Random Acts of Flyness
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image = Random-acts-of-flyness-logo-1600x300.png
| genre = Sketch comedy
| creator = Terence Nance
| presenter = Terence Nance
| composer = {{Plainlist|
- Terrence Etc
- Emile Mosseri
- Nelson Bandela Nance
- Jon Bap
- Nick Hakim
}}
| country = United States
| language = English
| num_seasons = 2
| num_episodes = 12
| list_episodes =
| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|
- Kelley Robins Hicks
- Kishori Rajan
- Terence Nance
- Jamund Washington
- Ravi Nandan
- John Hodges
- Tamir Muhammad
- {{nowrap|Chanelle Aponte Pearson}}
}}
| producer =
| location =
| cinematography = Shawn Peters
| editor = {{Plainlist|
- Terence Nance
- Kristan Sprague
- Jonathan L. Proctor
- Naima Ramos-Chapman
}}
| camera =
| runtime = 30–41 minutes
| company = {{Plainlist|
- MVMT
- A24 (season 1)
- Anonymous Content (season 2)
}}
| network = HBO
| first_aired = {{Start date|2018|08|04}}
| last_aired = {{End date|2022|12|24}}
}}
Random Acts of Flyness is an American late-night sketch comedy television series created by Terence Nance that premiered on August 4, 2018 on HBO. Additionally, Nance appears in each episode of the series which he also wrote, directed, and executive produced. On August 20, 2018, it was announced that the series had been renewed for a second season. Season 2 premiered in December 2022.{{cite web | url=https://wbd.com/whats-new-on-hbo-max-this-december/ | title=What's New on HBO Max This December | date=22 November 2022 | access-date=23 November 2022 | archive-date=23 November 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221123012946/https://wbd.com/whats-new-on-hbo-max-this-december/ | url-status=live }}
Premise
Random Acts of Flyness is described as a "fluid, mind-melting stream-of-conscious response to the contemporary American mediascape" in which each episode will "feature interconnected vignettes that makes the series a unique mix of vérité documentary, musical performances, surrealist melodrama and humorous animation."{{cite web |last1=Ramos |first1=Dino-Ray |title=Late-Night HBO Series 'Random Acts Of Flyness' Sets Premiere Date |url=https://deadline.com/2018/07/random-acts-of-flyness-premiere-date-hbo-terence-nance-1202420910/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=July 3, 2018 |date=July 3, 2018 |archive-date=July 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703052412/https://deadline.com/2018/07/random-acts-of-flyness-premiere-date-hbo-terence-nance-1202420910/ |url-status=live }}
Production
=Development=
On January 29, 2018, it was announced that HBO had given the production a series order for a first season consisting of six episodes. The series was created by Terence Nance who will also write, direct, and executive produce. Producers are reportedly looking to cast a diverse group of performers with black actors eyed for many of the roles. Production companies involved in the series include MVMT.{{cite web|last1=Andreeva|first1=Nellie|title=HBO Orders Terence Nance Late-Night Comedy Series 'Random Acts Of Flyness'|url=https://deadline.com/2018/01/hbo-orders-terence-nance-late-night-comedy-series-random-acts-of-flyness-1202273114/|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=February 26, 2018|date=January 29, 2018|archive-date=February 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226152044/http://deadline.com/2018/01/hbo-orders-terence-nance-late-night-comedy-series-random-acts-of-flyness-1202273114/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Otterson|first1=Joe|title=HBO Orders Late-Night Series 'Random Acts of Flyness' From Terence Nance|url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/hbo-late-night-series-random-acts-of-flyness-terence-nance-1202680313/|website=Variety|access-date=February 26, 2018|date=January 29, 2018|archive-date=February 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226211656/http://variety.com/2018/tv/news/hbo-late-night-series-random-acts-of-flyness-terence-nance-1202680313/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Sandberg|first1=Bryn Elise|title=HBO Sets Late-Night Comedy Series From Terence Nance|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/hbo-sets-late-night-comedy-series-terence-nance-1079861|website=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=February 26, 2018|language=en|date=January 29, 2018|archive-date=February 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226211715/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/hbo-sets-late-night-comedy-series-terence-nance-1079861|url-status=live}}
