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Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Unnamed Kimmy Schmidt is an American television starcom created by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock , starring Ellie Kemper in the title role, which has streamed onNetflix since March 6, 2015. [1] Originally set for a 13-episode first season on NBC For spring 2015, the show was sold to Netflix and given a two-season order. [2]

The series follows 29-year-old Kimmy Schmidt (Kemper) as she Adjusts to life in New York City after-her rescue from a doomsday cult in Indiana Where She and three other women Were Held by Reverend Richard Wayne Gary Wayne ( Jon Hamm ) for 15 years. Lillian Kaushtupper ( Carol Kane ), finds a roommate ( New York City, USA) In struggling actor Titus Andromedon ( Tituss Burgess ), and a job as a nanny for the melancholy and out-of-touch socialite Jacqueline Voorhees ( Jane Krakowski ).

Since icts first, the show received critical acclaim HAS, [3] with critic Scott Meslow calling it “the first great sitcom of the streaming era”. [4] As of July 14, 2016, the series has been nominated for eleven Primetime Emmy Awards , including two nominations for Outstanding Comedy Series .

On June 13, 2017 it was reported that the series had been renewed for a fourth season. [5]

Synopsis

See also: List of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt episodes

Kimmy Schmidt ( Ellie Kemper ) was in 8th grade when she was kidnapped for fifteen years by Reverend Richard Wayne Gary Wayne ( Jon Hamm ). The Reverend held Kimmy and three other women hosted in an underground bunker, and convinced them that doomsday had come, gone, and had left them the sole survivors of humanity.

In the first season , the women are rescued, and go on to appear on the Today Show in New York City. After the show, Kimmy finds herself not wanting to return to Indiana, but instead to start a new life in New York City. Roaming around the city, Kimmy comes across landlady Lillian Kaushtupper ( Carol Kane ). Kaushtupper offers Kimmy a chance to room with Titus Andromedon ( Tituss Burgess ) in her downstairs apartment. However, Kimmy has a job in order to get the apartment. Kimmy encounters his mother, Jacqueline Voorhees ( Jane Krakowski ) a Manhattan trophy wife, who mistakes her for a nanny, and who Kimmy mistakes as someone trapped in a cult. Soon after, Jacqueline hires Kimmy to be a nanny for her 10-year-old son. [6] [7] As Season 1 continues, Kimmy falls in love with a Vietnamese man, named Dong ( Ki Hong Lee ) from her GED class, goes to court to testify against the Reverend, and discovers how the world has changed in the 15 years she was locked up.

In the second season , Kimmy is sick of working for Jacqueline and Acquires a job at a year-round Christmas store And Then as an Uber driver. She is a student and a student at the university. As Kimmy tries to move on, so do Titus and Jacqueline, who both find boyfriends. Titus begins dating worker Mike Politano ( Mike Carlsen ) and Jaqueline begins dating lawyer Russ Snyder ( David Cross ). Jacqueline also goes back to her Native American heritage and decides to take down the Redskins , who her boyfriend’s father happens to own. When Season 2 ends,

Season Episodes Originally released
1 13 March 6, 2015
2 13 April 15, 2016
3 13 May 19, 2017
4 13 April 2018

Cast and characters

Main cast

  • Ellie Kemper as Kimberly “Kimmy” Cougar Schmidt , the titular character. Armed with only unflagging optimism, a childlike sense of wonder and an 8th-grade education, she attempts to regain the life that was taken from her and navigate her way through the unfamiliar struggles of New York life. [8]
  • Tituss Burgess as Titus Andromedon (born Ronald Wilkerson), Kimmy’s flamboyantly gay roommate and an aspiring actor and singer. Melodramatic and self-absorbed, Titus nevertheless cares deeply for, and is very protective of Kimmy. Despite his talent and ego, he is plagued by self-doubt after years of rejection in the business. [8]
  • Carol Kane as Lillian Kaushtupper, Kimmy and Titus’ odd landlady. A proud born-and-bred New Yorker with a long, complex criminal history, she fights tooth and nail against the possible gentrification of her neighborhood ghetto (although it soon becomes clear that she hates any form of progress or technology). Despite her willingness to do anything to make a buck, she has a very big heart and will go out of her way to help her tenants. [9]
  • Jane Krakowski as Jacqueline White (formerly Voorhees, née Jackie Lynn White), a wealthy and insecure socialite who hires Kimmy as a nanny. Despite coming across as arrogant, condescending and out of touch, she is very fond of (and heavily linking on) her new employee, who helps her gain perspective on her unhappy marriage. She is secretly of Lakota Native American descent and is passing for white . As the series progresses, she gradually reconnects with her family and her culture. [10]

