Speechless is an American sitcom television series that debuted on ABC on September 21, 2016. Created by Scott Silveri and co-executive produced with Christine Gernon, Jake Kasdan and Melvin Mar, the 20th Century Fox Television/ABC Studios co-production was greenlighted to series order on May 13, 2016. A first-look trailer was released on the same day. Starring Minnie Driver, John Ross Bowie and Micah Fowler, the sitcom explores both the serious and humorous challenges a family faces with a teenager who is disabled. On September 29, 2016, the series was picked up for a full 22-episode season. An additional episode was ordered on December 13, 2016, for a 23-episode season.
On May 12, 2017, ABC renewed the series for a second season, which premiered on September 27, 2017.
On May 11, 2018, ABC renewed the series for a third season.
Video Speechless (TV series)
Plot
The series follows the DiMeo family, each with a unique personality: Maya, a take-charge British mother with a no-holds-barred attitude; her husband Jimmy, who does not seem to care what others think; Dylan, their no-nonsense athletic daughter; Ray, their scholarly middle child who acts as the "voice of reason" in the family; and their oldest son, JJ--a high schooler with cerebral palsy who has a biting wit and sense of humor. Unable to speak himself, JJ communicates by using headgear with a laser pointer to indicate various words, letters, and numbers on a board attached to his wheelchair, while others read aloud what he "says". The DiMeos move frequently in an attempt to find a good educational environment for JJ. They believe they have found an optimal choice when they discover a school that prides itself on being inclusive and where JJ will have an aide to speak for him. Because the school is in an upscale part of town, Jimmy and Maya move the family into the cheapest, most rundown house in an otherwise nice neighborhood. Though they quickly find that not everything is as good as it could be, JJ enjoys having Kenneth, a gentle, well-meaning school groundskeeper with a deep and resonant speaking voice, work as his aide.
Maps Speechless (TV series)
Cast and characters
Main
- Minnie Driver as Maya DiMeo, the fierce and determined mother of the family.
- John Ross Bowie as Jimmy DiMeo, Sr., the fun-loving, easily persuadable father of the family who works at the airport.
- Mason Cook as Raymond "Ray" DiMeo, the middle child. Slender and nerdy, he faces constant harassment, mostly from Dylan.
- Micah Fowler as Jimmy "JJ" DiMeo, Jr., The eldest child with cerebral palsy. He is non-speaking (thus the show's title) and uses a wheelchair. He has a crush on Emma Watson, which serves as a running gag on the show.
- Kyla Kenedy as Dylan DiMeo, the athletic youngest child, and only daughter. She enjoys pulling pranks and harassing others, especially Ray.
- Cedric Yarbrough as Kenneth Clements, the aide to J.J. who serves as his voice. He is funny and a talented singer. Although he and Maya tend to butt heads, she is appreciative of his work.
Recurring
- Marin Hinkle as Dr. Miller, the principal of the kids' school who is easily influenced by Maya.
- Jonathan Slavin as Mr. Powers
- McKaley Miller as Claire
- Jack Dylan Grazer as Rev
- David Lengel as Tad
- Sedona James as Taylor, Ray's ex-girlfriend.
- Karly Rothenberg as Crossing Guard
Special guests
- Zach Anner
- Rob Corddry
- Julianne Hough
- Ken Marino
- Michaela Watkins
- Holland Taylor
- Keith David
- Sarah Chalke
Episodes
Reception
Critical response
Speechless received largely positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the series has a rating of 98%, based on 41 reviews, with an average rating of 8.2/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Speechless speaks to a sensitive topic with a heartfelt lead performance and a fine balance of sensitivity and irreverence." On Metacritic, the series has a score of 79 out of 100, based on 29 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
The editors of TV Guide placed Speechless seventh among the top ten picks for the most anticipated new shows of the 2016-17 season. In its review from writer Liam Matthews, "ABC has another worthwhile addition to its strong lineup of modern families with Speechless," adding "It's a clear-eyed and empathetic exploration of life in a special needs family that makes plenty of room for hilarity."
Ratings
Accolades
References
External links
- Official website
- Speechless on IMDb
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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