GRChereck

Just found this nice interview with Forte weighing in on the COVID crisis and some of the things the show sort of predicted about it: https://observer.com/2021/01/will-forte-covid-19-the-last-man-on-earth/ Also, along similar lines, about a year ago the TV Ratings Guide blog posted an interesting analysis of the "Got Milk" episode (it was edited later in the spring and the fall): http://www.thetvratingsguide.com/2020/03/revisiting-last-man-on-earth-in-wake-of.html

One more year-end list -- I thought this was sweet... Pop Culture Happy Hour (NPR): 50 Wonderful Things From 2019 :)

Aww... :( Cosmo, who played Pepper in s.2 and 3, passed away earlier this week after complications from surgery: https://tvline.com/2019/12/16/fuller-house-cosmo-dead-dog-dies-surgery-complications/ (Since he was also a regular on Fuller House, I'm guessing that might explain his sporadic appearances in s.3...) Tributes:

Year-end and decade best-of lists: Paste: 50 Best TV Shows of 2019 (#29) USA Today: 25 Best TV Shows and Series of the 2010s (#23)

Okay, NOW Amazon has a page for the s.3 DVD! HERE :D

Paste: 25 Best Shows of 2019 (so far) -- 'Speechless' made #19! :) *** According to TV Shows on DVD, Season 3 was released on MOD DVD last Tuesday (I didn't find out about it until over the weekend); unlike s.1 and 2, it won't be available on Amazon (at least for now). https://www.moviezyng.com/024543637455.aspx More info on MovieZyng Warehouse -- About Us & FAQs

https://www.forbes.com/sites/lauradorwart/2019/06/20/no-stunt-double-a-qa-with-micah-fowler-of-abcs-speechless/ Micah's first interview since the cancellation, as far as I know -- he weighs in on the show's impact, his experience working on it, disability representation in general, and his hopes for the future. :) *** Semi-OT: THR had an interesting piece earlier this week about what appears to be a promising development for disability inclusion in Hollywood. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cbs-signs-pledge-audition-actors-disabilities-1219640

https://www.emmys.com/ballots/2019 Final-season Emmy submissions: Art Direction/Production Design for a Narrative Program (Half-Hour) -- "L-O-N-- London (Part 2)" (3x2) Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and Animation -- "U-N-R-- Unrealistic" (3x22) Sound Editing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and Animation -- "U-N-R-- Unrealistic" Directing for a Comedy Series -- "W-H-- Wheelchair P-L-- Planet" (3x16) (Christine Gernon), "S-P-- Special B-- Boy T-I-- Time" (3x17) (Robert Cohen), and "U-N-R-- Unrealistic" (Bill Purple) Writing for a Comedy Series -- "The S-T-A-- Staircase" (3x21) (Greg Gallant and Zach Anner) and "U-N-R-- Unrealistic" (Scott Silveri and Matt Roller) Comedy Series Lead Actress in a Comedy -- Minnie Driver * Supporting Actor in a Comedy -- Micah Fowler and Cedric Yarbrough * - Minnie was also submitted for her guest turn as Lorraine Finster on 'Will & Grace' ("Anchor Away"). (John Ross Bowie was submitted for one of his three guest appearances as Barry Kripke on the final season of 'Big Bang Theory' -- "The Plagiarism Schism.") :) *** Metro (UK) -- a brief Q&A with Minnie Hollywood Reporter -- an in-depth conversation with JRB and his wife, Jamie Denbo (creator of the new Lifetime series 'American Princess') ❤️ ❤️

How'd I miss this? Congrats to Emily on her transition! :) Here is a short but sweet piece she wrote about the show back in January: https://www.vox.com/2019/1/28/18201364/speechless-best-tv-shows-abc I somehow missed this, too... *** OregonLive: TV shows canceled in 2019 -- sad goodbyes, and good riddance (sorry!) (includes kind words for both 'Speechless' and TKAA)