Recurring cast

  • Sara Chase as Cyndee Pokorny, Kimmy’s best friend from the cult.
  • Lauren Adams as Gretchen Chalker, a willing member of the cult, who believes everything she was told.
  • Sol Miranda as Donna Maria Nuñez, a cult member who pretends to speak English during her time in the bunker, and is revealed to be using the “Mole Woman” name to advertise products.
  • Dylan Gelula as Xanthippe Lannister Voorhees, the pretty, popular, and bratty stepdaughter of Jacqueline, who is later revealed to be hiding her high achieving, ‘good girl’ personality. After her father divorces Jacqueline, she is sent to Connecticut to move back in with her mother, and all is in the episode in season 2. She returns in season 3, attending Columbia University , where Kimmy starts college. [11]
  • Ki Hong Lee (Seasons 1 & 2) as Dong Nguyen, Kimmy’s GED study buddy and love interest. An undocumented immigrant from Vietnam , he spends much of the show hiding from the authorities under the name “Richard Pennsylvania”. He was deported in season 2 of the show.
  • Adam Campbell (Season 1) as Logan Beckman, a wealthy acquaintance of Julian’s, who becomes intrigued by Kimmy after discovering she has no idea he is from one of New York’s richest families. They briefly date before his jealousy over Dong spoils their romance.
  • Mike Britt as Walter Bankston, a remixed interview with the Gregory Brothers . Walter Bankston is loosely based on Charles Ramsey, one of the rescuers of the captives of the Ariel Castro kidnappings . [12] [13]
  • Tanner Flood as Buckley Voorhees, Jacqueline’s overactive, violent sound. [14]
  • Andy Ridings (Season 1) as Charles, Buckley’s tutor, who has a crush on Kimmy.
  • Susanna Guzman as Vera, Jacqueline’s housekeeper in season 1 and so, Kimmy’s co-worker. She believes Kimmy looks like “Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers”.
  • Tim Blake Nelson (Season 1) as Randy, Kimmy’s stepfather, has a very incompetent state trooper who puts Kimmy’s mother in search of the missing Kimmy. [15]
  • Jon Hamm as Reverend Richard Wayne Gary Wayne, the man who imprisoned Kimmy, Cyndee, Gretchen and Donna Maria in an underground bunker for fifteen years and led them to believe that they had survived the end of the world.
  • Tina Fey and Jerry Minor (Season 1) as Marcia and Chris, incompetent prosecutors in the box against Richard Wayne. They are to be implied Heavily Marcia Clark and Christopher Darden , the lead Prosecutors in the OJ Simpson murder case . [16]
  • Tina Fey (Seasons 2 & 3) as Dr. Andrea Bayden, an alcoholic psychiatrist who begins treating Kimmy for her experiences in the bunker.
  • Sheri Foster and Gil Birmingham as Fern and Virgil White, Jacqueline’s Lakota parents.
  • Amy Sedaris as Mimi Kanasis, an acquaintance of Jacqueline who is desperate to regain social status after her divorce.
  • Fred Armisen as Robert “Bobby” Durst, a flame of Lillian’s. This character is a humorous representation of accused serial killer Robert Durst .
  • Mike Carlsen as Mikey Politano, a construction worker who began questioning his sexuality after receiving an unexpected answer when he hit on Kimmy in season.
  • Anna Camp as Deirdre Robespierre, a wealthy, intelligent and dangerously bored trophy wife who becomes Jacqueline’s rival.
  • Chris Northrop as Meth-Head Charlie, Kimmy and Titus’ neighbor.
  • Doug Plaut (Season 2) as Terry, Kimmy’s boss at the Christmas Store.
  • Brandon Jones (Seasons 1 & 2) as Brandon Yeagley, Cyndee’s childhood crush and later ex-fiancée.
  • Julie Tice-Bubolz as Yuko, has a humanoid robot.
  • James Monroe Iglehart as Coriolanus Burt, Titus’ rival.
  • Jason Kravits (Season 1) as Gary Dubbin, Jacqueline’s Divorce Lawyer.
  • David Cross / Billy Magnussen (Seasons 2 & 3) as Russ Snyder, pro-bono attorney that Jacqueline pursues.
  • John Ellison Conlee as Rick, a cast member at Professor Dracula’s, a Times Square theme restaurant where Titus works.
  • Suzan Perry (Seasons 1 & 2) as Sonja, an old and unusual student at Kimmy’s GED class. At the end of season 1, she marries Dong so that she can stay in the United States.
  • Daveed Diggs (Season 3) as Perry, a philosophy student who Kimmy meets and helps her realize what she wants to do on her life.
  • Peter Riegert (Season 3) as Artie Goodman, a grocery store owner who initially engages in a feud with Lillian, before they begin a relationship.
  • Kenan Thompson (Seasons 2 & 3) as Roland Peacock, Lillian’s deceased husband.
  • Josh Charles (Seasons 2 & 3) as Duke Snyder, Russ more-favored brother, who tries to seduce Jacqueline.
  • Judah Friedlander (Season 3) as Gordy, a controversial musician that helps produce Titus’ song “Boobs in California”.

