Harlem is an American comedy television series created and executive produced by Tracy Oliver. It premiered on Amazon Prime Video on December 3, 2021. In February 2022, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on February 3, 2023. In December 2023, the series was renewed for a third season.
| Harlem | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Comedy |
| Created by | Tracy Oliver |
| Starring |
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| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 18 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producers |
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| Cinematography | Matt Edwards |
| Editors |
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| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | Amazon Prime Video |
| Release | December 3, 2021 – present |
It received generally favorable reviews by critics, earning nominations at the Black Reel Awards and NAACP Image Awards, both for direction and cast of actors.
Synopsis
editThe series follows four girlfriends who met while attending New York University and are now in their thirties, living in Harlem, as they try to balance love, life, and their careers as working professionals.[1][2]
Cast
editMain cast
edit- Meagan Good as Camille Parks
- Grace Byers as Quinn Joseph
- Shoniqua Shandai as Angie Wilson
- Jerrie Johnson as Tye Reynolds
- Tyler Lepley as Ian Walker
Recurring cast
edit- Whoopi Goldberg as Dr. Elise Pruitt
- Jasmine Guy as Patricia Joseph
- Bevy Smith as Aunt Tammy
- Juani Feliz as Isabela Benitez-Santiago
- Jonathan Burke as Eric
- Kadeem Ali Harris as Brandon
- Sullivan Jones as Jameson Royce
- Andrea Martin as Robin Goodman (season 1)
- Robert Ri'chard as Shawn (season 1)
- Erika Henningsen as Kate (season 1)
- Kate Rockwell as Anna Sharp (season 2)
- Luke Forbes as Michael (season 2)
- Joie Lee as Deborah Parks (season 2)
- Rachel True as Aimee (season 2)
- Trai Byers as Keith (season 2)
Guest appearances
edit- Rick Fox as Phil Joseph (season 2)
- Sherri Shepherd as Sonya Wilson (season 2)
- Lil Rel Howery as Freddie Wilson (season 2)
- Countess Vaughn as Herself (season 2)
- D. Woods as Karla (season 2)
Production
editThe project was first announced on July 8, 2019, as an untitled half-hour comedy series.[3] Filming was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] Creator Tracy Oliver said she had the idea for the show because she felt there weren't a lot of "Black female friendship stories on the air," and she wanted to portray people in their thirties who were still searching for their path in life.[4] She based the show in part on her own experiences.[4] The series is executive produced by Oliver, Amy Poehler, Kim Lessing, Dave Becky, Pharrell Williams, and Mimi Valdés.[1]
On January 14, 2020, it was announced that Meagan Good, Grace Byers, Jerrie Johnson, and Shoniqua Shandai had been cast in the series, and that Malcolm D. Lee would direct the first two episodes.[5] On February 17, 2021, it was announced that Whoopi Goldberg and Jasmine Guy would be joining the show in recurring roles.[6] On March 4, 2021, it was announced that Andrea Martin, Robert Ri'chard, Juani Feliz, Kate Rockwell, and Sullivan Jones would also have recurring roles.[7] On February 17, 2022, Amazon renewed the series for a second season.[8] On December 6, 2023, Amazon renewed the series for a third season.[9]
Episodes
editSeries overview
edit| Season | Episodes | Originally released | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | |||
| 1 | 10 | December 3, 2021 | ||
| 2 | 8 | February 3, 2023 | February 24, 2023 | |
Season 1 (2021)
edit| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Pilot" | Malcolm D. Lee | Tracy Oliver | December 3, 2021 |
| 2 | 2 | "Saturn Returns" | Malcolm D. Lee | Tracy Oliver | December 3, 2021 |
| 3 | 3 | "Rainbow Sprinkles" | Linda Mendoza | Azie Dungey | December 3, 2021 |
| 4 | 4 | "Winter Solstice" | Linda Mendoza | Njeri Brown | December 3, 2021 |
| 5 | 5 | "Boundaries" | Linda Mendoza | Travon Free | December 3, 2021 |
| 6 | 6 | "Cuffing Season" | Stacey Muhammad | Jess Watson | December 3, 2021 |
| 7 | 7 | "The Strong Black Woman" | Stacey Muhammad | Britt Matt | December 3, 2021 |
| 8 | 8 | "Five Years Ago" | Linda Mendoza | Azie Dungey & Sean Buckley | December 3, 2021 |
| 9 | 9 | "Secrets" | Neema Barnette | Aeryn Michelle Williams | December 3, 2021 |
| 10 | 10 | "Once Upon a Time in Harlem" | Neema Barnette | Tracy Oliver & Scott King | December 3, 2021 |
Season 2 (2023)
edit| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date [10] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 1 | "Takesie Backsies" | Linda Mendoza | Tracy Oliver & Scott King | February 3, 2023 |
