Love Is (TV series)

Love Is (stylized as Love Is ___) is an American drama television series created and produced by Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil. Based on the Akils’ real-life relationship, the series follows a modern-day power couple in Black Hollywood balancing successful careers and family over three decades. The series premiered on June 19, 2018, on the Oprah Winfrey Network.[1] On July 31, 2018, it was originally renewed for a second season,[2] but on December 19, 2018, OWN reversed the decision and canceled the series after a woman accused Salim Akil of domestic violence in their extramarital affair, as well as copyright infringement by using her screenplay as the basis for the series.[3]

Love Is
GenreComedy-drama
Created by
Starring
Composer(s)Akira Kosemura
Country of originUnited States
Original language(s)English
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes10 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)
Running time42 minutes
Production company(s)
Release
Original networkOprah Winfrey Network
Picture format
Original releaseJune 19 (2018-06-19) –
August 21, 2018 (2018-08-21)
External links
Website

Plot

In 2017, a Black power couple tell the story of how they found love in one another and of their rise to fame in Hollywood starting in the 1990s. When they meet, Nuri is a comedy sitcom staff writer who longs to work in drama and Yasir is an aspiring but out of work writer/director.

Cast and characters

Main
  • Michele Weaver as Nuri Summers in the year 1997
  • Will Catlett as Yasir Omar in the year 1997
  • Wendy Davis as Nuri in the year 2017
  • Clarke Peters as Yasir in the year 2017
  • Idara Victor as Angela in the year 1997
  • Tyrone Brown as Sean in the year 1997
  • Yootha Wong-Loi-Sing as Ruby in the year 1997
  • Kadeem Hardison as Norman in the year 1997

Recurring

Episodes
No.Title [4]Directed byWritten byOriginal air date [4]US viewers
(millions)
1"Nuri and Yasir"Mara Brock AkilMara Brock AkilJune 19, 2018 (2018-06-19)1.00[5]
2"First Date"Robert TownsendMara Brock AkilJune 26, 2018 (2018-06-26)0.976[6]
3"(Her) Questions"Tanya HamiltonMara Brock AkilJuly 3, 2018 (2018-07-03)0.709[7]
4"(His) Answers"Cheryl DunyeJerron HortonJuly 10, 2018 (2018-07-10)0.983[8]
5"Acceptance"Oz ScottMichelle Listenbee BrownJuly 17, 2018 (2018-07-17)1.14[9]
6"Supportive"Karen GaviolaStory by : Jerron Horton & Will Catlett
Teleplay by : Jerron Horton		July 24, 2018 (2018-07-24)0.868[10]
7"Not Valentine's Day"Salli RichardsonMara Brock Akil & Jerron HortonJuly 31, 2018 (2018-07-31)0.614[11]
8"Rose (Going Home)"Neema BarnetteMichelle Listenbee BrownAugust 7, 2018 (2018-08-07)0.700[12]
9"A First Script"Rachael HolderMelora RiveraAugust 14, 2018 (2018-08-14)0.980[13]
10"Love Is Engagement"Mara Brock AkilMara Brock AkilAugust 21, 2018 (2018-08-21)1.06[14]

Production

Development

The series originated under the title Documenting Love, a multi-camera comedy project at ABC with a pilot production commitment in August, 2016.[15] The project, which did not go to production at ABC network, later was rewritten as a one-hour single-camera dramedy. On July 18, 2017, it was announced that the project, now titled Love Is, was ordered direct-to-series on Oprah Winfrey Network for airing in 2018.[16]

Casting

On December 6, 2017, it was announced that newcomers Michele Weaver and Will Catlett will stars as Nuri, a sitcom staff writer, and Yasir, a writer-director.[17][18] On January 16, 2018, Idara Victor, Tyrone Brown, Kadeem Hardison, Yootha Wong-Loi-Sing, and Lana Young have been cast as series regulars.[19] On February 15, 2018 Clarke Peters joined the cast as regular.[20] On February 16, 2018, it was announced that Tammy Townsend, Loretta Devine, Tim Reid and Vanessa Bell Calloway have been tapped for recurring roles on the series.[21]

