On Becoming a God in Central Florida

Last updated

On Becoming a God in Central Florida
On Becoming a God in Central Florida logo.png
Genre
Created by
  • Robert Funke
  • Matt Lutsky
Starring
Composers
  • Danny Bensi
  • Saunder Jurriaans
Country of originUnited States
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes10
Production
Executive producers
Producers
CinematographyTobias Datum
Camera setup Single-camera
Running time42–48 minutes
Production companies
Release
Original network Showtime
Original releaseAugust 25 (2019-08-25) –
October 20, 2019 (2019-10-20)

On Becoming a God in Central Florida is an American dark comedy television series created by Robert Funke and Matt Lutsky that premiered on Showtime on August 25, 2019. The series stars Kirsten Dunst and is set in the early 1990s.

Contents

In September 2019, the series was renewed for a second season. [4] However, in October 2020, the renewal decision was reversed and the series was canceled after one season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [5]

Plot

Krystal Stubbs is a minimum-wage-earning water park employee in Greater Orlando who schemes her way up the ranks of Founders American Merchandise, a cultish, flag-waving, multi-billion-dollar multi-level marketing pyramid scheme that drove her family to ruin. [6]

Cast and characters

Main

Recurring

Guest

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date  [7] U.S. viewers
(millions)
1"The Stinker Thinker" Charlie McDowell Robert Funke & Matt LutskyAugust 16, 2019 (2019-08-16)(online)
August 25, 2019 (2019-08-25)(Showtime)		0.173 [8]

Krystal Stubbs is a new mother whose husband, Travis, sells insurance but is primarily focused on leaving his job and selling Founders American Merchandise (FAM) full time.

Under pressure from Travis's up-line, Krystal tries to pressure the bosses of the waterpark where she works to only stock FAM. When that fails she finally puts her foot down with Travis and insists that she will only support his ambitions if he fully commits to his insurance job. Travis nevertheless quits and dies shortly after in a freak accident involving an alligator. Travis' funeral is attended by the founder, who urges a skeptical Krystal to keep her husband's downline but refuses to provide her with any financial compensation.
2"The Gloomy-Zoomies" Jeremy Podeswa Robert FunkeAugust 16, 2019 (2019-08-16)(online)
August 25, 2019 (2019-08-25)(Showtime)		0.138 [8]
Krystal struggles with the reality of being a single mother and realizes that her situation is even worse than she thought as Travis had remortgaged the house and left them deeply in debt. Travis's up-line, Cody Bonar, struggles with how to keep Krystal and her downline part of his team as commission from Travis was a substantial part of his downline. After burning through some of her goodwill, Krystal accepts an offer from Cody for a one time advance in order to stay with FAM and recruit others.
3"A Positive Spin!" Rose Troche Matt LutskySeptember 1, 2019 (2019-09-01)0.216 [9]
Krystal loses her home and is forced to stay at work while trying to scrape by. Delivering product to her downline she meets Mimi and discovers one more devastating secret Travis was hiding from her. Fed up Krystal smooth talks Cody into letting her speak to his downline under the guise of talking him up while secretly planning to tell the captive audience how selling FAM ruined her life.
4"Manifest Destinee" Rodman Flender Pamela DavisSeptember 8, 2019 (2019-09-08)0.235 [10]
5"Many Masters" Daniel Scheinert Mike GoldbachSeptember 15, 2019 (2019-09-15)0.216 [11]
6"American Merchandise" Julie Anne Robinson Carlos RiosSeptember 22, 2019 (2019-09-22)0.185 [12]
7"Flint Glass"Matt Spicer Esta Spalding September 29, 2019 (2019-09-29)0.214 [13]
8"Birthday Party" So Yong Kim Robert Funke & Matt LutskyOctober 6, 2019 (2019-10-06)0.161 [14]
9"Wham Bam Thank You FAM" Tricia Brock Story by : Pamela Davis
Teleplay by : Jessica Blaire and Stephanie Riggs		October 13, 2019 (2019-10-13)0.132 [15]
10"Go Getters Gonna Go Getcha"Charlie McDowellRobert Funke & Matt Lutsky & Esta SpaldingOctober 20, 2019 (2019-10-20)0.179 [16]

