In what’s basically a Zoom-based sitcom, Connecting… will debut at 8 pm Thursday, October 8th.
The Covid-19 pandemic has forced a lot of changes, particularly regarding broadcast television. With so many freezes in production, in response, NBC has greenlit an eight-episode straight-to-series order of ‘Connecting…’ An NBC comedy set during the present pandemic.
In what’s essentially ‘Zoom, the comedy Series’. NBC’s Connecting… is an ensemble comedy show, shot remotely from each different actor’s houses. Set 10 days after California’s stay-at-home order was issued, the story is about a group of friends in Los Angeles, who stay connected by turning their weekly Sunday dinners into online hangouts. Trying to stay sane through video chats, the show highlights these friends’ lives along with their highs and lows during extraordinary times. Because not even a pandemic can keep great friends apart.
The series stars Otmara Marrero, Parvesh Cheena, Shakina Nayfack, Preacher Lawson, Ely Henry, Jill Knox, and Keith Powell. The Blindspot creator Martin Gero and longtime collaborator Brendan Gall will be writing and executive producing the single-camera series. Deadline broke down the roles for each character early last August, which you can read right here:
Nayfack will play Ellis, a pragmatic, type-A and a huge Clippers fan. Powell and Knox, who are married in real-life, will play husband and wife Garrett and Michelle, who are thriving in quarantine. Henry will play Rufus, paranoid and conspiracy minded, he’s more comfortable online than off. Lawson will portray Ben. His girlfriend broke up with him just before the pandemic started and he is debating whether to take her back.
The series will debut on October 8th before moving to 8:30 pm beginning on October 29th. The change is mostly due to the presidential debates but also, sports, as NBC is expected to broadcast the remainder of the NHL’s Stanley Cup finals.
