The Crossover (TV series)#ep3

{{Infobox television

| image = CrossoverTVseries.png

| image_alt =

| genre = {{Plainlist|

}}

| creator = Damani Johnson

| based_on = {{Based on|The Crossover|Kwame Alexander}}

| writer =

| director =

| starring = {{Plainlist|

Jalyn Hall
Amir O’Neil
Derek Luke
Sabrina Revelle
Skyla I'Lece
Deja Monique Cruz
Trevor Raine Bush

}}

| narrated = Daveed Diggs

| theme_music_composer =

| country = United States

| language = English

| num_seasons = 1

| num_episodes = 8

| list_episodes =

| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|

Kwame Alexander
Maverick Carter
Jamal Henderson
LeBron James
Alexander Johnson
Damani Johnson
Jay Marcus
Bob Teitel
George Tillman Jr.

}}

| producer =

| cinematography =

| editor = {{Plainlist|

Ciarán Michael Vejby
Leah Breuer
Luis Colina
Michael Hathaway

}}

| runtime =

| company = {{Plainlist|

Magicworthy
Big Sea Entertainment
SpringHill Entertainment
State St. Pictures
20th Television
Disney Branded Television

}}

| network = Disney+

| first_aired = {{Start date|2023|4|5}}

}}

The Crossover is an American sports drama television series based on the novel of the same name by Kwame Alexander. It was released on April 5, 2023 on Disney+.

It received two nominations at the 2nd Children's and Family Emmy Awards, winning Outstanding Young Teen Series.

Premise

Brothers Josh and Jordan "JB" Bell are considered basketball phenomena, and navigate their lives entering adulthood as well as the growth of their family.

Cast

=Main=

Jalyn Hall as Josh Bell (nicknamed Filthy McNasty)
Amir O'Neil as Jordan "JB" Bell
Derek Luke as Chuck Bell
Sabrina Revelle as Crystal Bell
Skyla I'Lece as Alexis
Deja Monique Cruz as Maya
Trevor Raine Bush as Vondie

=Recurring=

Himie Freeman as Future Josh
Darone Okolie as Future JB
Joel Steingold as Basil St. John
Johnny Cantley as Future Vondie
Yvonne Senat Jones as Janice
Brandon Sutton as Gio
Elijah Jacob as Zuma
Will Koberg as Coach Howard

=Guest=

Gabriela Lopez as Future Maya

Episodes

{{Episode table |background=#FF9F5A |overall= |title= |director= |writer= |writerT=Teleplay by |writerR={{Cite web |url=https://directories.wga.org/project/1235457/the-crossover/ |title=The Crossover |website=Writers Guild of America West |access-date=March 30, 2023}} |airdate= |airdateR={{cite web |title=Shows A-Z – The Crossover on Disney+ |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/showatch/crossover/listings/ |website=The Futon Critic |access-date=March 30, 2023}} |episodes=

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 1

|Title = X's & O's

|DirectedBy = George Tillman, Jr.