Production

Development

On January 6, 2017, it was reported that AMC was developing the production. The series was created by Robert Funke and Matt Lutsky who also wrote the pilot episode and were set to executive produce for the series alongside Kirsten Dunst, Yorgos Lanthimos, George Clooney, and Grant Heslov. Lanthimos was also set to direct. Production companies involved with the series were expected to include Smokehouse Pictures, TriStar Television, and AMC Studios. [17] [18]

On June 25, 2018, it was announced that the production had moved to YouTube Premium, which had given it a series order for a first season consisting of 10 episodes. It was further reported that Esta Spalding and Charlie McDowell had joined the series as executive producers. Spaulding is also set to serve as showrunner and McDowell is set to direct, replacing Lanthimos as executive producer and director. [6] [19] [20]

On June 17, 2019, it was announced that Showtime, which had acquired the series from TriStar, would air the series instead of YouTube and that it would premiere on August 25, 2019. [21]

On September 26, 2019, Showtime renewed the series for a second season. [4] However, on October 7, 2020, Showtime reversed the renewal and canceled the series, stating that "the [ COVID-19 pandemic] has continued to challenge schedules across the board, and although we have made every effort to reunite the cast and crew for a second season, that has become untenable." [5]

Casting

Alongside the initial development announcement, it was confirmed that Kirsten Dunst would star in the series. [17] On August 28, 2018, it was announced that Théodore Pellerin had been cast in a lead role. [22] On September 14, 2018, it was reported that Ted Levine, Mel Rodriguez, and Beth Ditto had joined the cast in series regular roles and that Usman Ally would appear on a recurring basis. [23] On October 5, 2018, it was announced that Julie Benz had joined the cast in a recurring capacity. [24] On November 28, 2018, it was reported that Melissa De Sousa would appear in a recurring role. [25]

Filming

Principal photography for the series commenced in October 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. [22] On October 8, 2018, filming took place in Westwego, Louisiana. [26]

Reception

Critical response

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 85% based on 47 reviews, with an average rating of 7.29/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Though it loses a bit of narrative steam, On Becoming a God in Central Florida proves a clever and absurd satire that will make you want to buy whatever Kirsten Dunst is selling." [27] On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 76 out of 100, based on 22 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [28]

Accolades

YearAwardCategoryNominee(s)ResultRef.
2020 Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Actress in a Comedy Series Kirsten Dunst Nominated [29]
Golden Globe Awards Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy Nominated [30]
Writers Guild of America Awards Episodic Comedy Robert F. Funke and Matt Lutsky (for "The Stinker Thinker")Nominated [31]

Related Research Articles

<i>Queen Sugar</i> 2016 American drama television series

Queen Sugar is an American drama television series created and executive produced by Ava DuVernay, with Oprah Winfrey serving as an executive producer. DuVernay also directed the first two episodes. The series is based on the 2014 novel of the same name by American writer Natalie Baszile. Queen Sugar centers on the lives of three siblings in rural Louisiana who must deal with the aftermath of their father's sudden death and decide the fate of his 800-acre sugarcane farm. The mainstream themes in the series often accompany episodes centered on racial profiling, the long reach of chattel slavery in American history and the inequities in the criminal justice system, and other issues related to African Americans.

<i>Im Dying Up Here</i> American TV series or program

I'm Dying Up Here is an American comedy-drama television series created by David Flebotte. The pilot was written by Flebotte and directed by Jonathan Levine. It premiered on Showtime on June 4, 2017. The series is executive produced by Flebotte, Jim Carrey, Michael Aguilar, and Christina Wayne. It was announced on January 12, 2016, that Showtime had ordered the pilot to series based on the bestselling nonfiction book by William Knoedelseder of the same title. On September 8, 2017, Showtime renewed the series for a 10-episode second season. The second season premiered on May 6, 2018. On September 28, 2018, Showtime announced that it had canceled the series.

