South Side (TV series)

South Side is an American comedy television series created by Bashir Salahuddin and Diallo Riddle. Filmed and set in the Englewood area of Chicago, it follows two friends (portrayed by Sultan Salahuddin and Kareme Young) who recently graduated from community college and are seeking business success while working at a rent-to-own shop. The show premiered on Comedy Central on July 24, 2019.[1][2] In August 2019, the series was renewed for a 10-episode second season.[3] The second season will move to HBO Max, making the series a "Max Original".[4]

South Side
Title screen for South Side
GenreSitcom
Created byDiallo Riddle
Bashir Salahuddin
Sultan Salahuddin
StarringSultan Salahuddin
Kareme Young
Chandra Russell
Bashir Salahuddin
Lil Rel Howery
Zuri Salahuddin
Quincy Young
Diallo Riddle
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes10
Production
Executive producersMichael Blieden
Will A. Miles
Diallo Riddle
Bashir Salahuddin
Running time22 minutes
Production companyComedy Central Productions
Release
Original networkComedy Central (season 1)
Picture format16:9 HDTV
Original releaseJuly 24, 2019 (2019-07-24) –
present

Premise

South Side centers on

a pair of newly minted community college graduates and small-time hustlers who are always cooking up some petty scheme — from black market Viagra to street corner popcorn — with an eye toward upward mobility.[5]

Cast

Episodes
No.Title [6]Directed byWritten byOriginal air date [6]U.S. viewers
(millions)
1"Xbox"Michael BliedenBashir Salahuddin, Diallo Riddle & Sultan SalahuddinJuly 24, 2019 (2019-07-24)0.256[7]
2"Sell Yourself"Michael BliedenBashir Salahuddin & Diallo RiddleJuly 31, 2019 (2019-07-31)0.279[8]
3"Turner Buys a Building"Michael BliedenBashir Salahuddin & Diallo RiddleAugust 7, 2019 (2019-08-07)0.316[9]
4"The Day the Jordans Drop"Michael BliedenLangston KermanAugust 14, 2019 (2019-08-14)0.277[10]
5"Cold Cases"Michael BliedenChauncey B. Raglin-Washington & Bennett WalshAugust 21, 2019 (2019-08-21)0.241[11]
6"Mongolian Curly"Michael BliedenChandra RussellAugust 28, 2019 (2019-08-28)0.262[12]
7"Chi-town"Michael BliedenSultan SalahuddinSeptember 4, 2019 (2019-09-04)0.311[13]
8"Weird White Murderer"Michael BliedenAlisha CowanSeptember 11, 2019 (2019-09-11)0.246[14]
9"Mild Sauce Meatballs"Michael BliedenWill MilesSeptember 18, 2019 (2019-09-18)0.210[15]
10"Litcoin"Michael BliedenMichael BliedenSeptember 18, 2019 (2019-09-18)0.199[15]

Production

Development

On October 17, 2017, it was announced that Comedy Central had ordered the pilot for South Side from creators Bashir Salahuddin and Diallo Riddle, writing alums from Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.[16][17] The two also serve as executive producers and co-stars. On May 16, 2019, it was announced that the series would premiere on July 24, 2019.[17]

Showrunners Salahuddin and Riddle stated that South Side was created to portray the South Side of Chicago where Bashir Salahuddin grew up and to show that "[t]here is joy on the South Side and the many Chicagoans who made this show, both in front of and behind the camera, are eager to share that joy."[18] The show is set in Englewood and features local actors and production members from Chicago.[19]

Casting

Sultan Salahuddin, cast in the lead role of Simon, is the brother of show creator Bashir Salahuddin. Bashir plays Officer Goodnight opposite his wife, Chandra Russell, who portrays Sergeant Turner. Sultan's co-lead, Kareme Young, is the real-life twin brother of cast member Quincy Young, who also plays his brother on the show.[20] Other cast members and guest stars include Chicago natives Lil Rel Howery, Nathaniel “Earthquake” Stroman, LisaRaye McCoy, and Kel Mitchell.[18]