|WrittenBy = Kwame Alexander & Damani Johnson

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|4|5}}

|ShortSummary =

|LineColor = FF9F5A

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 2

|Title = The Cold Streak

|DirectedBy = James Roday Rodriguez

|WrittenBy = Damani Johnson & Kwame Alexander

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|4|5}}

|ShortSummary =

|LineColor = FF9F5A

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 3

|Title = One-On-One

|DirectedBy = James Roday Rodriguez

|WrittenBy = Valerie C. Woods

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|4|5}}

|ShortSummary =

|LineColor = FF9F5A

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 4

|Title = Time Out

|DirectedBy = Nefertite Nguvu

|WrittenBy = Jake Lawler

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|4|5}}

|ShortSummary =

|LineColor = FF9F5A

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 5

|Title = Huddle Up

|DirectedBy = Nefertite Nguvu

|WrittenBy = Jasmine Swift

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|4|5}}

|ShortSummary =

|LineColor = FF9F5A

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 6

|Title = Full-Court Press

|DirectedBy = Erin O'Malley

|WrittenBy = Ali Kinney

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|4|5}}

|ShortSummary =

|LineColor = FF9F5A

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 7

|Title = Clutch

|DirectedBy = Erin O'Malley

|WrittenBy = Aaron Carter

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|4|5}}

|ShortSummary =

|LineColor = FF9F5A

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 8

|Title = Rebound

|DirectedBy = Cierra Glaude

|WrittenBy = Kwame Alexander & Valerie C. Woods

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|4|5}}

|ShortSummary =

|LineColor = FF9F5A

}}

Production

Disney+ ordered a pilot for the adaptation of the novel in May 2021, with Jalyn Hall and Amir O'Neil cast to star.{{cite web |last1=Petski |first1=Denise |title=The Crossover: Jalyn Hall & Amir O'Neil To Star In Disney+ Pilot Based On Kwame Alexander Book |url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/the-crossover-jalyn-hall-amir-oneil-to-star-in-disney-pilot-based-on-kwame-alexander-book-1234761869/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=8 February 2022 |date=May 21, 2021}} In June, Derek Luke, Sabrina Revelle, Skyla I'Lece, Deja Monique Cruz and Trevor Raine Bush were added to the cast.{{cite web |last1=Petski |first1=Denise |title=The Crossover: Derek Luke, Sabrina Revelle Among 5 Cast In Disney+ Pilot Based On Kwame Alexander Book |url=https://deadline.com/2021/06/the-crossover-derek-luke-sabrina-revelle-cast-disney-pilot-kwame-alexander-book-1234771748/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=8 February 2022 |date=June 9, 2021}} The series was officially greenlit in January 2022, with LeBron James' production company SpringHill Entertainment joining the production.{{cite web |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |title=The Crossover: Disney+ Picks Up Kwame Alexander's Basketball Drama To Series; LeBron James Joins As EP |url=https://deadline.com/2022/01/the-crossover-kwame-alexander-basketball-drama-disney-plus-series-order-lebron-james-ep-1234915997/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=8 February 2022 |date=January 20, 2022}} In February, Daveed Diggs was cast to narrate the series.{{cite web |last1=White |first1=Peter |title=Daveed Diggs To Narrate Disney+ Basketball Series The Crossover |url=https://deadline.com/2022/02/daveed-diggs-narrator-disney-basketball-the-crossover-1234927760/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=8 February 2022 |date=February 8, 2022}} In July, it was announced Darone Okolie, Gabriela Lopez, Joel Steingold, Himie Freeman, and Johnny Cantley were cast in recurring roles.{{cite web |last1=Cordero |first1=Rosy |title=The Crossover: Darone Okolie, Joel Steingold Among 5 New Recurring Cast Joining Disney+ Basketball Series |url=https://deadline.com/2022/07/the-crossover-darone-okolie-joel-steingold-recurring-cast-disney-plus-basketball-series-1235059688/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=7 July 2022 |date=July 7, 2022}} Yvonne Senat Jones would also join in a recurring role in October.{{cite web |last1=Cordero |first1=Rosy |title=The Crossover: Yvonne Senat Jones Boards Disney+ Basketball Series |url=https://deadline.com/2022/10/the-crossover-yvonne-senat-jones-disney-plus-series-1235145233/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=14 October 2022 |date=October 14, 2022}} Filming began in June 2022.{{cite web |last1=Otterson |first1=Joe |title=Disney Plus Orders Kwame Alexander Basketball Drama The Crossover to Series, LeBron James Boards as Executive Producer |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/disney-plus-kwame-alexander-the-crossover-series-lebron-james-1235158465/ |website=Variety |access-date=23 February 2022 |date=January 20, 2022}}

On January 13, 2023, it was announced that the series would premiere on April 5, 2023 on Disney+. It was originally slated to premiere on April 4, 2023 on Disney Channel, but the show was suddenly removed from their programming schedule for unknown reasons.{{cite web |last=Rouse |first=Isaac |date=January 13, 2023 |title=Here's Our First Look at Disney's 'Prom Pact,' 'The Crossover,' & National Geographic's 'A Small Light.' |url=https://www.tvinsider.com/1077087/tca-2023-disney-prom-pact-the-crossover-a-small-light-national-geographic/ |access-date=January 13, 2023 |website=TV Insider}}{{Cite web |last=Gilmore |first=Haylee |date=2023-03-25 |title=Best TV Series Coming to Disney+ in April 2023 |url=https://movieweb.com/best-tv-series-coming-to-disney-april-2023/ |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=MovieWeb |language=en}}

Reception

= Critical response =

Joel Keller of Decider stated, "The Crossover is a warm family dramedy with just enough of the drama part to keep us interested in following the Bells as they navigate life, school and hoops."{{Cite web |last=Keller |first=Joel |date=April 5, 2023 |title='The Crossover' Disney Plus Review: Stream It Or Skip It? |url=https://decider.com/2023/04/05/the-crossover-disney-plus-review/ |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=Decider |language=en-US}} Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter complimented the performances of the cast and the emphasis on Afrocentric culture, writing, "The Crossover generates some satisfying emotional beats, blends its coming-of-age and adult storylines well and, as derivative as some of its individual pieces may feel, its overall voice is likably distinctive."{{Cite web |last=Fienberg |first=Daniel |date=2023-04-04 |title='The Crossover' Review: Disney+'s Coming-of-Age Basketball Drama Is Most Engaging off the Court |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/the-crossover-review-disney-plus-coming-of-age-basketball-drama-1235366459/ |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} Joyce Slaton of Common Sense Media gave the series a grade of 4 out of 5 stars, praised the presence of positive messages and role models, citing hard work, family values, and social emotion learning, and complimented the diverse representations, asserting, "Family-friendly sports drama scores with heartfelt emotions."{{Cite web |last=Slaton |first=Joyce |title=The Crossover TV Review {{!}} Common Sense Media |url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/the-crossover |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=Common Sense Media |language=en}}

= Accolades =

The Crossover was nominated for Tweens/Teens Programming – Best New Series,{{Cite web |title=Kidscreen Awards 2024 NOMINEES |url=https://awards.kidscreen.com/Nominees |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=Kidscreen Awards}} and won Tweens/Teens Programming – Best Inclusivity at the 2024 Kidscreen Awards.{{Cite web |last=Dickson |first=Jeremy |date=February 5, 2024 |title=BREAKING NEWS: Announcing 2024's Kidscreen Awards winners |url=https://kidscreen.com/2024/02/05/breaking-news-announcing-2024s-kidscreen-award-winners/ |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=Kidscreen}}