<i>Room 104</i> American anthology television series

Room 104 is an American television anthology series created by Mark Duplass and Jay Duplass, first broadcast on HBO between 2017 and 2020.

<i>The Last O.G.</i> American comedy TV series (2018–21)

The Last O.G. is an American comedy television series created by Jordan Peele and John Carcieri that premiered on March 31, 2018, on TBS. The series follows a convict released after serving fifteen years who returns to Brooklyn to find his old neighborhood has changed, and his ex-girlfriend is raising their children with another man. It stars Tracy Morgan, Tiffany Haddish, Allen Maldonado, Ryan Gaul, Taylor Christian Mosby, Dante Hoagland, and Cedric the Entertainer.

<i>Escape at Dannemora</i> 2018 television miniseries

Escape at Dannemora is an American crime drama television limited series that premiered on Showtime on November 18, 2018. It is based on the 2015 Clinton Correctional Facility escape. The seven-episode series was created and written by Brett Johnson and Michael Tolkin and directed by Ben Stiller. It stars Benicio del Toro, Patricia Arquette, Paul Dano, Bonnie Hunt, Eric Lange, and David Morse.

SMILF is an American sitcom starring, created, written, and directed by Frankie Shaw. It was based on her short film of the same title. The series premiered on Showtime on November 5, 2017. The series' name, SMILF, is a play on the term "MILF", with the "S" standing for "single", or "Southie", or both. On November 29, 2017, Showtime renewed the series for a second season.

<i>The Chi</i> American drama television series

The Chi is an American drama television series created by Lena Waithe about life in a neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago. It premiered on Showtime on January 7, 2018. In August 2022, the series was renewed for a sixth season. On June 21, 2023, it was announced that the sixth season will consist of 16 episodes split into two parts; part one premiered on August 6, 2023.

<i>Kidding</i> American comedy-drama television series

Kidding is an American comedy-drama television series created by Dave Holstein that premiered on September 9, 2018, on Showtime. The series stars Jim Carrey, Frank Langella, Judy Greer, Cole Allen, Juliet Morris, and Catherine Keener. Michel Gondry serves as executive producer and directed several episodes. In October 2018, Showtime renewed the series for a second season which premiered February 9, 2020. In July 2020, the series was canceled after two seasons.

American Rust is an American crime drama television series created by Dan Futterman based on the novel of the same name by Philipp Meyer. The series premiered on September 12, 2021, on Showtime. In January 2022, the series was canceled after one season by Showtime. In June 2022, the series was revived for a second season by Amazon Freevee.

City on a Hill is an American crime drama series created by Charlie MacLean, based on a story by Ben Affleck and MacLean. The series stars Kevin Bacon, Aldis Hodge, Amanda Clayton, Cathy Moriarty, Kevin Dunn, and Jill Hennessy. The series premiered on June 7, 2019 (online) and June 16, 2019 (Showtime). On August 2, 2019, Showtime renewed the series for a second season, which premiered on March 28, 2021. On June 2, 2021, the series was renewed for a third season which premiered on July 31, 2022. On October 27, 2022, Showtime cancelled the series after three seasons.

<i>Good Trouble</i> (TV series) American drama television series

Good Trouble is an American drama television series. It is a spin-off of the Freeform show The Fosters. Good Trouble began in January 2019 with a thirteen-episode first season and follows Callie Adams Foster and Mariana Adams Foster, conceptually a few years after the earlier series, "as they embark on the next phase of their young adult lives working in Los Angeles." The second season premiered in June 2019, and the third season premiered in February 2021. In September 2021, the series was renewed for a fourth season, which premiered on March 9, 2022. In August 2022, the series was renewed for a fifth season, which premiered on March 16, 2023.