On July 2, 2018, it was announced that the series would premiere on August 4, 2018. It was also reported that additional executive producers would include Tamir Muhammad, Jamund Washington, Kishori Rajan, Kelley Robins Hicks, Chanelle Aponte Pearson, Ravi Nandan, and John Hodges and that A24 had been added as an additional production company involved with the series. On August 20, 2018, it was announced that HBO had renewed the series for a second season.{{cite web |last1=Sandberg |first1=Bryn Elise |title='Random Acts of Flyness' Renewed By HBO For Second Season |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/random-acts-flyness-renewed-by-hbo-second-season-1135951 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=August 20, 2018 |language=en |date=August 20, 2018 |archive-date=August 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820185957/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/random-acts-flyness-renewed-by-hbo-second-season-1135951 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Otterson |first1=Joe |title='Random Acts of Flyness' Renewed for Season 2 at HBO |url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/random-acts-of-flyness-renewed-season-2-hbo-1202910149/ |website=Variety |access-date=August 20, 2018 |date=August 20, 2018 |archive-date=October 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181022102243/https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/random-acts-of-flyness-renewed-season-2-hbo-1202910149/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Petski |first1=Denise |title='Random Acts Of Flyness' Renewed For Season 2 By HBO |url=https://deadline.com/2018/08/random-acts-of-flyness-renewed-season-2-hbo-1202448553/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=August 20, 2018 |date=August 20, 2018 |archive-date=October 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025160437/https://deadline.com/2018/08/random-acts-of-flyness-renewed-season-2-hbo-1202448553/ |url-status=live }}
=Casting=
Alongside the announcement of the series premiere, it was confirmed that Terence Nance would appear in all six episodes of the first season with guests including Whoopi Goldberg, Dominique Fishback, Gillian Jacobs, Jon Hamm, Ntare Guma Mwine, Adepero Oduye, Natalie Paul, Lakeith Stanfield, Tonya Pinkins, and Paul Sparks.
=Marketing=
Episodes
{{Series overview
| color1 = #262b27
| link1 = #Season 1 (2018)
| episodes1 = 6
| start1 = {{Start date|2018|08|04}}
| end1 = {{End date|2018|09|08}}
| color2 = #471c22
| link2 = #Season 2 (2022)
| episodes2 = 6
| start2 = {{Start date|2022|12|10}}
| end2 = {{End date|2022|12|24}}
}}
=Season 1 (2018)=
{{Episode table |background=#262b27 |overall= |season= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |viewers= |country=U.S. |episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 1
|EpisodeNumber2 = 1
|Title = What Are Your Thoughts on Raising Free Black Children?
|DirectedBy = Terence Nance, Frances Bodomo, & Shaka King
|WrittenBy = Terence Nance & Jamund Washington
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|08|04}}
|ShortSummary = * Terence Nance introduces the show on his phone while riding his bike. He is stopped by a white police officer and an altercation occurs. Terence runs away while the cop pursues before suddenly flying away leaving the cop dumbstruck.
- Terence narrates "Worry No. 473 of 1000 Worries that a Black Person Should Not Have to Worry About" based on an "actual" event where he accidentally stepped into a blue jalopy that belonged to a white woman.
- Ripa the Reaper (Tonya Pinkins) hosts Everybody Dies!, a surreal television show where she explains to an audience of children that death happens to everyone.
- Jon Hamm hosts an infomercial for "White Be Gone", an ointment that when applied to the temples, removes all white thoughts. He stops to cautiously ask the director, played by Michael Potts of the infomercial about his importance in the ad and he is assured that he is chosen because of his safe demeanor.
- In Black Thought's Black Thoughts, Black Thought expresses his wish that shea butter be installed in public restrooms and wonders if it is objectification to admit that Michelle Obama has "got a booty".