On April 13, 2018, it was announced that Wendy Davis will replace Lana Young as Nuri in the year 2017.[22]

Reception

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the series has an approval rating of 80% based on 10 reviews, with an average rating of 6.7/10.[23] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 66 out of 100 based on 6 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[24]

Ratings
Viewership and ratings per episode of Love Is
No. Title Air dateRating
(18–49)		Viewers
(millions)
1 "Nuri and Yasir" June 19, 20180.31.00[5]
2 "First Date" June 26, 20180.30.976[6]
3 "(Her) Questions" July 3, 20180.20.709[7]
4 "(His) Answers" July 10, 20180.30.983[8]
5 "Acceptance" July 17, 20180.31.14[9]
6 "Supportive" July 24, 20180.20.868[10]
7 "Not Valentine's Day" July 31, 20180.20.614[11]
8 "Rose" August 7, 20180.20.700[12]
9 "A First Script" August 14, 20180.30.980[13]
10 "Love Is Engagement" August 21, 20180.31.06[14]
gollark: All computers are mine by divine right of kings.
gollark: The square of power.
gollark: Just buy one of those 64-core Epycs.
gollark: Where is that from anyway? Almost nobody offers ARM servers.
gollark: What of your mysterious ARM server?

References
  1. Petski, Denise (May 8, 2018). "'Love Is___' Premiere Date Set On OWN". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  2. Petski, Denise (July 31, 2018). "'Love Is ___' Renewed By OWN For Season 2". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  3. Patten, Dominic (December 19, 2018). "OWN Breaks Up With 'Love Is _' Amidst EP Salim Akil Domestic Violence Claims".
  4. "Love Is_ Listings". The Futon Critic. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  5. Metcalf, Mitch (June 20, 2018). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.19.2018". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  6. Metcalf, Mitch (June 27, 2018). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.26.2018". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  7. Metcalf, Mitch (July 5, 2018). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.3.2018". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  8. Metcalf, Mitch (July 11, 2018). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.10.2018". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  9. Metcalf, Mitch (July 18, 2018). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.17.2018". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  10. Metcalf, Mitch (July 25, 2018). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.24.2018". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  11. Metcalf, Mitch (August 1, 2018). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.31.2018". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
  12. Metcalf, Mitch (August 8, 2018). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 8.7.2018". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
  13. Metcalf, Mitch (August 15, 2018). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 8.14.2018". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
  14. Metcalf, Mitch (August 22, 2018). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 8.21.2018". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  15. Andreeva, Nellie (August 26, 2016). "ABC Nabs Mara Brock Akil & Salim Akil Romantic Comedy 'Documenting Love' With Pilot Production Commitment". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  16. Andreeva, Nellie (July 18, 2017). "OWN Orders Relationship Dramedy Series From Mara Brock Akil & Salim Akil". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  17. Pedersen, Erik (December 6, 2017). "'Love Is___': Michele Weaver & Will Catlett Set As Leads For OWN Series From Akil Productions". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  18. Otterson, Joe (December 6, 2017). "OWN Drama 'Love Is___' Casts Michele Weaver, Will Catlett in Lead Roles". Variety. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  19. Petski, Denise (January 16, 2018). "'Love Is___': OWN Relationship Dramedy From Mara Brock Akil & Salim Akil Adds Five To Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  20. Petski, Denise (February 16, 2018). "'Love Is___': Clarke Peters To Co-Star In OWN Relationship Dramedy From Mara Brock Akil & Salim Akil". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  21. Petski, Denise (February 16, 2018). "'Love Is___': Tammy Townsend, Loretta Devine, Tim Reid & Vanessa Bell Calloway Set To Recur In OWN Dramedy". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  22. Petski, Denise (April 13, 2018). "'Love Is ___': Wendy Davis Joins OWN Relationship Dramedy In Recasting". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  23. "Love Is ____: Season 1 (2018)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  24. "Love Is ____ Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
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