game On: A Comedy Crossover Event on August 10, 2020
Premise
[edit]A family of six from Seattle, Washington visits Columbus, Georgia to attend a family reunion. They decide to relocate there to be closer to their family.[5]
Cast and characters
[edit]Main
[edit]- Tia Mowry as Nicole "Cocoa" Joie McKellan, a mother of five (as of Season 3) who believes in new-age parenting and sometimes is very sassy but still loves her kids.
- Anthony Alabi as Moses "Moz" Deuteronomy McKellan, Cocoa's husband and a former Seahawks tight end. Although a strict person at times, he cares about his children. He might be strict, but he has a soft spot and loves to sit and joke around with his family.
- Talia Jackson as Jade McKellan, Cocoa and Moz's firstborn and older daughter, who is boy-crazy and a little rebellious.
- Isaiah Russell-Bailey as Shaka McKellan (seasons 1–2); Cocoa and Moz's older son. He is shown to be a very intelligent and academically inclined. In season 3 (also known as Part 5) he does not appear because he is attending an elite boarding school.
- Cameron J. Wright as Mazzi McKellan, Cocoa and Moz's second son, who has a passion for singing and composing music.
- Jordyn Raya James as Amelia "Ami" Nicole McKellan, Cocoa and Moz's younger daughter. As of Season 3, she is 12 years old.
- Loretta Devine as Amelia Louise "M'Dear" McKellan, née Williams, Moz's Deep Southern old-fashioned churchgoing mother.
Recurring
[edit]- Richard Roundtree as Jebediah McKellan, a pastor, M'Dear's husband of 43 years, Moz's father, and a prostate cancer survivor.
- Warren Burke as Daniel, Moz's childish brother
- Lexi Underwood as Ava (season 1), Jade's friend from church
- Naomi Grace as Genevieve, Jade's friend from school who speaks with a British accent.
- Mark Curry as Principal Glass (seasons 1–2), the principal of Maya Angelou Magnet School
- Lindsey Da Sylveira as Mikayla, Jade's nemesis, a Black activist and mocks Jade for not being “Black enough”.
- Telma Hopkins as Maybelle, M'Dear's sister who got married 4 times (5 times including her marriage to Tony in Season 3)
- Lance Alexander as Elvis, a McKellan family friend who has a crush on Jade. In Season 3, his figure changes drastically.
- Journey Carter as Renee, one of Jade's friends
- Jasun Jabbar Wardlaw, Jr. as Tyson (season 3), Moz and Cocoa's nephew and Maureen's son, whose behavior is troublesome since his father's passing but shapes up with the support of his family in Columbus.
- Legend and Legacy Jordan as Skye McKellan, Cocoa and Moz's lastborn and youngest son; Jade, Shaka, Mazzi, and Ami's youngest sibling; Daniel and Grace's nephew; M'Dear and Grandpa Jeb's fifth grandchild from Moz and Cocoa.
Guest stars
[edit]- Erica Ash as Grace, Moz and Daniel's older sister
- Charlie Wilson as Himself
- Charlie Ward as Himself (season 1)
- Tyler Cole as Royale (season 1), Jade's ex-boyfriend
- Amanda Detmer as Haven Sheeks
- Jaleel White as Eric
- Tempestt Bledsoe as Katrina
- Noah Alexander Gerry as Drew (season 1), Jade's crush
- DeLon Shaw as Missy, Jade's friend at school
- Jackée Harry as Aunt Dot (seasons 1, 3), M'Dear and Maybelle's sister
- Rome Flynn as Tony Olsen (seasons 1, 3)
- Peri Gilpin as Daphne (season 2), Cocoa's mother
- Kenya Moore as Herself (season 2)
- Candiace Dillard Bassett as Sunita Chanel (season 2)
- Brandi Glanville as Heidi (season 2)
- Akira Akbar as Brooke (season 2), Shaka's friend at school
- Bruce Bruce as Brother Davis (season 2)
- Nicco Annan as Barron (season 2), Moz's cousin and Shaka's godfather, who is gay
- Willie Gault as Himself (season 2)
- Anika Noni Rose as Miss Karen (season 2), Mazzi's piano teacher
- Tahj Mowry as Mr. Dean (season 2)
- Bella Podaras as Kelly-Ann (season 2)
- Monique Coleman as Ebony (season 2)
- Jadah Marie as Morgan (season 2), Shaka's girlfriend
- Ariel Martin as Jinji Starr (season 2)
- Essence Atkins as Aunt Maureen (season 3), Cocoa's paternal half-sister
- Lela Rochon as Dr. Turner (season 3)
- Rachel True as Cheryl (season 3), Cocoa's cousin
- Wendy Raquel Robinson as Joyce (season 3), Tony's mother and Maybelle's mother-in-law
- Robert Ri'chard as Vic (season 3)
Episodes
[edit]Series overview
[edit]Season 1 (2019–20)
[edit]| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | ||||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | "Remember How This All Started?" | Eric Dean Seaton | Meg DeLoatch | July 10, 2019 | |||||||
|