- In The Sexual Proclivities of the Black Community, Terence and Doreen Garner interview a bisexual black man named Yeelen Cohen about his experiences which are shown through the use of stop-motion animation.
|LineColor = 262b27
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 2
|EpisodeNumber2 = 2
|Title = Two Piece and a Biscuit
|DirectedBy = Terence Nance, Frances Bodomo, Darius Clark Munroe, Naima Ramos-Chapman, & Jamund Washington
|WrittenBy = Terence Nance, Jamund Washington, Frances Bodomo, Naima Ramos-Chapman, Nelson Nance, & Shaka King
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|08|11}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 262b27
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 3
|EpisodeNumber2 = 3
|Title = They Got Some Sh*t That'll Blow Out Our Back
|DirectedBy = Terence Nance, Mariama Diallo, Darius Clark Monroe, Naima Ramos-Chapman, & Jamund Washington
|WrittenBy = Terence Nance, Jamund Washington, Frances Bodomo, Naima Ramos-Chapman, Mariama Diallo, Darius Clark Monroe, Nelson Nance, & Shaka King
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|08|18}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 262b27
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 4
|EpisodeNumber2 = 4
|Title = Items Outside the Shelter But Within Reach
|DirectedBy = Terence Nance, Mariama Diallo, Darius Clark Monroe, Naima Ramos-Chapman, & Jamund Washington
|WrittenBy = Terence Nance, Jamund Washington, Frances Bodomo, Naima Ramos-Chapman, Mariama Diallo, & Darius Clark Monroe
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|08|25}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 262b27
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 5
|EpisodeNumber2 = 5
|Title = Tried to Tell My Therapist About My Dreams / MARTIN HAD A DREEEEAAAAM
|DirectedBy = Terence Nance, Mariama Diallo, Darius Clark Monroe, Naima Ramos-Chapman, & Jamund Washington
|WrittenBy = Terence Nance, Jamund Washington, Mariama Diallo, & Darius Clark Monroe
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|09|01}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 262b27
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 6
|EpisodeNumber2 = 6
|Title = They Won't Go When I Go
|DirectedBy = Terence Nance, Frances Bodomo, Mariama Diallo, Naima Ramos-Chapman, & Jamund Washington
|WrittenBy = Terence Nance, Jamund Washington, Frances Bodomo, & Naima Ramos-Chapman
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|09|08}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 262b27
}}
}}
=Season 2: ''The Parable of the Pirate and the King'' (2022)=
{{Episode table |background=#471c22 |overall= |season= |title= |titleR= |director= |writer= |writerR={{cite web |title=Random Acts of Flyness – Episodes |url=https://directories.wga.org/project/1165872/random-acts-of-flyness |publisher=Writers Guild of America West |access-date=November 30, 2022 |archive-date=December 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201004852/https://directories.wga.org/project/1165872/random-acts-of-flyness |url-status=live }} |airdate= |airdateR={{cite web |title=Random Acts of Flyness – Listings |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/showatch/random-acts-of-flyness/listings/ |publisher=The Futon Critic |access-date=December 13, 2022 }} |viewers= |country=U.S. |episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 7
|EpisodeNumber2 = 1
|Title = First Dimension: The Meaning of Your Name
|DirectedBy = Terence Nance
|WrittenBy = Mariama Diallo & Nana Mensah & Nelson Nance & Jamund Washington & Terence Nance & Kelley Robins Hicks & Darius C. Monroe
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|12|10}}
|Viewers =
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 471c22
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 8
|EpisodeNumber2 = 2
|Title = Second Dimension: Finna Hafta Teach You Swine Lovers
|DirectedBy = Naima Ramos-Chapman
|WrittenBy = Mariama Diallo & Nana Mensah & Nelson Nance & Jamund Washington & Terence Nance & Kelley Robins Hicks & Darius C. Monroe
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|12|10}}
|Viewers =
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 471c22
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 9
|EpisodeNumber2 = 3
|Title = Third Dimension: G/d Does Not Submit & Other Applicab
|DirectedBy = Jenn Nkiru
|WrittenBy = Mariama Diallo & Nana Mensah & Nelson Nance & Jamund Washington & Terence Nance & Kelley Robins Hicks & Darius C. Monroe
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|12|17}}
|Viewers =
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 471c22
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 10
|EpisodeNumber2 = 4
|Title = Fourth Dimension: Spacetime/bodyspirit
|DirectedBy = Andrew Thomas Huang
|WrittenBy = Mariama Diallo & Nana Mensah & Nelson Nance & Jamund Washington & Terence Nance & Kelley Robins Hicks & Darius C. Monroe
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|12|17}}
|Viewers =
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 471c22
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 11
|EpisodeNumber2 = 5
|Title = Fifth Dimension: The Parable of the Pirate & the King
|DirectedBy = Nuotama Bodomo
|WrittenBy = Mariama Diallo & Nana Mensah & Nelson Nance & Jamund Washington & Terence Nance & Kelley Robins Hicks & Darius C. Monroe
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|12|24}}
|Viewers =