| 12 | 2 | "If You Can't Say Anything Nice…" | Meagan Good | Britt Matt | February 3, 2023 |
| 13 | 3 | "As Assist from the Sidelines" | Stacey Muhammad | Aeryn Michelle Williams & Jessica Watson & Tracy Oliver | February 10, 2023 |
| 14 | 4 | "Baby and the Bath Water" | Linda Mendoza | Nicole Drespel & Morgan Collins & Tracy Oliver | February 10, 2023 |
| 15 | 5 | "Pride" | Linda Mendoza | Britt Matt & Sean Buckley & Tracy Oliver | February 17, 2023 |
| 16 | 6 | "Out of the Deadpan and into the Fire" | Shea William Vanderpoort | Alisha Cowan & Thembi Ford & Tracy Oliver | February 17, 2023 |
| 17 | 7 | "Fall Back to Rumspringa Forward" | Shea William Vanderpoort | Anaya Byrd & Katie Tibaldi & Tracy Oliver | February 24, 2023 |
| 18 | 8 | "Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy" | Stacey Muhammad | Tracy Oliver & Brandon K. Hynes & Nicole Drespel | February 24, 2023 |
Stacey Muhammad, Shea Vanderpoort and Tasha Smith are the directors of season 3.[11]
Release
editThe trailer was released on November 3, 2021.[4] All 10 episodes of the series premiered on Prime Video on December 3, 2021.[4]
Reception
editAccording to the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the series' first season has a 96% approval rating based on 26 critics' reviews, with an average rating of 6.9/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "Harlem is a delight that is often wise about friendly foibles, aided by a terrific cast whose snappy repartee immediately shines."[12] Metacritic assigned the first season a weighted average score of 77 out of 100 based on 12 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[13]
Accolades
edit| Award | Year | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Reel Awards | 2023 | Outstanding Comedy Series | Harlem (given to Tracy Oliver) | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Lead Performance in a Comedy Series | Meagan Good | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Guest Performance in a Comedy Series | Whoopi Goldberg | Nominated | |||
| NAACP Image Awards | 2022 | Outstanding Comedy Series | Harlem | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series | Neema Barnette (for "Once Upon A Time in Harlem") | Nominated | |||
| 2024 | Outstanding Comedy Series | Harlem | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series | Meagan Good | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series | Tyler Lepley | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Shoniqua Shandai | Nominated | |||
| GLAAD Media Awards | 2022 | Outstanding New TV Series | Harlem | Nominated | |
| 2024 | Outstanding Comedy Series | Nominated |
References
edit- ^ a b Jones, Okla (November 8, 2021). "Amazon Releases Trailer For New Comedy 'Harlem'". Essence. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
- ^ a b Sledge, Philip (October 28, 2021). "7 Quick Things We Know About Tracy Oliver's Upcoming Prime Video Comedy Series". Cinema Blend. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
- ^ Petski, Denise (July 8, 2019). "Amazon Orders Tracy Oliver Comedy Series From Amy Poehler & Universal TV". Deadline. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
- ^ a b c d Jones, Marcus (November 3, 2021). "Harlem trailer touts guest stars Whoopi Goldberg, Jasmine Guy, and a Cousin Skeeter reunion". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
- ^ Thorne, Will (January 14, 2020). "Tracy Oliver Amazon Series Casts Meagan Good, Grace Byers, Jerrie Johnson and Shoniqua Shandai". Variety. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
- ^ Petski, Denise (February 17, 2021). "Whoopi Goldberg & Jasmine Guy Join Tracy Oliver Comedy 'Harlem' In Recurring Roles". Deadline. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ Petski, Denise (March 4, 2021). "'Harlem': Andrea Martin, Robert Ri'chard, Juani Feliz, Kate Rockwell & Sullivan Jones To Recur In Tracy Oliver's Amazon Comedy". Deadline. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ Petski, Denise (February 17, 2022). "Tracy Oliver's 'Harlem' Renewed For Season 2 By Amazon". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
- ^ Cordero, Rosy (December 6, 2023). "'Harlem' Renewed For Season 3 At Prime Video". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
- ^ "Shows A-Z – Harlem on Amazon". The Futon Critic. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
- ^ Cordero, Rosy (March 27, 2024). "'Harlem' Sets Recurring Cast For Season 3". Deadline.
- ^ "Harlem: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
- ^ "Harlem: Season 1". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved January 7, 2022.