The McKellans head to a family reunion at M'Dear and Grandpa's house, where Moz, Cocoa, and the kids consider a simpler life away from city comforts. | ||||||||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Remember Charlie Wilson?" | Eric Dean Seaton | Beverly DeLoatch & Charity L. Miller | July 10, 2019 | |||||||
|
The family begins to unpack and settle in, but not everyone accepts the change so quickly. Jade must share a room with Ami, who does crazy things in her sleep, keeping Jade up all night. She refuses to continue this and starts to move upstairs to the attic. Meanwhile, Mazzi and Shaka discover an autograph signed by Charlie Wilson and M'Dear reveals that she was once involved with him; she claims that she helped him with a few things but never actually dated him. Grandpa gets furious and refuses to believe it, and ignores her attempts to explain. As Shaka and Mazzi started this by snooping around M'Dear's things, Moz grounds the boys until they figure out how to get their grandparents to make up. When all else fails, the boys turn to Jade for help, which she initially refuses, but agrees after M'Dear moves up to the attic with her and prevents her from sleeping, by loudly praying to God for a long time and snoring in her sleep. They invite Wilson over to clear things up and he confirms that he didn't date M'Dear, causing M'Dear and Grandpa to reconcile. The Mckellans hang out with Wilson and sing his songs. | ||||||||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Remember Vacation Bible School?" | Jody Margolin Hahn | Adrienne Carter | July 10, 2019 | |||||||
|
Moz gets the kids go-karts but Cocoa is totally against them; claiming that the kids will get hurt, she forbids them to ride them. Moz rides them with the kids, but Ami hurts her knee and Mazzi hurts his hand. The three agree to not tell Cocoa, but that night at dinner Ami limps and Mazzi eats with one hand, and the truth comes out. Meanwhile, M'Dear takes Jade and Shaka to Vacation Bible School, where she challenges everyone to recite as many Bible verses as possible with a certain word. She beats and humiliates everybody including Jade, Shaka, and Elvis. Determined to beat M'Dear, Jade takes Shaka's suggestion and uses a Bible-verse app to cheat and ends up beating her. However, M'Dear decides to do this at church, and before they begin she takes out Jade's earpiece, causing her to lose the competition. Jade ends up confessing to everyone and apologizing to M'Dear while the family hangs out on the porch after services. It turns out that Cocoa also drove a go-kart and got injured. | ||||||||||||
| 4 | 4 | "Remember When I Lost My Sister?" | Leonard R. Garner, Jr. | Ralph Greene | July 10, 2019 | |||||||
| ||||||||||||
| 5 | 5 | "Remember Grace Under Fire?" | Leonard R. Garner, Jr. | Chris Moore | July 10, 2019 | |||||||
| ||||||||||||
| 6 | 6 | "Remember That Crazy Road Trip?" | Eric Dean Seaton | Anthony C. Hill | July 10, 2019 | |||||||
| ||||||||||||
| 7 | 7 | "Remember the First Day of School?" | Eric Dean Seaton | Taylor Vaughn Lasley | July 10, 2019 | |||||||
|
On the children's first day of school, all four of them end up in tough situations. After a registration mishap, Mazzi poses as a fourth-grader because he's not ready to go to fifth grade and the teacher gives out candy for correct answers. Shaka gets a crush on a girl after finding her backpack. Jade and some of her friends get detention and three-day suspension when the principal, who had served in the military, declares their regular school outfits unacceptable. In detention, they discover that only the girls face dress code violations; the boys are excused. Jade starts a protest in the hallway that involves Moz and Cocoa. Eventually, M'Dear joins as well, and the protest leads to the principal revoking the girls' suspensions and changing the dress code. Moz finds Mazzi and after they have a talk, he's ready to start the fifth grade. Shaka gives his crush's backpack to her and gets her phone number. | ||||||||||||
| 8 | 8 | "Remember Macho Mazzi?" | Kelly Park | Henry "Hank" Jones | July 10, 2019 | |||||||
| ||||||||||||
| 9 | 9 | "Remember Black Elvis?" | Eric Dean Seaton | Howard Jordan, Jr. | July 10, 2019 | |||||||
| ||||||||||||
| 10 | 10 | "Remember When Our Boys Became Men?" | Robbie Countryman | Lia Prewitt-Martin | July 10, 2019 | |||||||
|