Guest stars

  • John McMartin as Grant, a friend of the Voorhees’ and a war veteran (“Kimmy Goes on a Date!”)
  • Martin Short as Dr. Grant (pronounced “Franff”), Jacqueline’s plastic surgeon (“Kimmy Goes to the Doctor!”).
  • Pat Battle as Herself, “The Kimmy Goes to the Doctor!”
  • Richard Kind as Mr. Lefkovitz, Kimmy’s GED teacher (“Kimmy Goes to School!”)
  • Mark Harelik as Julian Voorhees, Jacqueline’s adulterous husband (“Kimmy Goes to a Party!”)
  • Kimmy Has a Birthday! Kiernan Shipka as Kymmi, Kimmy’s half-sister
  • Christine Ebersole as Helene, Xanthippe’s biological mother (“Kimmy’s in Love Triangle!”)
  • Dean Norris as Mr. Le Loup, a coach who helps Titus to make his casting chances (“Kimmy’s in Love Triangle!”)
  • Zosia Mamet and Evan Jonigkeit as Sue and Bob Thompstein, a pair of hipsters from Austin (“Kimmy Drives a Car!”)
  • Samuel Page as Keith Habersohl (“Kimmy Walks Into a Bar!”)
  • Joshua Jackson as Purvis (“Kimmy Goes to a Hotel!”)
  • Billy Eichner as himself (“Kimmy Meets a Drunk Lady!”)
  • Jeff Goldblum as Dr. Dave , a talk show host (“Kimmy Meets a Celebrity!”)
  • Ice-T as himself (“Kimmy Sees a Sunset!”)
  • Judy Gold as Judy (“Kimmy Sees a Sunset!”)
  • Lisa Kudrow as Lori-Ann Schmidt, Kimmy’s mother. (“Kimmy Finds Her Mom!”)
  • Laura Dern as Wendy Hebert, a woman who wants to marry the Reverend (“Kimmy Can not Help You!”)
  • Adrienne C. Moore as Black Cindy from Orange Is the New Black , which Gretchen meets when she is sent off to prison. (“Kimmy Steps on a Crack!”)
  • Scott Adsit as Dale Bortz, an impressionist that impersonates Titus for a commercial bladder. (“Kimmy Learns About Weather!”)
  • Maya Rudolph as Dionne Warwick (“Kimmy Does a Puzzle!”)
  • John Lutz as Ricky Earl, the managing director of the cruise ship Titus works on. (“Kimmy Does a Puzzle!”)
  • Andy Cohen as himself (“Kimmy and the Trolley Problem!”)
  • Ray Liotta as Paulie Fucillo (“Kimmy Pulls off a Heist!)