Oh yeah, I recall seeing a similar headline about (I think) 'Whiskey Cavalier.' :\ Not to mention she failed to take the possibility of future syndication into account -- 'Speechless' was just one full season away from almost reaching the minimum 88 eps (it would've had 85), and probably could've eked out a shortened s.5 to bring it closer to the preferred 100 episodes. As it is now, ABC has only one comedy (AH) that is close to syndication without yet being there; as for the newer comedies that got renewed, as much as I like 'Single Parents' and (to a lesser extent) 'Bless This Mess,' with the kinds of numbers they've already been pulling I doubt either will even get a third season. :p *** Chicago Tribune: With 'Speechless' canceled, hardly any broadcast TV series prominently features a disabled actor -- why representation in Hollywood matters TV Insider: 7 network TV cancellations that hurt the most -- photos (also, "Ask Matt" weighs in on the ABC comedy cancellations / renewals, Constance Wu's tweets and 'Modern Family' ending)

Make of this what you will... Deadline: Canceling 'Speechless' was a "gut-wrenching" decision for ABC chief Karey Burke On the ABC 2019-20 schedule, the 1-hour TGIF block will continue with 'American Housewife' moving to 8 p.m. / 7 p.m. Central, bumping FOTB into 'Speechless'' former slot. (Gee, I wonder how much more ABC will actually promote their TGIF shows now -- and of course, there won't be a FOX comedy block to contend with...) *** And a pair of nice essays: The Federalist: Why ABC made a mistake canceling 'Speechless' Leanne Leeds (blog): Mother's Day reflections (from a heart mom)

Aww... :') *** Semi-OT: Last Thursday, Micah presented at the EasterSeals Disability Film Challenge Awards (he was also one of the finalists for Best Actor). https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/05/13/1822870/0/en/Entertainment-Industry-Unites-for-Easterseals-Disability-Film-Challenge-Awards-to-Honor-Filmmakers-Who-Inspire-Change.html :) About "Second Date" YT playlist for all 71 of this year's entries

From two of my favorite fan Twitter feeds: From the lady behind the @RenewSpeechless campaign: And last but certainly not least, from Cerebral Palsy Foundation: *** A lovely write-up from Pop Culture Uncovered: https://popcultureuncovered.com/2019/05/11/review-brew-speechless-we-hardly-knew-you/ And semi-OT, but a nice interview / photo spread with JRB: https://rowingblazers.com/blogs/dispatches/this-is-john-ross-bowie ❤️ (I'll keep an eye out for further series tributes, as well as any end-of-season / end-of-year best-of lists...)

Oh man... :( TKAA was easily my favorite of the four new ABC comedies -- I thought the parents were great to begin with, and I really grew to like all those boys over the course of the season. I hope so too; and yeah, I will definitely miss talking and writing about this show here with y'all, as well as on The TV Ratings Guide (s.1 & 2 "musical moments" article and s.3 recaps/reviews) and elsewhere. :') *** More comments from cast and crew: And from some of the critics who have been most supportive of the show: Linda Holmes (NPR / "Pop Culture Happy Hour" podcast), Alan Sepinwall (UPROXX / Rolling Stone), Todd VanDer Wurff (Vox), Kristen Lopez (TV Guide), and Daniel Feinberg (Hollywood Reporter)

And a little write-up on TV Line: https://tvline.com/2019/05/10/minnie-driver-speechless-cancelled-season-3-abc/ I'd also like to add: 1) I will miss seeing this adorable bunch on my screen, and I wish them -- as well as everyone else involved with the show -- all the best in their future endeavors; 2) I hope it will at least have some small influence on future conversations (in Hollywood and elsewhere) about diversity, representation and inclusion with regards to disability; 3) I'm glad the show had a chance to end with some sort of closure for all the characters -- a new career and friendships (with Kenneth and Melanie) for Maya, a chance for Jimmy to pursue his dream career in earnest, college for JJ and a chance to further pursue filmmaking, self-awareness for Ray and some help from the girls in his class, some privacy for Dylan (recall the garage door in the bedroom), and a new job and a relationship for Kenneth (as well as a chance for him to go back to college).