Connecting

{{Infobox television

| image = connecting.png

| genre = {{Plainlist|

Sitcom

}}

| based_on =

| creator = {{Plainlist|

}}

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| music =

| country = United States

| language = English

| num_episodes = 8

| list_episodes =

| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|

Martin Gero
Brendan Gall
Linda Mendoza

}}

| producer =

| cinematography =

| editor =

| camera = Single-camera

| runtime =

| company = Wide Awake Productions
Quinn's House
Universal Television

| network = NBC

| first_aired = {{Start date|2020|10|08}}

| last_aired = {{End date|2020|10|29}}

| network2 = Peacock

| first_aired2 = {{Start date|2020|11|05}}

| last_aired2 = {{End date|2020|11|16}}

}}

Connecting... is an American television sitcom co-created and co-executive produced by Martin Gero and Brendan Gall for Universal Television. The series aired from October 8 to October 29, 2020 on NBC.

In November 2020, the series was canceled after four episodes. The remaining episodes were released on NBC.com and Peacock shortly after.{{cite web|last=Petski|first=Denise|date=November 2, 2020|title='Connecting' Pulled From NBC Schedule, Remaining 4 Episodes To Stream Online|url=https://deadline.com/2020/11/connecting-pulled-nbc-schedule-remaining-episodes-to-stream-online-1234608089/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103013655/https://deadline.com/2020/11/connecting-pulled-nbc-schedule-remaining-episodes-to-stream-online-1234608089/|archive-date=November 3, 2020|access-date=November 3, 2020|work=Deadline Hollywood}}

Premise

Set against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, the series follows the lives of a group of friends who try to stay connected via videotelephony as they navigate through the various nuances of life in a lockdown.

Cast

=Main=

Otmara Marrero as Annie
Parvesh Cheena as Pradeep
Keith Powell as Garrett
Jill Knox as Michelle
Shakina Nayfack as Ellis
Ely Henry as Rufus
Preacher Lawson as Ben

=Recurring=

Cassie Beck as Jazmin
Loretta Devine as Dayleen
Alex Landi as Cameron

=Guest=

Constance Marie as Martha
Tony Plana as Ramona
Carl Tart as Wendell
Jaime Cepero as Kirby
D'Lo as Zach

Episodes

{{Episode table |background=#CCCCCC |overall=5 |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |airdateT=Original air/release date |viewers= |country=U.S |episodes=

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 1

|Title = Pilot

|DirectedBy = Martin Gero

|WrittenBy = Martin Gero & Brendan Gall

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|10|08}}

|Viewers = 1.67{{cite web|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-thursday-cable-originals-network-finals-10-8-2020.html|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 10.8.2020|work=Showbuzz Daily|date=October 9, 2020|access-date=October 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012121413/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-thursday-cable-originals-network-finals-10-8-2020.html|archive-date=October 12, 2020|url-status=dead}}

|ShortSummary = We are introduced to a group of friends who struggle to adjust to life during the COVID Pandemic.

|LineColor = #CCCCCC

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 2

|Title = Day 30

|DirectedBy = Linda Mendoza

|WrittenBy = Guy Branum

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|10|15}}

|Viewers = 2.26{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-thursday-cable-originals-network-finals-10-15-2020.html|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 10.15.2020|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=October 16, 2020|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=October 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016222018/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-thursday-cable-originals-network-finals-10-15-2020.html|archive-date=October 16, 2020|url-status=dead}}

|ShortSummary = The friends face personal struggles and some revelations strengthen and divide the group.

|LineColor = #CCCCCC

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 3

|Title = Day 78

|DirectedBy = Martin Gero

|WrittenBy = Ranada Shepard

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|10|15}}

|Viewers = 0.97

|ShortSummary = Ben tries to think about how to tell Annie how he feels and the group tries to help him.