Production and development

The show was created by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock when NBC executives asked them to develop a show for Ellie Kemper. [17] Fey stated that they found an “innocence” about Kemper’s face, but also there was a “strength” to it. [17] One idea for the show to center on Kemper’s character waking up from a coma, but this idea was abandoned in favor of the cult-survivor storyline. [17]

The show was initially under development for NBC under the title Tooken . [18] However, this was later changed to the current title. [19] Eventually NBC sold the series to Netflix. [1] NBC “not feeling confident about watching comedies”. Prior to the network switch, NBC planned to air the series as either a mid-season replacement or as a summer series. [17]

Casting

Casting announcements for the remaining roles were held in March 2014, with Tituss Burgess cast as the role of Kimmy’s roommate, Titus Andromedon. Titus is a talented singer who works odd entertainment jobs such as dressing up a robot in Times Square or as a waiter at a restaurant. [8] Also cast was Carol Kane as Kimmy and Titus’ landlord Lillian Kaushtupper. [20]

Shortly afterwards, Sara Chase and Lauren Adams joined the series. Chase signed on for the role of Cyndee, Kimmy’s closest friend during their years in the cult; Adams was cast in the role of Gretchen, a 10-year member of the cult who believes everything that she is told. [21] Jane Krakowski was later cast in the role of Jacqueline Voorhees, a wealthy Manhattanite who hires Kimmy as a nanny. Megan Dodds was originally cast with Krakowski. [10]

Music

The show’s theme song, “Unbreakable”, was produced by The Gregory Brothers and written by Jeff Richmond. [22] It’s a tribute to The Gregory Brothers’ YouTube show Songify the News – auto-tuned news interviews that became viral videos . Richmond also wrote “Peeno Black”, a song performed by character Titus Andromedon during season 1, episode 6 of the series. [23]

Reception

The show has been widely acclaimed by television critics, who have praised the writing and cast. [3] [24] [25] [26]

Season 1

On Rotten Tomatoes , the first season has a rating of 95%, based on 55 reviews, with an average rating of 7.5 / 10. The site’s critical consensus reads, “Blessed with originality and a spot-on performance from Ellie Kemper, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is as odd as it is hilarious.” [27] On Metacritic , the first season has a score of 78 out of 100, based on 29 reviews, indicating “favorable reviews”. [24]

Scott Meslow of the Week, “the first great sitcom of the streaming era”, praising its wit, edge, and feminist tone. [4] Brian Moylan of The Guardian, who has been writing for the first time in the past. [28] TV Guide named it the “best new comedy of 2015”. [29] IGN reviewer Max Nicholson Gives The First Season an 8.3 out of 10 ‘Great’ rating, saying “Tina Fey and Robert Carlock’s Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is another winner in Netflix’s original series catalog. ‘

The series’ first season was nominated for seven Primetime Emmy Awards , including one for Outstanding Comedy Series . [31]

Native Americans, with Vulture referring to a prominent Native American subplot as “offensive.” [32] BuzzFeed cited the lack of a plurality of portrayals of Native Americans as the main issue with the subplot, stating that “the way Native Americans are represented on this show matters.It’s not one representation among a cornucopia of Mainstream representation in years. ” [33]

In the wake of the controversy, Tina Fey retorted: “I feel like we put so much effort into writing and crafting everything, they need to speak for themselves. ” [34]

