The Brink (TV series)
{{Short description|2015 American comedy television series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image = The Brink HBO.png
| caption = Promotional poster
| genre = Political satire
| creator = {{unbulleted list|Roberto Benabib|Kim Benabib}}
| developer =
| writer =
| director =
| creative_director =
| presenter =
| starring = {{unbulleted list|Jack Black|Tim Robbins|Pablo Schreiber|Aasif Mandvi|Maribeth Monroe|Eric Ladin|Geoff Pierson|Esai Morales}}
| judges =
| screenplay =
| narrated =
| theme_music_composer =
| opentheme =
| endtheme =
| composer = David Robbins
| country = United States
| language = English
| num_seasons = 1
| num_episodes = 10
| list_episodes =
| executive_producer = {{unbulleted list|Roberto Benabib|Jerry Weintraub|Jay Roach}}
| producer = {{unbulleted list|Dave Holstein|Jack Black|Tim Robbins}}
| editor =
| location =
| cinematography =
| camera = Single-camera
| runtime = 30 minutes
| company = {{unbulleted list|Jerry Weintraub Productions|Everyman Pictures|Little City Iron Works}}
| channel = HBO
| first_aired = {{Start date|2015|6|21}}
| last_aired = {{end date|2015|8|23}}
| related =
}}
The Brink is an American comedy television series created by brothers Roberto Benabib and Kim Benabib.{{cite news|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|title=HBO Gives Series Order To Comedy Pilot 'The Brink' Starring Jack Black & Tim Robbins, From Jay Roach & Jerry Weintraub|url=https://deadline.com/2014/02/hbo-brink-series-jack-black-tim-robbins-681520/|access-date=February 12, 2014|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=February 11, 2014}} It focuses on a geopolitical crisis in Pakistan. Before cancellation, the show was conceived so that each season would follow a different crisis somewhere in the world involving the same main characters. The pilot episode was written by the Benabib brothers and directed by Jay Roach.
The series premiered on June 21, 2015 on the American cable television network HBO.{{cite news|last1=Pedersen|first1=Erik|title=HBO Launching Comedies 'The Brink' & 'Ballers' With 'True Detective' In June|url=https://deadline.com/2015/04/hbo-launching-comedies-the-brink-ballers-with-true-detective-season-bow-in-june-1201407465/|access-date=April 9, 2015|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=April 9, 2015}} The Brink was initially renewed for a second season while the first season was still airing.{{cite news|title='The Brink' Renewed for Season 2 by HBO|url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/the-brink-renewed-season-2-hbo-1201545279/|access-date=July 22, 2015|work=Variety|date=July 21, 2015}} HBO later reversed its order and cancelled the series after just one season.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2015/10/the-brink-canceled-no-season-2-hbo-jack-black-1201595690/ |title='The Brink' Not Going Forward With Season 2 At HBO |access-date=October 27, 2015|date=October 27, 2015|author=Andreeva, Nellie|website=Deadline Hollywood}}
Cast
=Main=
- Jack Black as Alex Talbot, a lowly Foreign Service Officer assigned to the Embassy of the United States, Islamabad
- Tim Robbins as United States Secretary of State Walter Larson
- Pablo Schreiber as Lieutenant Commander Zeke "Z-Pak" Tilson, a drug-dealing United States Naval Aviator{{cite web|title=Jack Black/Tim Robbins Comedy 'The Brink' Premieres on HBO This Summer|url=http://splitsider.com/2015/01/jack-blacktim-robbins-comedy-the-brink-premieres-on-hbo-this-summer/|website=Splitsider.com|access-date=1 April 2015}} on the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Ulysses S. Grantship name revealed in episode "Half-Cocked," class determined by hull number of CVN-82
- Aasif Mandvi as Rafiq Massoud, a Pakistani employed by the U.S. Embassy.
