Betty (TV series)

2020 American teen comedy television series

Betty

Genre| Teen comedy[1]
Created by| Crystal Moselle
Based on|

Skate Kitchen

* Crystal Moselle
* That One Day
* by Crystal Moselle

Directed by| Crystal Moselle
Starring|

* Dede Lovelace
* Moonbear
* Nina Moran
* Ajani Russell
* Rachelle Vinberg

Music by| Aska Matsumiya
Country of origin| United States
Original language| English
No. of seasons| 2
No. of episodes| 12
Production
Executive producers|

* Crystal Moselle
* Lesley Arfin (season 1)
* Igor Srubshchik
* Jason Weinberg
* Alliah Mourad
* Annie Schmidt

Producers|

* Britta Lundin (season 1)
* Lizzie Nastro (season 1)
* Izabella Tzenkova (season 1)
* Naima Ramos-Chapman
* Ben Snyder

Cinematography| Jackson Hunt
Editors|

* Nico Leunen
* Thomas Pooters

Camera setup| Single-camera
Running time| 29–31 minutes
Production companies|

* A Dreamy Crystal Moselle Sequence...
* Arfin Material (season 1)
* Untitled Entertainment

Original release
Network| HBO
Release| May 1, 2020 (2020-05-01) –
July 16, 2021 (2021-07-16)

Betty is an American teen comedy television series created by Crystal Moselle. The series is based on Moselle's 2018 feature film Skate Kitchen, which was in turn based on her 2016 short film That One Day. It includes most of the cast of the original feature film, and focuses on the Gen Z all-girl group's efforts to stand out in New York's predominantly male world of skateboarding. The series premiered on HBO on May 1, 2020.[2] In June 2020, the series was renewed for a second season which premiered on June 11, 2021.[3][4] In August 2021, the series was canceled after two seasons.[5]

Betty received positive critical reception, and was nominated for a Gotham Award for Shortform Breakthrough Series.[6][2][7]

## Plot[edit]

Betty follows "a tight-knit group of girl skaters and follows their everyday lives as they navigate the male-dominated world of skateboarding. The title comes from the derogatory nickname sometimes thrown at them by men."[8]

## Cast[edit]

### Main[edit]

* Dede Lovelace as Janay,[9] a bold vlogger
* Kabrina Adams as Honeybear,[9] a shy aspiring filmmaker
* Nina Moran as Kirt,[9] a flirtatious ladykiller and a "lovable stoner"[10]
* Ajani Russell as Indigo,[9] a low-level weed dealer from a wealthy family
* Rachelle Vinberg as Camille,[9] a serious skater who tries to fit in with the male skaters

### Recurring[edit]

* Caleb Eberhardt as Donald (season 1)
* Edmund Donovan as Bambi (season 1)
* Katerina Tannenbaum as Ash
* Reza Nader as Farouk
* Alexander Cooper as Charlie
* CJ Ortiz as Luis
* Brenn Lorenzo as Ceila (season 1)
* Jules Lorenzo as Yvette (season 1)
* Raekwon Haynes as Philip
* Karim Callender Abdul as Dante (season 1)
* Noa Fisher as Peachy (season 1)
* Kai Espion Monroe as Kai (season 1)
* Lil Dre as Tai
* Andrew Darnell as Sylvester
* Roblé Ali as Jzabel
* Isabel Palma as Shelby
* Rad Pereira as Victoria
* Moises Acevedo as Micah

### Guest[edit]

* Ben Sinclair as Biker ("Ladies on Fire")
* Tony Hawk as Skater ("Ladies on Fire")
* Amy Sedaris as Woman on Trail ("Sweet Tooth")
* Gina Gershon as Oracle ("Sweet Tooth")

## Episodes[edit]

### Series overview[edit]

Season| Episodes| Originally aired

|
|

First aired| Last aired
1| 6| May 1, 2020 (2020-05-01)| June 5, 2020 (2020-06-05)
2| 6| June 11, 2021 (2021-06-11)| July 16, 2021 (2021-07-16)