<i>Black Monday</i> (TV series) American historical dark comedy television series

Black Monday is an American historical dark comedy television series created by Jordan Cahan and David Caspe that premiered on January 20, 2019, on Showtime. The series stars Don Cheadle, Andrew Rannells, Regina Hall, Casey Wilson, and Paul Scheer, and follows the employees of second-tier Wall Street trading firm the Jammer Group during the year leading up to "Black Monday", the day when international stock markets crashed in 1987. In April 2019, the series was renewed for a second season that premiered on March 15, 2020. In October 2020, the series was renewed for a third season, which premiered on May 23, 2021. In January 2022, the series was cancelled after three seasons.

<i>Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens</i> American comedy television series

Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens is an American sitcom starring Awkwafina that first aired on January 20, 2020, on Comedy Central. The series was renewed for a second season before the series premiere, and received generally favorable reviews from critics. The second season premiered on August 18, 2021. In May 2022, the series was renewed for a third season which premiered on April 26, 2023.

The Loudest Voice is a 2019 American drama television miniseries depicting Roger Ailes as he creates and guides the rise of Fox News. It was developed by Tom McCarthy and Alex Metcalf, and based on the 2014 book The Loudest Voice in the Room by Gabriel Sherman, and premiered June 30, 2019, on Showtime.

<i>Your Honor</i> (American TV series) American legal drama TV series

Your Honor is an American drama television series starring Bryan Cranston, adapted from the Israeli TV series Kvodo. It premiered on Showtime on December 6, 2020 and ended on March 19, 2023. While ordered as a miniseries, in August 2021, the series was renewed for a second season which premiered on January 15, 2023. In July 2022, it was reported that the second season would be its last.

<i>Work in Progress</i> (TV series) 2019 American sitcom created by Abby McEnany

Work in Progress is an American comedy-drama television series produced by Showtime that premiered on December 8, 2019. The series was created by Abby McEnany and Tim Mason, written and executive produced by McEnany, Mason, and Lilly Wachowski, and directed by Mason. Work in Progress stars McEnany in a semi-autobiographical role alongside Karin Anglin, Celeste Pechous, Julia Sweeney, and Theo Germaine. The entire series was written, filmed, and post-produced in Chicago.

<i>The Man Who Fell to Earth</i> (TV series) Science fiction drama television series

The Man Who Fell to Earth is an American science fiction drama television limited series created by Jenny Lumet and Alex Kurtzman based on the 1963 novel of the same name by Walter Tevis. It is a sequel to the 1976 film starring David Bowie. The series stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as an alien who arrives on planet Earth and Bill Nighy, playing the role originally played by Bowie in the 1976 film. It debuted on Showtime on April 24, 2022. A portion of the series was shown at SXSW on March 12, 2022. In October 2022, the series was not renewed for a second season.

Super Pumped is an American anthology drama television series created by Brian Koppelman and David Levien, named for the 2019 nonfiction book of the same name by Mike Isaac. The first installment, subtitled The Battle For Uber, is based on Isaac's book and centers on the rise and fall of former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Also starring Kyle Chandler, Uma Thurman, and Elisabeth Shue, it premiered on Showtime on February 27, 2022. Ahead of the series premiere, the series was renewed for a second season, which will be based on a separate forthcoming book by Mike Isaac about Facebook.