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 471c22
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 12
|EpisodeNumber2 = 6
|Title = Sixth Dimension: All Possibilities of Together & Apar
|DirectedBy = Jenn Nkiru
|WrittenBy = Mariama Diallo & Nana Mensah & Nelson Nance & Jamund Washington & Terence Nance & Kelley Robins Hicks & Darius C. Monroe
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|12|24}}
|Viewers =
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 471c22
}}
}}
Reception
The series has been met with a positive response from critics since its premiere, and has gone on to win a 2018 Peabody Award.{{cite web |url=http://www.peabodyawards.com/stories/story/2018-peabody-award-winners-78th-annual-peabody-30 |title=The Best Stories of 2018 |date=24 June 2019 |access-date=February 28, 2020 |archive-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115224032/http://www.peabodyawards.com/stories/story/2018-peabody-award-winners-78th-annual-peabody-30 |url-status=live }} On the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds a 100% approval rating with an average rating of 8.45 out of 10 based on 25 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "Random Acts of Flyness{{'}} poignant political poetry plays in harmony with its frenetic absurdist humor to create a singular musical television experience."{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/random_acts_of_flyness/s01/ |title=Random Acts of Flyness: Season 1 |work=Rotten Tomatoes |publisher=Fandango |access-date=January 5, 2019 |archive-date=September 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930032100/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/random_acts_of_flyness/s01 |url-status=live }} Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the series a score of 83 out of 100 based on 7 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/random-acts-of-flyness |title=Random Acts of Flyness: Season 1 |work=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=August 8, 2018 |archive-date=August 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807183401/http://www.metacritic.com/tv/random-acts-of-flyness |url-status=live }}
In a positive review, The Los Angeles Times{{'}}s Robert Lloyd offered the series praise saying, "Its meanings are sometimes obscure and sometimes obvious, nearly to the point of being polemical, and most often somewhere in between. But its surfaces are always interesting and splendidly executed. Even the glitches are artfully placed."{{cite web |last1=Lloyd |first1=Robert |title=Review: Terence Nance's 'Random Acts of Flyness' on HBO draws artfully and vividly on the modern black experience |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-random-acts-flyness-review-20180803-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=August 4, 2018 |date=August 3, 2018 |archive-date=August 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803193400/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-random-acts-flyness-review-20180803-story.html |url-status=live }} In a similarly positive critique, The Hollywood Reporter{{'}}s Robyn Bahr described the series as "a beautiful sensory overload" and commended the series visual look saying, "the protean barrage of imagery and gonzo sound design overwhelms the senses. Once your brain gets used to its staccato rhythm, however, you settle in for the ride. Although I couldn't quite process all the nuances within the moment, I still found myself nodding along (and even dancing along) all the same."{{cite web |last1=Bahr |first1=Robyn |title='Random Acts of Flyness': TV Review |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/random-acts-flyness-tv-review-1131999 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=August 4, 2018 |language=en |date=August 3, 2018 |archive-date=August 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803225742/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/random-acts-flyness-tv-review-1131999 |url-status=live }} In another favorable assessment, Variety{{'}}s Caroline Framke commended the series' various segments saying, "they all reveal incisive truths about what it means to be black in America — or actually, "reveal" isn’t quite the right word, and neither is "show." Instead Acts of Flyness wants to make its (white) audience feel what it means to be black in America."{{cite web |last1=Framke |first1=Caroline |title=TV Review: HBO's 'Random Acts of Flyness' |url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/acts-of-flyness-hbo-review-terence-nance-1202894706/ |website=Variety |access-date=August 4, 2018 |date=August 4, 2018 |archive-date=August 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804213250/https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/acts-of-flyness-hbo-review-terence-nance-1202894706/ |url-status=live }}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.hbo.com/random-acts-of-flyness/}}
- {{IMDb title|7942806}}
{{HBONetwork Shows|state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Random Acts of Flyness}}
Category:American English-language television shows
Category:HBO original programming
Category:2018 American television series debuts
Category:2010s American sketch comedy television series
Category:2010s American late-night television series
Category:2020s American sketch comedy television series
Category:2020s American late-night television series