Council of Dads (TV series)

2020 American drama television series

Council of Dads

Genre|

* Drama

Created by| Joan Rater & Tony Phelan
Inspired by| The Council of Dads
by Bruce Feiler
Starring|

* Sarah Wayne Callies
* Clive Standen
* J. August Richards
* Michele Weaver
* Emjay Anthony
* Thalia Tran
* Blue Chapman
* Steven Silver
* Michael O'Neill

Music by| Fil Eisler
Country of origin| United States
Original language| English
No. of seasons| 1
No. of episodes| 10
Production
Executive producers|

* James Strong
* KristieAnne Reed
* Jonathan Littman
* Joan Rater
* Tony Phelan
* Jerry Bruckheimer

Producers|

* Bruce Feiler
* James Oh
* Michael Pendell

Cinematography|

* Jonathan Brown
* Todd A. Dos Reis

Editors|

* Philip Fowler
* Nicole Artzer
* Farrel Jane Levy
* Jamin Bricker

Camera setup| Single-camera
Running time| 43 minutes
Production companies|

* Jerry Bruckheimer Television
* Midwest Livestock Productions
* Universal Television

Original release
Network| NBC
Release| March 24 (2020-03-24) –
July 2, 2020 (2020-07-02)

Council of Dads is an American drama television series inspired by the book The Council of Dads by Bruce Feiler, developed by Joan Rater and Tony Phelan, that premiered on NBC as part of the 2019–20 television season, on March 24, 2020.[1][2][3] In June 2020, the series was canceled after one season.[4]

## Premise

[edit]

Cancer patient Scott Perry worries about his five children growing up without his help and advice. He and his wife Robin recruit three friends to act as a "council of dads" to be father figures to his children.[5] Scott dies and his loved ones form an expanded chosen family.

## Cast

[edit]

### Main

[edit]

* Sarah Wayne Callies as Dr. Robin Perry,[6] Scott's widow
* Clive Standen as Anthony Lavelle,[6] Scott's best friend, a chef and a member of the council of dads as well as Luly's biological father, unknown to Luly or the rest of the family
* J. August Richards as Dr. Oliver Post,[6] Robin's best friend since medical school and a member of the council of dads.
* Michele Weaver as Luly Perry,[6] Anthony's biracial daughter, whom Scott raised as a single father for eight years (thinking she was his daughter) before meeting Robin
* Emjay Anthony as Theo Perry,[6] Scott and Robin's temperamental teenage son
* Thalia Tran as Charlotte Perry,[6] Scott and Robin's adopted daughter, who is of Chinese ancestry
* Blue Chapman as JJ Perry,[6] Scott and Robin's seven-year-old transgender son, who was assigned female at birth
* Steven Silver as Evan Norris,[6] Luly's husband
* Michael O'Neill as Larry Mills,[6] Scott's Alcoholics Anonymous sponsee and a member of the council of dads

### Special guest stars

[edit]

* Tom Everett Scott as Scott Perry[7]

### Recurring

[edit]

* Lindsey Blackwell as Tess, Oliver and Peter's daughter
* Kevin Daniels as Peter Richards, Oliver's husband and Tess' other father
* Hilarie Burton as Margot

## Episodes

[edit]

No.| Title [8]| Directed by| Written by| Original air date [8]| U.S viewers
(millions)

|
|
|
|
|

1| "Pilot"| James Strong| Joan Rater & Tony Phelan| March 24, 2020 (2020-03-24)| 3.75[9]

Scott Perry discovers he has terminal cancer and decides to try to secure a future for his children. He asks three of his closest friends to form a "council of dads" that will look after his family and be father figures for his children in the event of his passing. The council of dads consists of Anthony Lavelle, Scott's best friend; Oliver Post, his wife Robin's best friend; and Larry Mills, Scott's AA sponsor.