Season 2

On Rotten Tomatoes, the second season holds a 100% approval rating, based on 24 reviews, with an average rating of 7.6 / 10. The site’s critical consensus reads, ” Kimmy Schmidt’s Unbreakable is still odd in the best of ways, wonderfully building on its unique comedy stylings and brilliantly funny cast.” [35] On Metacritic, the second season has a score of 82 out of 100, based on 16 reviews, indicating “universal acclaim”. [25]

The series’ second season was nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards, including a second nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series. [31]

The season’s third episode, “Kimmy Goes to a Play !,” drew criticism due to its portrayal of an Asian-American protest group, which was seen as a thinly-veiled dismissal of the criticisms the series had received during its first season. Anna Akana , in her 2016 Asians in Entertainment Key Note speech, stated that “the plot fe [lt] like a pointed, ironic response to anyone who has criticized Fey’s past projects …” [36]

Season 3

On Rotten Tomatoes, the third season holds a 95% approval rating, based on 21 reviews, with an average rating of 8.19 / 10. [37] On Metacritic, the third season has a score of 78 out of 100, based on 12 reviews, indicating “favorable reviews”. [26]

See also

  • List of awards and nominations received by Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

References

  1. ^ Jump up to:a b Wallenstein, Andrew (November 21, 2014). “Netflix Nabs ‘Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’ from NBC” . Variety . Penske Business Media . Retrieved November 22, 2014 .
  2. Jump up^ Kondolojy, Amanda (May 11, 2014). NBC 2014-2015 Schedule: ‘Parenthood’ Renewed; ‘State of Affairs’ &’ Marry Me ‘To Air Post-‘Voice’ ‘The Blacklist’ Moves Midseason + ‘Parks and Recreation’ Final Season Benched . TV by the Numbers . Tribune Digital Ventures . Retrieved May 19, 2014 .
  3. ^ Jump up to:a b ” ‘ . Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’ Has Two Native American Actors Needed It Three” . Indian Country Today Media Network. March 11, 2015 . Retrieved March 12, 2015 .
  4. ^ Jump up to:a b ” ‘ Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’ Is the First Great Sitcom of the Streaming Era” . The Week . The Week Publications. March 11, 2015 . Retrieved March 12, 2015 .
  5. Jump up^ Andreeva, Nellie (2017-06-13). “‘Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’ Renewed For Season 4 By Netflix” . Deadline . Retrieved 2017-06-13 .
  6. Jump up^ Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt , 2015-03-06 , retrieved 2016-04-18
  7. Jump up^ ” ‘ Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’: Inside the Crazier-Than-Ever Comedy” . Rolling Stone . Retrieved 2016-04-18 .
  8. ^ Jump up to:a b c Andreeva, Nellie (March 1, 2014). ” ” 30 Rock’s Tina Fey Tituss Burgess Joins & Robert Carlock’s NBC Series ‘Tooken ‘ “. Deadline Hollywood . Penske Media Corporation . Retrieved March 2, 2014 .
  9. Jump up^ “Netflix to Premiere Globally in March 2015 the New Tina Fey and Robert Carlock Comedy Series Starring Ellie Kemper” . The Futon Critic . Futon Media. November 23, 2014 . Retrieved March 20, 2015 .
  10. ^ Jump up to:a b Reed, Kayla (May 12, 2014). “Jane Krakowski joining Tina Fey’s New NBC Sitcom” . The AV Club . The Onion, Inc . Retrieved March 20, 2015 .
  11. Jump up^ “Giacomo Gianniotti Joins ABC’s ‘Selfie’ Andy Ridings & Dylan Gelula In NBC’s ‘Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt ‘ ” . Deadline Hollywood . Penske Media Corporation. August 15, 2014 . Retrieved August 18, 2014 .
  12. Jump up^ Harris, Aisha (March 11, 2015). “The Creators of Kimmy Schmidt’s Theme on Sending Up the” Hilarious Black Neighbor “Meme” . Slate . The Slate Group . Retrieved June 16, 2015 .
  13. Jump up^ Rosenberg, Alyssa (March 10, 2015). “‘Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’ mines comedy out of sexual abuse” . The Washington Post . Nash Holdings LLC . Retrieved June 16, 2015 .