Release

South Side premiered on July 24, 2019. On August 28, 2019, Comedy Central renewed the series for a 10-episode second season.[3] On August 13, 2020, it reported that the series' first season is set to be streaming on HBO Max in 2021 and the second season will moving to HBO Max, making the series a "Max Original".[4]

Reception

South Side received positive critical reception.[21] The first season of the show has a score of 79/100 on review aggregator Metacritic, indicating "generally favorable reviews."[22] Writing for Vanity Fair, Laura Bradley stated: "The writers worked to imbue the series with a diverse cast of characters whose values, socioeconomic status, and ambitions varied widely...the thing all of the show’s main characters have in common is their drive."[20] Tambay Obenson wrote in a review for IndieWire, "The creators and cast know this world intimately, and instead of turning their camera on the usual crime and poverty, they find the humor that exists within the mayhem."[23]

Other media

On September 4, 2019, Comedy Central and WBEZ Chicago launched South Side Stories, a podcast collaboration that celebrates the real-life people and places that inspired the scripted comedy series.[24]

References
  1. Jevens, Darel (February 11, 2019). "VIDEO: Trailer shows slice-of-life humor of 'South Side,' an upcoming TV series". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  2. Ihejirika, Maudlyne (January 20, 2019). "Star of Comedy Central's 'South Side' to create film jobs for youth through nonprofit". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  3. Petski, Denise (August 28, 2019). "'South Side' Renewed For Season 2 By Comedy Central". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
  4. Schwartz, Ryan (August 13, 2020). "The Other Two and South Side Exit Comedy Central for HBO Max". TVLine. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  5. "'South Side': TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2019-07-23.
  6. "South Side – Listings". The Futon Critic. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  7. "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Wednesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.24.2019". Showbuzz Daily. 2019-07-25. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
  8. "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Wednesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.31.2019". Showbuzz Daily. 2019-08-01. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
  9. "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Wednesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 8.7.2019". Showbuzz Daily. 2019-08-08. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
  10. "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Wednesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 8.14.2019". Showbuzz Daily. 2019-08-15. Retrieved 2019-08-19.
  11. "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Wednesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 8.21.2019". Showbuzz Daily. 2019-08-22. Retrieved 2019-09-07.
  12. "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Wednesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 8.28.2019". Showbuzz Daily. 2019-08-29. Retrieved 2019-09-07.
  13. "UPDATED with Broadcast: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Wednesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 9.4.2019". Showbuzz Daily. 2019-09-05. Retrieved 2019-09-22.
  14. "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Wednesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 9.11.2019". Showbuzz Daily. 2019-09-12. Retrieved 2019-09-22.
  15. "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Wednesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 9.18.2019". Showbuzz Daily. 2019-09-19. Retrieved 2019-10-02.
  16. Andreeva, Nellie (2017-10-17). "Comedy Central Orders 2 New Series From 'Saturday Night Live', 'Late Night' Alums". Deadline. Retrieved 2019-07-23.
  17. Megh Wright (2019-05-16). "Trailer: Comedy Central's Upcoming Show 'South Side'". Vulture.com. Retrieved 2019-10-02.
  18. Stidhum, Tonja Renée. "Watch: Comedy Central's South Side Highlights the 'Hope and Love' of Chicago in Debut Trailer". The Grapevine. Retrieved 2019-07-23.
  19. D'Alessandro, Anthony (2019-02-12). "Comedy Central's 'South Side': Meet The Neighborhood – Trailer". Deadline. Retrieved 2019-07-23.
  20. "Comedy Central's South Side Is a Raucous Summer Must-Watch". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2019-07-26.
  21. Roeper, Richard (2019-07-23). "'South Side' sitcom so funny, so smart, that 10 episodes aren't enough". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2019-07-26.
  22. South Side, retrieved 2020-04-12
  23. Obenson, Tambay (2019-07-23). "'South Side' Review: Comedy Central's New Series Humanizes an Oft-Derided Community". IndieWire. Retrieved 2019-07-26.
  24. Rockett, Darcel. "WBEZ's 'South Side Stories' podcast brings attention to the lives and stories of South Siders". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2020-06-13.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.