2| "I'm Not Fine"| James Strong| Joan Rater & Tony Phelan| April 30, 2020 (2020-04-30)| 2.01[10]
3| "Who Do You Wanna Be?"| Jonathan Brown| Tia Napolitano| May 7, 2020 (2020-05-07)| 2.98[11]
4| "The Sixth Stage"| Christopher Misiano| Bert V. Royal| May 14, 2020 (2020-05-14)| 2.78[12]
5| "Tradition!"| Lily Mariye| Imogen Binnie| May 28, 2020 (2020-05-28)| 2.74[13]
6| "Heart Medicine"| Geary McLeod| Pamela Garcia Rooney| June 4, 2020 (2020-06-04)| 2.78[14]
7| "The Best-Laid Plans"| Nicole Rubio| Jason Wilborn| June 11, 2020 (2020-06-11)| 2.75[15]
8| "Dear Dad"| Benny Boom| David Gould| June 18, 2020 (2020-06-18)| 2.73[16]
9| "Stormy Weather"| Jonathan Brown| Heather Robb| June 25, 2020 (2020-06-25)| 2.94[17]
10| "Fight or Flight"| Tony Phelan| Joan Rater & Tony Phelan| July 2, 2020 (2020-07-02)| 2.75[18]

## Production

[edit]

### Development

[edit]

On January 14, 2019, it was announced that NBC had given the production a pilot order under the name Council of Dads. The pilot was written by Joan Rater and Tony Phelan who executive produces alongside Jerry Bruckheimer, Jonathan Littman, KristieAnne Reed and producers are James Oh, Bruce Feiler.[19] Production companies involved with the pilot include Jerry Bruckheimer Television, Midwest Livestock Productions and Universal Television.[20] On May 7, 2019, it was announced that the production had been given a series order.[5] A few days later, it was announced that the series would premiere as a mid-season replacement in the spring of 2020.[21] On January 11, 2020, it was announced that the series would premiere on March 10, 2020.[2] On February 26, 2020, the premiere date was moved to March 24, 2020.[3] On June 25, 2020, NBC canceled the series after one season.[4]

### Casting

[edit]

In February 2019, it was announced that Sarah Wayne Callies and Clive Standen had been cast in the pilot's lead roles.[22][23] Alongside the pilot's order announcement, in March 2019 it was reported that Michael O'Neill, Steven Silver, and Emjay Anthony had joined the cast.[24]

### Filming

[edit]

The series was filmed in Savannah, Georgia.[25]

## Reception

[edit]

### Critical response

[edit]

On Rotten Tomatoes, the series has an approval rating of 50% based on 10 reviews, with an average rating of 5.8/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Council of Dads's talented cast tries its best, but its first season is too superficial to make the emotional moves necessary to really connect."[26] On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 53 out of 100 based on 5 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[27]

### Ratings

[edit]

Viewership and ratings per episode of Council of Dads No. | Title  | Air date | Rating/share
(18–49) | Viewers
(millions) | DVR
(18–49) | DVR viewers
(millions) | Total
(18–49) | Total viewers
(millions)