M'Dear introduces Jade to a new boy named Kurt and asks her to show him around town. Jade is totally against this at first, but after meeting him she starts to like him. They hang out on the porch and talk, tell jokes, and go to Prettyboy's to play chess. While they're there, she encounters Drew, who becomes suspicious of her friendship with Kurt and cancels their bowling date. Jade decides to ask Kurt out, but he says he has started to date Ava. Meanwhile, Mazzi and Shaka start mowing lawns with Elvis to earn money for a PlayStation but when they try to get inside the house afterward, a police officer finds and handcuffs them. Cocoa and Moz return to the house and are forced to explain that the situation was based on their skin color. The next day, the boys refuse to go outside, loathe to encounter that officer again, but Grandpa surprises them with a PlayStation! A few days later, Cocoa and Moz are coming home from a trivia-game night when the same officer pulls Moz over (he had done nothing wrong), angrily explaining how Moz's file of complaint against him almost cost him his job. Cocoa decides that this town is no longer safe and that they will be moving back to Seattle. | ||||||||||||
| Special | ||||||||||||
| 11 | 11 | "A Family Reunion Christmas" | Robbie Countryman | Sa'Rah L. Jones | December 9, 2019 | |||||||
| Part 2 | ||||||||||||
| 12 | 12 | "Remember the Dance Battle?" | Morenike Joela | Anthony C. Hill | January 20, 2020 | |||||||
|
The episode starts off with a party celebrating the firing of the cop that pulled Moz over. The next day at school, Shaka and his friend learn that the step team is holding tryouts, which fires up Cocoa's competitive streak as she pressures Shaka. Meanwhile, Jade learns that her math teacher is dating Daniel, and she's forced to ace math to go on a school trip. | ||||||||||||
| 13 | 13 | "Remember When Daddy Came Home?" | Eric Dean Seaton | Ralph Greene | January 20, 2020 | |||||||
| 14 | 14 | "Remember Our Parents' Wedding?" | Richard Lyons | Adrienne Carter | January 20, 2020 | |||||||
| ||||||||||||
| 15 | 15 | "Remember When Jade Was Down with the Swirl?" | Angela Gomes | Taylor Vaughn Lasley | January 20, 2020 | |||||||
| 16 | 16 | "Remember When Shaka Got Beat Up?" | Juanesta Carlota Holmes | Henry "Hank" Jones & Chris Moore | January 20, 2020 | |||||||
| 17 | 17 | "Remember the G Club?" | Jody Margolin Hahn | Howard Jordan, Jr. | January 20, 2020 | |||||||
| 18 | 18 | "Remember Cousin Kenya?" | Kelly Park | Sa'Rah L. Jones & Lia Prewitt-Martin | January 20, 2020 | |||||||
| 19 | 19 | "Remember M'dear's Fifteen Minutes?" | Eric Dean Seaton | Judy Dent | January 20, 2020 | |||||||
| 20 | 20 | "Remember When the Party Was Over?" | Eric Dean Seaton | Meg DeLoatch | January 20, 2020 | |||||||
| ||||||||||||
Season 2 (2021)
[edit]| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part 3 | ||||||||||||
| 21 | 1 | "Remember Mazzi's First Love?" | Juanesta Carlota Holmes | Anthony C. Hill | April 5, 2021 | |||||||
| 22 | 2 | "Remember When Jade Broke a Nail??!" | Robbie Countryman | Ralph Greene | April 5, 2021 | |||||||
| 23 | 3 | "Remember When Cocoa Was a Housewife?" | Robbie Countryman | Arthur Harris | April 5, 2021 | |||||||
|
Cocoa's cousin Kenya invites her to guest-star on her show "Trophy Wives" to promote her jewelry line, but during her day there, Cocoa stands up to Kenya's co-stars when they're rude to her and actually submits them to a good roast. This prompts the network to have Cocoa on the show as a regular. However, things get chaotic as Cocoa brings Ami along for an episode. Meanwhile, Moz grapples with Jade dating Deon after learning about his juvie record. Moz confronts the two upon discovering that they've deviated from their original date and it's clear that he doesn't trust Jade as much since her escapade with Royale. | ||||||||||||
| 24 | 4 | "Remember When M'Dear Changed History?" | Eric Dean Seaton | Meg DeLoatch | April 5, 2021 | |||||||
| 25 | 5 | "Remember the False Idol?" | Morenike Joela | Deja Harrell | April 5, 2021 | |||||||
| 26 | 6 | "Remember When Shaka Did the Robot?" | Kelly Park | Anthony C. Hill | April 5, 2021 | |||||||
| 27 | 7 | "Remember When the Glass Passed?" | Juanesta Carlota Holmes | Ralph Greene | April 5, 2021 | |||||||
|