- Maribeth Monroe as Kendra Peterson, Walter's assistant
- Eric Ladin as Lieutenant Glenn "Jammer" Taylor, Zeke's backseater
- Geoff Pierson as United States Secretary of Defense Pierce Gray
- Esai Morales as President of the United States Julian Navarro{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2013/12/esai-morales-the-brink-hbo-647835/|title=Esai Morales Joins HBO Comedy Pilot 'The Brink' As Regular, Will Play POTUS |author=Andreeva, Marshall Manesh |website=Deadline Hollywood|date=5 December 2013 }}
=Recurring=
- Mimi Kennedy as CIA Director Susan Buckley
- Jaimie Alexander as Lieutenant Gail Sweet, a public affairs officer on the Grant whom Zeke has impregnated
- Melanie Chandra as Fareeda Massoud, Rafiq's younger sister
- Mary Faber as Ashley, Zeke's pharmacist ex-wife and drug supplier
- Meera Syal as Naeema, Rafiq's mother
- Joey Martin as Captain Stephens
- Carla Gugino as Joanne Larson, Walter's wife, United States Department of Defense general counsel and aspiring federal judge{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2014/08/carla-gugino-the-brink-hbo-819196/|title=Carla Gugino Joins HBO's 'The Brink'|access-date=August 13, 2014|date=August 13, 2014|author=The Deadline Team|website=Deadline Hollywood}}
- John Larroquette as Robert Kittredge, the evangelical United States Ambassador to Pakistan
- Rex Linn as Rear Admiral (upper half) McBride, commander of the Grant carrier battle group
- Iqbal Theba as General Umair Zaman, a Pakistani general who stages a military coup
- Rob Brydon as Martin{{cite news| url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/hbos-jack-black-comedy-series-730559 | work=The Hollywood Reporter | title=HBO's Jack Black Comedy Series Adds 'Gavin and Stacey,' 'Doctor Who' Actors | date=September 5, 2014}}
- Michelle Gomez as Vanessa
- Bernard White as General Haroon Raja, Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence and Umair's half brother
- Iris Bahr as Israeli Foreign Minister Talia Levy
{{clear}}
Episodes
{{Episode table |background=#5FA4C5|overall= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |viewers= |country=US |episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 1
|Title = Pilot
|DirectedBy = Jay Roach
|WrittenBy = Roberto Benabib & Kim Benabib
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|6|21}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 5FA4C5
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 2
|Title = Half-Cocked
|DirectedBy = Tim Robbins
|WrittenBy = Roberto Benabib & Kim Benabib
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|6|28}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 5FA4C5
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 3
|Title = Baghdad My Ass
|DirectedBy = Jon Poll
|WrittenBy = Roberto Benabib & Kim Benabib
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|7|5}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 5FA4C5
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 4
|Title = I'll Never Be Batman
|DirectedBy = Michael Lehmann
|WrittenBy = Dave Holstein
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|7|12}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 5FA4C5
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 5
|Title = Swim, Shmuley, Swim
|DirectedBy = J. Michael Muro
|WrittenBy = Jack Kukoda
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|7|19}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 5FA4C5
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 6
|Title = Tweet Tweet Tweet
|DirectedBy = Michael Lehmann
|WrittenBy = Sam Forman
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|7|26}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 5FA4C5
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 7
|Title = Sticky Wicket
|DirectedBy = Scott Winant
|WrittenBy = Aasif Mandvi
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|8|2}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 5FA4C5
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 8
|Title = Who's Grover Cleveland?
|DirectedBy = Michael Lehmann
|WrittenBy = Wes Jones
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|8|9}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 5FA4C5
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 9
|Title = Just a Little Crazy Talk
|DirectedBy = Adam Bernstein
|WrittenBy = Roberto Benabib, Kim Benabib & Dave Holstein
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|8|16}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 5FA4C5
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 10
|Title = There Will Be Consequences
|DirectedBy = Michael Lehmann
|WrittenBy = Roberto Benabib, Kim Benabib & Dave Holstein
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|8|23}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 5FA4C5
}}
}}
Reception
The Brink received mixed reviews from critics. Rotten Tomatoes gave the first season a rating of 53%, based on 36 reviews, with an average rating of 5.7/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "The Brink avoids disaster thanks to the game efforts of a talented cast, but they - and viewers - deserve political satire with a sharper bite."{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the-brink/s01/ |title=The Brink (2015) |publisher=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=June 22, 2015}} Metacritic gives the first season a score of 52 out of 100, based on reviews from 30 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-brink |title=The Brink: Season 1 reviews |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=June 24, 2015}}
IGN reviewer Amber Dowling gave the entire first season an 8.0 out of 10 'Great' score, saying that "after a rough first couple of episodes the actors settled into their characters and viewers grew more comfortable with the tone. Quick and surprising plot twists coupled with strong on-screen pairings eventually resulted in a fun summer romp with plenty of potential."{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/09/01/the-brink-season-1-review|title=The Brink: Season 1 Review|publisher=IGN|author=Amber Dowling|date=September 1, 2015|access-date=October 5, 2015}}
International broadcast
In India, the series aired within 24 hours of the US premiere on June 22, 2015, on HBO Defined HD.{{cite web|publisher=Indiantelevision.com|url=http://www.indiantelevision.com/television/tv-channels/english-entertainment/hbo-defined-brings-two-new-comedy-series-150618|title=HBO Defined brings two new comedy series |date=18 June 2015 }} In Australia, the series premiered on July 7, 2015, on Showcase.{{cite web|publisher=The Green Room|url=http://community.foxtel.com.au/t5/Foxtel-Blog/Duck-Dynasty-The-Brink-Finding-Carter-A-Place-To-Call-Home-and/ba-p/80597|title=Duck Dynasty, The Brink, Finding Carter, A Place To Call Home and live sport|date=July 3, 2015|access-date=July 9, 2015}} In Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Middle East and North Africa, the series premiered on November 11, 2015, on Orbit Showtime Network (OSN).
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.hbo.com/the-brink}}
- {{IMDb title|3216586}}
{{HBONetwork Shows}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brink (TV series), The}}
Category:2010s American black comedy television series
Category:2010s American political comedy television series
Category:2010s American satirical television series
Category:2015 American television series debuts
Category:2015 American television series endings
Category:American English-language television shows
Category:HBO original programming