|LineColor = #CCCCCC

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 4

|Title = Day 82

|DirectedBy = Linda Mendoza

|WrittenBy = Rachel Pegram

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|10|29}}

|Viewers = 1.15{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-thursday-cable-originals-network-finals-10-29-2020.html|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 10.29.2020|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=October 30, 2020|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=October 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101052810/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-thursday-cable-originals-network-finals-10-29-2020.html|archive-date=November 1, 2020|url-status=dead}}

|ShortSummary = The group is trying to stay positive despite the ongoing pandemic.

|LineColor = #CCCCCC

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 5

|Title = Day 90

|DirectedBy = Martin Gero

|WrittenBy = Carl Tart

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|11|05}}

|Viewers = N/A

|ShortSummary = The group struggles with emotions as the Pandemic continues.

|LineColor = #CCCCCC

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 6

|Title = Day 135

|DirectedBy = Linda Mendoza

|WrittenBy = Eddie Mujica & Shirin Najafi

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|11|12}}

|Viewers = N/A

|ShortSummary = The team continues to forge on despite tensions and emotions as the Pandemic continues.

|LineColor = #CCCCCC

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 7

|Title = Day 226

|DirectedBy = Linda Mendoza

|WrittenBy = {{WritingCredits|order=t|s=Chloe Keenan & Naomi Iwamoto|t=Chloe Keenan}}

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|11|16}}

|Viewers = N/A

|ShortSummary = Ben tries to get Annie to tell him how she feels.

|LineColor = #CCCCCC

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 8

|Title = Day 229

|DirectedBy = Martin Gero

|WrittenBy = {{WritingCredits|order=t|s=Naomi Iwamoto & Chloe Keenan|t=Naomi Iwamoto}}

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|11|16}}

|Viewers = N/A

|ShortSummary = The team revels in their happiness after Ben comes to see Annie.

|LineColor = #CCCCCC

}}

Production

On June 26, 2020, it received a straight-to-series order of 8 episodes by NBC.{{cite web|last=Roots|first=Kimberly|title=Blindspot EP's Video-Chat Comedy Connecting Ordered to Series at NBC|url=https://tvline.com/2020/06/26/connecting-series-order-nbc-martin-gero-comedy/|work=TVLine|date=June 26, 2020|access-date=September 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628143428/https://tvline.com/2020/06/26/connecting-series-order-nbc-martin-gero-comedy/|archive-date=June 28, 2020|url-status=live}}

The first star to be cast in the series was Otmara Marrero on July 22, 2020, followed by Parvesh Cheena on July 31, 2020.{{cite web|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|title='Connecting': Otmara Marrero To Star In NBC's Coronavirus-Era Comedy Series From Martin Gero & Brendan Gall|url=https://deadline.com/2020/07/connecting-otmara-marrero-nbcs-coronavirus-era-comedy-series-martin-gero-brendan-gall-1202992106/|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=July 22, 2020|access-date=September 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200722201836/https://deadline.com/2020/07/connecting-otmara-marrero-nbcs-coronavirus-era-comedy-series-martin-gero-brendan-gall-1202992106/|archive-date=July 22, 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Petski|first=Denise|title='Connecting': Parvesh Cheena Joins NBC's Coronavirus- Era Comedy Series From Martin Gero & Brendan Gall