The McKellan children are shocked to learn that Principal Glass has died. Jade is conflicted because of her past clashes with Glass; she thinks she's the only McKellan who didn't have a positive relationship with him. She refuses to take part in singing at the Second Line in Glass' honor until she gets a visit from his spirit, who tells her that in spite of their differences, he always saw great potential in her. This inspires her to attend the ceremony. Meanwhile, Mazzi deals with death anxiety until M'Dear takes him and Ami to a funeral home and gives them a light-humored talk about life and death. | ||||||||||||
| 28 | 8 | "Remember When Cocoa Found Her Calling?" | Richard Lyons | Sa'Rah L. Jones & Lia Prewitt-Martin | April 5, 2021 | |||||||
| Part 4 | ||||||||||||
| 29 | 9 | "Remember When the Trick Wasn't a Treat?" | Russell Griffin | Chris Moore | August 26, 2021 | |||||||
| 30 | 10 | "Remember When M'Dear Stole the Show?" | Leonard R. Garner Jr. | Meg DeLoatch & George Blake | August 26, 2021 | |||||||
| 31 | 11 | "Remember When Jade Thought She Was Grown?" | Morenike Joela | Lia Prewitt-Martin | August 26, 2021 | |||||||
| 32 | 12 | "Remember the Story M'Dear Hates to Tell?" | Sheldon Epps | Arthur Harris | August 26, 2021 | |||||||
| 33 | 13 | "Remember My Funny Valentine?" | Michael A. Joseph | Meg DeLoatch | August 26, 2021 | |||||||
| 34 | 14 | "Remember When Cocoa Did It All?" | John Simmons | Chris Moore & Deja Harrell | August 26, 2021 | |||||||
| 35 | 15 | "Remember M'Dear's Roast?" | Jody Margolin Hahn | Bill Boulware | August 26, 2021 | |||||||
Season 3 (2022)
[edit]| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part 5 | ||||||||||||
| 36 | 1 | "Remember When the Skye Fell?" | Russell Griffin | Adrienne Carter | October 27, 2022 | |||||||
|
The family steps up when Cocoa goes into labor while Moz and Grandpa race back home from Miami. At the hospital, complications arise when Cocoa experiences unusual severe pain during and after labor, despite the doctor in charge insisting that it's all normal, resulting in her going into a coma. Back home, Mazzi acts unusually mischievous and plays endless pranks on Ami. Mazzi is struggling to cope with the absence of Shaka, who has left for boarding school. Towards the end, 6 months later, Cocoa has survived her ordeal and the family has come together to celebrate the half-year "birthday" of her and Moz's baby son Skye. | ||||||||||||
| 37 | 2 | "Remember the New Addition to the Family?" | Morenike Joela Evans | Arthur Harris | October 27, 2022 | |||||||
|
After singing at church, Jade and M'Dear are approached by the pastor's nephew, a famous rapper (Coy Stewart), to sing on his new song. When they listen to it, it turns out to contain sexual references to which M'Dear objects. Jade confronts him, he disrespects his uncle, the church, and his own grandma. Jade was recording the whole thing and threatens to put it on TikTok. He visits the church to apologize for the song and starts to perform a new version of it, about Jesus. Meanwhile, Cocoa's sister (Essence Atkins) visits with her son Tyson after he gets in trouble back home in Detroit, and he takes Mazzi and Ami for a joyride in Moz's car. This behavior is a result of his father passing away. | ||||||||||||
| 38 | 3 | "Remember Stompin' the Yard?" | Robbie Countryman | Deja Harrell | October 27, 2022 | |||||||
| 39 | 4 | "Remember the Homecoming Queen?" | Juanesta Carlota Holmes | Lia Prewitt-Martin | October 27, 2022 | |||||||
| 40 | 5 | "Remember When Elvis Broke Jesus?" | Ron Moseley | Amber McCain | October 27, 2022 | |||||||
| 41 | 6 | "Remember When the Raccoon Crashed the Wedding?" | Sheldon Epps | Sa'Rah L. Jones | October 27, 2022 | |||||||
| 42 | 7 | "Remember When Mazzi Almost Lost It?" | Rob Deane | Warren Hutcherson | October 27, 2022 | |||||||
| 43 | 8 | "Remember When Jade Walked in M'Dear's Shoes?" | Leonard R. Garner, Jr. | Bill Boulware | October 27, 2022 | |||||||
| 44 | 9 | "Remember Our 20 Acres and a Deed?" | Eric Dean Seaton | Shawnté McCall | October 27, 2022 | |||||||
| 45 | 10 | "Remember the New Beginning?" | John Simmons | Beverly DeLoatch | October 27, 2022 | |||||||
Production
[edit]Development
[edit]On October 17, 2018, it was announced that Netflix had given the production a straight-to-series order for a first season consisting of twenty episodes. The series was created by Meg DeLoatch who was also expected to executive produce. Production began in Los Angeles.[5][6] The first part was released on July 10, 2019.[1] On September 17, 2019, Netflix renewed the series for a second season consisting of sixteen episodes. It was also announced that there will be a holiday special that was released on December 9, 2019, and the nine extra season 1 episodes were released on January 20, 2020.[7][8] The second season premiered on April 5, 2021.[2] Part 4 was released on August 26, 2021.[9] On October 18, 2021, Netflix renewed the series for a 10-episode third and final season.[3] The third season premiered on October 27, 2022.[4]