  14. Jump up^ “Tina Fey’s” Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt “starring Ellie Kemper on Netflix March 6th” . The Laugh Button . January 7, 2015 . Retrieved March 20, 2015 .
  15. Jump up^ Levine, Daniel S (April 17, 2015). ” ‘ Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’ recap 9: ‘Kimmy Has A Birthday! ‘ ” . The Celebrity Cafe . Archived from the original on May 18, 2015 . Retrieved June 16, 2015 .
  16. Jump up^ Virtel, Louis (March 11, 2015). “Weird Crush Wednesday: Tina Fey’s Idiotic ‘Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’ Character” . HitFix . Retrieved June 16, 2015 .
  17. ^ Jump up to:a b c d D’Alessandro, Anthony. ” ‘ Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’s Tina Fey & Robert Carlock On Netflix And Their Modern Princess Tale’ . Deadline . Retrieved 6 August 2015 .
  18. Jump up^ Andreeva, Nellie (October 31, 2013). NBC Picks Up Comedy Series From ’30 Rock’s Tina Fey & Robert Carlock Starring Ellie Kemper With 13-Episode Order ” . Deadline Hollywood . Penske Media Corporation . Retrieved January 27, 2015 .
  19. Jump up^ “Development Update: Tuesday, May 6 – NBC Gives” Tooken “New Moniker of” Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt ” ” . The Futon Critic . Futon Media. May 6, 2014 . Retrieved January 27, 2015 .
  20. Jump up^ Gray, Ellen (March 5, 2015). ” ‘ Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’ an escape-from-cult comedy” . Philly.com . Retrieved January 27,2017 .
  21. Jump up^ “Development Update: Wednesday, March 19” . The Futon Critic . Futon Media. April 5, 2014 . Retrieved March 19, 2014 .
  22. Jump up^ Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt – Songify This! . 6 March 2015 – via YouTube.
  23. Jump up^ Villarreal, Yvonne (March 31, 2015). ” ‘ Kimmy Schmidt’ composer Jeff Richmond on the show’s viral-friendly songs” . Los Angeles Times . Tribune Publishing . Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  24. ^ Jump up to:a b ” Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt – Season 1 Reviews” . Metacritic . Retrieved April 9, 2015 .
  25. ^ Jump up to:a b ” Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt – Season 2 Reviews” . Metacritic . Retrieved May 29, 2016 .
  26. ^ Jump up to:a b ” Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt – Season 3 Reviews” . Metacritic . Retrieved May 17, 2017 .
  27. Jump up^ ” Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt – Season 1″ . Rotten Tomatoes. March 6, 2015 . Retrieved December 22, 2015 .
  28. Jump up^ Moylan, Brian (March 6, 2015). “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Tina Fey’s joyous new creation” . The Guardian . Guardian Media Group . Retrieved March 20, 2015 .
  29. Jump up^ Eng, Joyce (March 5, 2015). “Netflix’s Sunny, Dark Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Is The Best New Comedy This Year” . TV Guide. CBS Interactive . Retrieved March 20, 2015 .
  30. Jump up^ Nicholson, Max (March 6, 2015). “Unbreakable Kimy Schmidt: Season 1 Review” . IGN . Retrieved March 7, 2015 .
  31. ^ Jump up to:a b ” Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt – AWARDS & NOMINATIONS” . Television Academy Foundation . Retrieved May 8, 2016 .
  32. Jump up^ ” What’s Up With the Native American Subplot on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt?” . Retrieved March 10, 2015 .
  33. Jump up^ ” ” Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt “Has A Major Race Problem “. Retrieved March 17, 2015 .
  34. Jump up^ ” Tina Fey Dodges’ Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Controversy: ‘I’m Opting Out’ ” . Retrieved December 19, 2015 .
  35. Jump up^ ” Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt – Season 2 Reviews” . Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved May 29, 2016 .
  36. Jump up^ ” Why does Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt keep choosing race as a hill to die on? ” . Retrieved April 19, 2016 .
  37. Jump up^ ” Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt – Season 3 Reviews” . Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved May 17, 2017 .

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