|url=https://deadline.com/2020/07/connecting-parvesh-cheena-nbcs-coronavirus-era-comedy-series-from-martin-gero-brendan-gall-1203000856/|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=July 31, 2020|access-date=September 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802104938/https://deadline.com/2020/07/connecting-parvesh-cheena-nbcs-coronavirus-era-comedy-series-from-martin-gero-brendan-gall-1203000856/|archive-date=August 2, 2020|url-status=live}} The following month, Keith Powell, Jill Knox, Shakina Nayfack, Ely Henry and Preacher Lawson joined the main cast.{{cite web|last=Petski|first=Denise|title='Connecting': Five Cast In NBC's Coronavirus-Era Comedy Series From Martin Gero & Brendan Gall|url=https://deadline.com/2020/08/connecting-five-cast-in-nbcs-coronavirus-era-comedy-series-from-martin-gero-brendan-gall-1203003719/|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=August 5, 2020|access-date=September 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806020924/https://deadline.com/2020/08/connecting-five-cast-in-nbcs-coronavirus-era-comedy-series-from-martin-gero-brendan-gall-1203003719/|archive-date=August 6, 2020|url-status=live}} Shakina Nayfack's casting made her the first transgender person to have a starring role on a major network comedy production.{{cite web|last=Reynolds|first=Daniel|title=Connecting's Shakina Nayfack on Making Trans History on Network TV|url=https://www.advocate.com/television/2020/10/08/connectings-shakina-nayfack-making-trans-history-network-tv|date=October 8, 2020|access-date=November 3, 2020|work=The Advocate|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011161756/https://www.advocate.com/television/2020/10/08/connectings-shakina-nayfack-making-trans-history-network-tv|archive-date=October 11, 2020|url-status=live}}

On November 2, 2020, NBC canceled the series, amid dwindling viewership, after airing only four episodes and pulled it from the network's schedule, with reruns of Superstore taking its place. The remaining episodes were streamed exclusively on NBC.com and Peacock.{{Cite web|last=Nemetz|first=Dave|date=November 3, 2020|title=Connecting Cancelled at NBC, Remaining Episodes to Air on Peacock|url=https://tvline.com/2020/11/02/connecting-cancelled-nbc-season-2-peacock/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103003301/https://tvline.com/2020/11/02/connecting-cancelled-nbc-season-2-peacock/|archive-date=November 3, 2020|access-date=November 3, 2020|work=TVLine}}

Release

On September 10, 2020, NBC released the first official trailer for the series.{{cite magazine|last=Yohannes|first=Alamin|title=These friends are sick of isolation in first trailer for NBC comedy Connecting|url=https://ew.com/tv/connecting-trailer-martin-gero-quarantine-nbc-comedy/|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=September 10, 2020|access-date=September 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200912124648/https://ew.com/tv/connecting-trailer-martin-gero-quarantine-nbc-comedy/|archive-date=September 12, 2020|url-status=live}} On August 27, 2020, it was announced that the series would be replacing Brooklyn Nine-Nine in NBC's previously announced Fall schedule and would premiere on October 1, 2020.{{cite web|last=Nakamura|first=Reid|title='This Is Us,' Dick Wolf's 'Chicago' Franchise, 'The Voice' Get Fall Premiere Dates at NBC|url=https://www.thewrap.com/this-is-us-dick-wolfs-chicago-franchise-the-voice-get-fall-premiere-dates-at-nbc/#|date=August 27, 2020|access-date=September 20, 2020|work=TheWrap|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200827203324/https://www.thewrap.com/this-is-us-dick-wolfs-chicago-franchise-the-voice-get-fall-premiere-dates-at-nbc/|archive-date=August 27, 2020|url-status=live}} On September 24, 2020, the series premiere was pushed by one week to October 8, 2020.{{cite web|last=Schwartz|first=Ryan|date=September 24, 2020|title=Superstore Season 6 Premiere Delayed|url=https://tvline.com/2020/09/24/superstore-season-6-premiere-date-nbc/|work=TVLine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924204052/https://tvline.com/2020/09/24/superstore-season-6-premiere-date-nbc/|archive-date=September 24, 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Connecting – Listings|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/showatch/connecting/listings/|website=The Futon Critic|access-date=September 22, 2020}}

Reception

=Critical response=

On Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 67% with an average rating of 6.33/10, based on 9 reviews.{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/connecting/s01|title=Connecting...: Season 1 (2020)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=November 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210327115528/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/connecting/s01|archive-date=March 27, 2021|url-status=live}} On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 65 out of 100, based on 8 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/connecting/season-1|title=Connecting...: Season 1|website=Metacritic|access-date=November 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020205542/https://www.metacritic.com/tv/connecting/season-1|archive-date=October 20, 2020|url-status=live}}