### Season 1 (2020)[edit]

No.
overall| No. in
season| Title| Directed by| Written by| Original air date| U.S. viewers
(millions)

|
|
|
|
|
|

1| 1| "Key Party"| Crystal Moselle| Crystal Moselle & Lesley Arfin| May 1, 2020 (2020-05-01)| 0.158[11]
2| 2| "Zen and the Art of Skateboarding"| Crystal Moselle| Patricia Breen| May 8, 2020 (2020-05-08)| 0.172[12]
3| 3| "Happy Birthday, Tyler"| Crystal Moselle| Moshe Kasher| May 15, 2020 (2020-05-15)| 0.048[13]
4| 4| "The Tombs"| Crystal Moselle| Britta Lundin| May 22, 2020 (2020-05-22)| 0.192[14]
5| 5| "Perstephanie"| Crystal Moselle| Naima Ramos-Chapman & Veronica Rodriguez| May 29, 2020 (2020-05-29)| 0.148[15]
6| 6| "Ladies on Fire"| Crystal Moselle| Lesley Arfin| June 5, 2020 (2020-06-05)| 0.172[16]

### Season 2 (2021)[edit]

No.
overall| No. in
season| Title| Directed by| Written by| Original air date| U.S. viewers
(millions)

|
|
|
|
|
|

7| 1| "Octopussy"| Crystal Moselle| Moshe Kasher| June 11, 2021 (2021-06-11)[a]| N/A
8| 2| "Blue Is the Warmest Threesome"| Crystal Moselle| Ben Snyder| June 18, 2021 (2021-06-18)| N/A
9| 3| "Sugar We're Going Down, Swinging"| Crystal Moselle| Wally Baram & Aida Osman| June 25, 2021 (2021-06-25)| N/A
10| 4| "Sweet Tooth"| Crystal Moselle| Crystal Moselle & Rachelle Vinberg| July 2, 2021 (2021-07-02)| N/A
11| 5| "Good Luck with That"| Crystal Moselle| Naima Ramos-Chapman| July 9, 2021 (2021-07-09)| N/A
12| 6| "The Let Down"| Crystal Moselle| Sabaah Folayan| July 16, 2021 (2021-07-16)| N/A

## Production[edit]

### Development[edit]

On August 14, 2019, it was reported that HBO had given Betty a series order consisting of six episodes.The series is created, directed, executive produced by Crystal Moselle who also co-wrote and directed Skate Kitchen. The series is a spinoff of the film and features many of the same actors, with some tweaks to various storylines.[8] Lesley Arfin, Igor Srubshchik Jason Weinberg were executive producers alongside Moselle. Production companies involved with the series are Untitled Entertainment, A Dreamy Crystal Moselle Sequence, and Arfin Material.[18]

The series premiered on May 1, 2020.[2] On June 18, 2020, HBO renewed the series for a second season which premiered on June 11, 2021.[3][4] On August 24, 2021, HBO canceled the series after two seasons.[5]

### Casting[edit]

Alongside the initial series announcement, it was reported that Rachelle Vinberg, Nina Moran, Moonbear, Dede Lovelace, and Ajani Russell would reprise their roles from Skate Kitchen as series regulars.[18] As with the film, the actors play fictionalized versions of themselves.[8]

### Filming[edit]

The series was filmed on-location in New York City.[2] The show has no sets.[19]

## Reception[edit]

### Critical reception[edit]

On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season holds an approval rating of 97% based on 30 reviews, with an average rating of 7.15/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Earnest, audacious, and effortlessly cool, Betty captures the spirit of skating and friendship with style."[20] On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 77 out of 100 based on 14 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[21] Betty was noted by Vogue for depicting the friendships of women, several of them queer or of color, "in a naturalistic way."[22] Ashlie D. Stevens wrote of the series in Salon, ""Betty" isn't fast-paced or bursting with dramatic turns, but therein lies its appeal. This is a show that is about watching a new generation of women empower themselves and the women around them, seemingly in real time."[10] Robert Lloyd of the Los Angeles Times noted while "there is no nudity, that old HBO staple", that a strength of the show is "its main themes are friendship, self-knowledge, identity, equality and freedom...It feels innocent, which is not to say naive. And it is appropriately, almost casually exhilarating."[19]

The New York Times and Time named the first season to end-of-year "best new series" lists.[23][24]

The second season has a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 5 reviews, with an average rating of 8/10.[25] On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 74 out of 100 based on 7 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[26]

### Ratings[edit]

#### Season 1[edit]

Viewership and ratings per episode of Betty No. | Title  | Air date | Rating
(18–49) | Viewers
(millions)

|
|
|
|

1  | "Key Party"  | May 1, 2020 | 0.03 | 0.158[11]
2  | "Zen and the Art of Skateboarding"  | May 8, 2020 | 0.03 | 0.172[12]
3  | "Happy Birthday, Tyler"  | May 15, 2020 | 0.01 | 0.048[13]
4  | "The Tombs"  | May 22, 2020 | 0.03 | 0.192[14]
5  | "Perstephanie"  | May 28, 2020 | 0.02 | 0.148[15]
6  | "Ladies on Fire"  | June 5, 2020 | 0.04 | 0.172[16]