Casting
[edit]Alongside the initial series announcement, it was reported that Tia Mowry, Loretta Devine, Anthony Alabi, Talia Jackson, Isaiah Russell-Bailey, Cameron J. Wright, and Jordyn James had been cast in series regular roles.[5][6]
Reception
[edit]Critical response
[edit]The review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 67% approval rating for the series, based on 6 reviews, with an average rating of 5/10.[10]
Awards and nominations
[edit]The series received numerous awards and nominations, it won NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Children's Program in 2020, 2021 and 2022.[11] As well as an Art Directors Guild Award for Excellence in Production Design for a Multi-Camera Series in 2022, a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Cinematography for a Multi-Camera Series in 2020. It won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Multiple Camera Live Action Program in 2023.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 Ramos, Dino-Ray (June 14, 2019). "Meg DeLoatch Assembles All-Black Writers Room For Netflix's 'Family Reunion' Starring Tia Mowry And Loretta Devine". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 12, 2019. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
- 1 2 Mauch, Ally (March 8, 2021). "Family Reunion Will Feature 3 Real Housewives Guest Stars in the New Season — Watch the Trailer!". People. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
- 1 2 Andreeva, Nellie (October 18, 2021). "'Family Reunion" Renewed For Third & Final Season By Netflix With New Showrunners". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 18, 2021. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
- 1 2 Bjornson, Greta (September 21, 2022). "New on Netflix October 2022". Decider. Archived from the original on September 21, 2022. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
- 1 2 3 Andreeva, Nellie (October 17, 2018). "Tia Mowry & Loretta Devine Star In 'Family Reunion' Comedy Series Ordered By Netflix". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 17, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
- 1 2 Goldberg, Lesley (October 17, 2018). "Tia Mowry, Loretta Devine to Star in Netflix Comedy 'Family Reunion'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 17, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
- ↑ Bennett, Anita (September 17, 2019). "Netflix Renews 'Family Reunion' For Second Season". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 6, 2019. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
- ↑ Mallenbaum, Carly (December 11, 2019). "Netflix's January 2020 list: New seasons of 'Grace and Frankie,' 'Sabrina'". USA Today. Archived from the original on January 18, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
- ↑ Bosselman, Haley; Shanfeld, Ethan (July 19, 2021). "Starz Releases Trailer for Wrestling Drama 'Heels' (TV News Roundup)". Variety. Archived from the original on July 19, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
- ↑ "Family Reunion: Part 1 (2019)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Archived from the original on June 21, 2021. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
- ↑ Hipes, Patrick; Ramos, Dino-Ray (March 27, 2021). "NAACP Image Awards Winners: 'Bad Boys For Life' Best Picture, D-Nice Entertainer Of The Year; Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman Top Movie Acting Honors – Full List Of Winners". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 27, 2021. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
External links
[edit]- 2010s American black sitcoms
- 2020s American black sitcoms
- 2019 American television series debuts
- 2019 English-language television series debuts
- 2022 American television series endings
- 2022 English-language television series endings
- English-language American television shows
- Netflix sitcoms
- Television shows set in Georgia (U.S. state)
- American television series about families
- 2010s American multi-camera sitcoms
- 2020s American multi-camera sitcoms