References

  1. ↑ Pedersen, Erik (July 15, 2019). "'On Becoming A God In Central Florida' Trailer: Showtime's Dark Comedy About The Cult Of Free Enterprise Starring Kirsten Dunst". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on July 17, 2019. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  2. ↑ Viruet, Pilot (August 21, 2019). "Kirsten Dunst Is a Single Mom Fighting the Odds in 'On Becoming a God in Central Florida'". Observer . Archived from the original on October 14, 2019. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  3. ↑ Lloyd, Robert (August 23, 2019). "'Florida Man' is so over. On TV, Florida women are having their day". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on August 26, 2019. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  4. 1 2 Otterson, Joe (September 26, 2019). "'On Becoming a God in Central Florida' Renewed for Season 2 at Showtime". Variety . Archived from the original on September 26, 2019. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
  5. 1 2 Andreeva, Nellie (October 7, 2020). "'On Becoming A God In Central Florida' Canceled By Showtime, Won't Proceed With Season 2 Due To COVID". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 8, 2020. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  6. 1 2 Andreeva, Nellie (June 25, 2018). "YouTube Orders Kirsten Dunst-Starring Dark Comedy Series From George Clooney, Grant Heslov & TriStar Television". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 2, 2019. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  7. ↑ "On Becoming a God in Central Florida – Listings". The Futon Critic . Retrieved July 8, 2019.
  8. 1 2 Metcalf, Mitch (August 27, 2019). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 8.25.2019". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on August 27, 2019. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  9. ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (September 4, 2019). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 9.1.2019". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on September 4, 2019. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  10. ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (September 10, 2019). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 9.8.2019". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on September 10, 2019. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  11. ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (September 17, 2019). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 9.15.2019". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on September 10, 2019. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  12. ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (September 24, 2019). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 9.22.2019". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on September 24, 2019. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  13. ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (October 1, 2019). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 9.29.2019". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on September 10, 2019. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  14. ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (October 8, 2019). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 10.6.2019". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on September 10, 2019. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  15. ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (October 15, 2019). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 10.13.2019". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on September 10, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  16. ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (October 22, 2019). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 10.20.2019". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on October 22, 2019. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
  17. 1 2 Andreeva, Nellie (January 6, 2017). "Kirsten Dunst To Topline Dark Comedy Series From George Clooney, Grant Heslov & 'The Lobster' Helmer in Works at AMC". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 2, 2019. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  18. ↑ Stanhope, Kate (January 6, 2018). "Kirsten Dunst and George Clooney Team for Dark Comedy at AMC". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 2, 2019. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  19. ↑ Nemetz, Dave (June 25, 2018). "Kirsten Dunst '90s-Set Comedy Lands at YouTube With 10-Episode Order". TVLine. Archived from the original on August 26, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  20. ↑ Otterson, Joe (June 25, 2018). "Kirsten Dunst-Led Dark Comedy From Producer George Clooney Scores Series Order at YouTube Premium". Variety. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  21. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (June 17, 2019). "Showtime Picks Up 'On Becoming A God in Central Florida' Series Starring Kirsten Dunst in Turnaround From YouTube". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 17, 2019. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
  22. 1 2 Otterson, Joe (August 28, 2018). "Theodore Pellerin Joins Kirsten Dunst YouTube Premium Series (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on April 2, 2019. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  23. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (September 14, 2018). "Ted Levine, Mel Rodriguez, Beth Ditto & Usman Ally Cast in YouTube Series 'On Becoming A God in Central Florida'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 24, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  24. ↑ Petski, Denise (October 5, 2018). "'On Becoming A God in Central Florida': Julie Benz To Recur in YouTube's Dark Comedy Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 21, 2018. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  25. ↑ Petski, Denise (November 28, 2018). "'Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists' Casts Garrett Wareing; Melissa de Sousa Joins 'On Becoming A God In Central Florida'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 29, 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
  26. ↑ Steves, Ashley (September 26, 2018). "Now Casting: 'On Becoming a God in Central Florida' With Kirsten Dunst Has a Role for an Animal Control Worker + 3 More Gigs". Backstage . Archived from the original on September 28, 2018. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  27. ↑ "On Becoming a God in Central Florida: Season 1 (2019)". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  28. ↑ "On Becoming a God in Central Florida: Season 1". Metacritic . CBS . Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  29. ↑ Schwartz, Ryan; Caruso, Nick (December 8, 2019). "Critics' Choice Awards 2020: Fleabag, Watchmen, When They See Us, Unbelievable Among TV Nominees". TVLine. Archived from the original on December 9, 2019. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  30. ↑ Nordyke, Kimberly; Konerman, Jennifer; Howard, Annie (December 9, 2019). "Golden Globes: Full List of Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on December 10, 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  31. ↑ Nordyke, Kimberly (December 5, 2019). "Writers Guild Awards Unveils TV Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on December 6, 2019. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.