### Awards and nominations[edit]

Award  | Year  | Category  | Nominee(s)  | Result  | Ref.

|
|
|
|
|

Gotham Independent Film Awards | 2020 | Breakthrough Series – Short Form | Crystal Moselle, Lesley Arfin, Igor Srubshchik and Jason Weinberg  | Nominated  | [27]

## Notes[edit]

1. ^ This episode was released early on YouTube on June 4, 2021 for free to watch, prior to its premiere on June 11, 2021, on HBO.[17]

## References[edit]

1. ^ ""Betty" Debuts May 1 - Based on Crystal Moselle's Critically Acclaimed Feature "Skate Kitchen"". The Futon Critic. April 9, 2020. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
2. ^ a b c d Petski, Denise (February 25, 2020). "'Betty' Premiere Date & Teaser: 'Skate Kitchen'-Inspired Comedy From Crystal Moselle & Lesley Arfin Hits HBO In Spring – Update". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 1, 2020. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
3. ^ a b Thorne, Will (June 18, 2020). "'Betty' Renewed for Season 2 at HBO". Variety. Archived from the original on June 20, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
4. ^ a b Petski, Denise (April 28, 2021). "Jean Smart Comedy 'Hacks' & 'Betty' Season 2 Trailers Unveiled By HBO Max, HBO". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 30, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
5. ^ a b Shafer, Ellise (August 24, 2021). "'Betty' Canceled at HBO After Two Seasons (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
6. ^ Hersko, Tyler (February 25, 2020). "'Betty' First Trailer: Crystal Moselle Turns 'Skate Kitchen' Into New HBO Series". IndieWire. Archived from the original on February 26, 2020. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
7. ^ Henderson, Taylor (February 26, 2020). "New Skateboarding HBO Comedy Betty Has Some Major Gay Energy". Pride.com. Archived from the original on February 27, 2020. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
8. ^ a b c Murray, Iana (May 2020). "Everything You Need to Know About HBO's New Must-See Skate Series". GQ. Archived from the original on December 3, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
9. ^ a b c d e "Betty Cast & Crew". HBO. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
10. ^ a b Stevens, Ashlie D. (June 7, 2020). "HBO's "Betty" is a sun-soaked celebration of women who find freedom on skateboards". Salon. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
11. ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (May 4, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.1.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on May 5, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
12. ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (May 11, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.8.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on May 16, 2020. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
13. ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (May 18, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.15.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on May 19, 2020. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
14. ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (May 26, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.22.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on May 29, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
15. ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (June 1, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.29.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on June 3, 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
16. ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (June 8, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.5.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on June 8, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
17. ^ HBO [@HBO] (June 4, 2021). "The Betties are back. Watch the season two premiere of #BettyHBO for free at http://itsh.bo/bettys2premiere and start streaming season two June 11 on @hbomax" (Tweet). Archived from the original on June 6, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2021 - via Twitter.
18. ^ a b Otterson, Joe (August 14, 2019). "HBO Orders Female-Led Skateboarding Comedy From Crystal Moselle, Lesley Arfin". Variety. Archived from the original on February 26, 2020. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
19. ^ a b Lloyd, Robert (May 1, 2020). "HBO's 'Betty' is an exhilarating glimpse inside the world of female skateboarders". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
20. ^ "Betty: Season 1 (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
21. ^ "Betty: Season 1". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
22. ^ Specter, Emma (May 8, 2020). "HBO's 'Betty' Will Make You Long To Be an NYC Skater Girl". Vogue. Archived from the original on November 7, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
23. ^ Soloski, Alexis (November 25, 2020). "Catch Up on These 12 Great 2020 Series This Thanksgiving Weekend". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
24. ^ Berman, Judy (October 25, 2020). "The 10 Best TV Shows of 2020". Time. Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
25. ^ "Betty: Season 2 (2021)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
26. ^ "Betty: Season 2". Metacritic. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
27. ^ Davis, Clayton (November 12, 2020). "Gotham2020: Gotham Awards Nominations: Female Directors Lead Best Feature Category". Variety. Archived from the original on December 5, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2020.

## External links[edit]

* Official website
* Betty at IMDb

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