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | "Pilot"  | March 24, 2020 | 0.7/2 | 3.75 | 0.2 | 1.16 | 0.9 | 4.91[9]
2  | "I'm Not Fine"  | April 30, 2020 | 0.3/1 | 2.01 | 0.2 | 1.22 | 0.5 | 3.23[10]
3  | "Who Do You Wanna Be?"  | May 7, 2020 | 0.4/1 | 2.98 | 0.1 | 0.72 | 0.5 | 3.70[11]
4  | "The Sixth Stage"  | May 14, 2020 | 0.4/1 | 2.78 | 0.2 | 0.83 | 0.5 | 3.59[12]
5  | "Tradition!"  | May 28, 2020 | 0.4/2 | 2.74 | 0.1 | 0.95 | 0.6 | 3.69[13]
6  | "Heart Medicine"  | June 4, 2020 | 0.4/2 | 2.78 | 0.2 | 0.93 | 0.5 | 3.66[14]
7  | "The Best-Laid Plans"  | June 11, 2020 | 0.3/2 | 2.75 | 0.2 | 0.92 | 0.4 | 3.67[15]
8  | "Dear Dad"  | June 18, 2020 | 0.3/2 | 2.73 | 0.2 | 0.87 | 0.5 | 3.60[16]
9  | "Stormy Weather"  | June 25, 2020 | 0.4/2 | 2.94 | 0.1 | 0.69 | 0.5 | 3.63[17]
10  | "Fight or Flight"  | July 2, 2020 | 0.3/2 | 2.75 | 0.1 | 0.68 | 0.5 | 3.42[18]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Ausiello, Michael (May 12, 2019). "NBC Fall Schedule: Manifest Held for Midseason, Good Place 'Promoted'". TVLine. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
2. ^ a b Haithman, Diane (January 11, 2020). "'Council Of Dads' Team Announces Premiere Date & Addresses 'This Is Us' Comparisons – TCA". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
3. ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie; Petski, Denise (February 26, 2020). "'Council Of Dads' Premiere Pushed Back By Two Weeks On NBC". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
4. ^ a b Ausiello, Michael (June 25, 2020). "Council of Dads Cancelled at NBC". TVLine. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
5. ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (May 7, 2019). "'Council Of Dads' Drama Picked Up To Series By NBC". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Council of Dads Cast - NBC.com". NBC.
7. ^ "Council of Dads: Sarah Wayne Callies, Clive Standen Family-Themed Drama Ordered to Series at NBC". May 8, 2019. Archived from the original on March 8, 2020. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
8. ^ a b "Council of Dads – Listings". The Futon Critic. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
9. ^ a b Douglas Pucci (March 25, 2020). "Tuesday Final Ratings: 'FBI' and 'FBI: Most Wanted' Crossover on CBS Results in Series-High Viewerships for Both Dramas". Programming Insider. Archived from the original on April 23, 2020.
10. ^ a b Douglas Pucci (May 1, 2020). "Thursday Final Ratings: 'Parks & Recreation' Special Posts NBC's Best Adults 18-49 Rating in Time Slot with Sitcom Programming in Three Years". Programming Insider. Archived from the original on June 13, 2020.
11. ^ a b Douglas Pucci (May 9, 2020). "Thursday Final Ratings: ABC and CBS Share Top Prime Time Honors". Programming Insider. Archived from the original on June 13, 2020.
12. ^ a b Douglas Pucci (May 15, 2020). "Thursday Final Ratings: 'How to Get Away with Murder' on ABC Delivers its Best Figures in More Than One Year with Series Finale". Archived from the original on June 5, 2020.
13. ^ a b Douglas Pucci (June 1, 2020). "Thursday Final Ratings: ABC Tops Prime Time in All Key Figures with All-Game Program Lineup". Archived from the original on June 13, 2020.
14. ^ a b Douglas Pucci (June 6, 2020). "Thursday Final Ratings: 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire' Season Finale on ABC Tops All Prime Time Telecasts in Viewers and All Key Adult Demos". Archived from the original on June 7, 2020.
15. ^ a b Douglas Pucci (June 14, 2020). "Thursday Final Ratings: 'Don't' Series Premiere on ABC is Top Prime Time Telecast in Adults 18-49 and 25-54". Archived from the original on June 14, 2020.
16. ^ a b Douglas Pucci (June 19, 2020). "Thursday Final Ratings: 'Top Chef: All-Stars L.A.' on Bravo Rises to Season-High in Total Viewers with Season Finale". Archived from the original on June 21, 2020.
17. ^ a b Douglas Pucci (June 28, 2020). "Thursday Final Ratings: 'Revenge Prank' Series Premiere on MTV with Decent Retention from 'Double Shot at Love' Lead-In". Archived from the original on June 29, 2020.
18. ^ a b Douglas Pucci (July 12, 2020). "Thursday Final Ratings: 'Flipping Across America' Debut on HGTV Leads its Hour in Total Viewers Among Original Non-News Cable Telecasts". Archived from the original on July 13, 2020.
19. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (January 15, 2019). "'Council Of Dads' Drama From Joan Rater & Tony Phelan Gets NBC Pilot Order". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
20. ^ Turchiano, Danielle (May 8, 2019). "NBC Orders 'Council of Dads' to Series". Variety. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
21. ^ Andreeva, Nellie; Patten, Dominic (May 12, 2019). "NBC Fall 2019-20 Schedule: Not A Lot Of Change For Top-Rated Network, 'Will & Grace' & 'Manifest' Held For Midseason". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
22. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 13, 2019). "Sarah Wayne Callies To Star In NBC Pilot 'Council Of Dads'; Michele Weaver & J. August Richards Also Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
23. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 26, 2019). "'Taken's Clive Standen To Co-Star In NBC Drama Pilot 'Council Of Dads'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
24. ^ Petski, Denise (March 7, 2019). "'Council Of Dads': Michael O'Neill, Steven Silver, Emjay Anthony Join NBC Drama Pilot". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
25. ^ Harvey, Jeremy (March 23, 2020). "NBC's 'Council of Dads' Puts Savannah in the Spotlight". Visit Savannah. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
26. ^ "Council of Dads: Season 1 (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
27. ^ "Council of Dads: Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved March 25, 2020.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Council of Dads at IMDb

*[No.]: Number