Speechless (TV series)
A sitcom about a family raising a teenager with cerebral palsy.
Speechless is an American television sitcom that aired on ABC from September 21, 2016, to April 12, 2019. Created by Scott Silveri, the series follows a family with a teenager who has cerebral palsy. It is notable for casting an actor with a disability in the lead role.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Sitcom
- Creator
- Scott Silveri
- Starring
- Minnie Driver
- John Ross Bowie
- Cedric Yarbrough
- Mason Cook
- Micah Fowler
- Kyla Kenedy
- Composer
- Jeff Cardoni
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Seasons
- 3
- Episodes
- 63
Facts from the source article.
Plot
The series centers on the DiMeo family, whose members include Maya, a forceful British mother; her husband Jimmy, who is unconcerned with others' opinions; their athletic daughter Dylan; scholarly middle child Ray; and eldest son JJ, a high schooler with cerebral palsy who communicates using a laser pointer attached to headgear. The family moves frequently to find a suitable school for JJ. They settle in an upscale neighborhood, renting a rundown house so JJ can attend an inclusive school. There, JJ is aided by Kenneth, a gentle groundskeeper who becomes his aide.
Cast and characters
Minnie Driver plays Maya DiMeo, the fierce mother. John Ross Bowie portrays Jimmy DiMeo, a baggage handler supervisor. Mason Cook is Raymond DiMeo, the nerdy middle child. Micah Fowler plays JJ DiMeo, the eldest child with cerebral palsy who is non-speaking and uses a wheelchair. Kyla Kenedy plays Dylan DiMeo, the athletic youngest child. Cedric Yarbrough portrays Kenneth Clements, JJ's good-natured aide. Marin Hinkle plays Dr. Ava Miller, the school principal. Jonathan Slavin appears as Mr. Powers, a teacher. Recurring roles include Pepper the Golden Retriever, Liz Cackowski as Joyce the physiotherapist, Sarah Chalke as Melanie Hertzal, Kayla Maisonet as Izzy, Jack Dylan Grazer as Rev, David Lengel as Tad, Sedona Cohen as Taylor, Cole Massie as Logan, Karly Rothenberg as Crossing Guard, Rob Corddry as Billy, Andrea Anders as Audrey, Julianne Hough as Miss Bloom, Jamie Denbo as Janet, Jim O'Heir as Stu, Ken Marino as Ethan, Michaela Watkins as Becca, Zach Anner as Lee, Holland Taylor as Andrea, Keith David as Colonel Clements, John Cleese as Martin, Julie White as Helen, Niecy Nash as Kiki, Lisa Leslie as Kendall, Tricia O'Kelley as Candy Kensington, Nikki Rodriguez as Madison, Rondi Reed as Nina, Christopher Thornton as Chris, Bella Thorne as Cassidy, and Jay Chandrasekhar as Coach.
Production
ABC ordered a pilot for Speechless on January 11, 2016, written by Scott Silveri, who was set to executive produce with Christine Gernon, Jake Kasdan, and Melvin Mar. Production companies included Silver and Gold Productions, The Detective Agency, ABC Studios, and 20th Century Fox Television. The series was picked up on May 13, 2016, and premiered in fall 2016 on Tuesdays at 9:30 P.M. EST. A full 22-episode season was ordered on September 23, 2016, with an additional episode on December 13, 2016. ABC renewed the series for a second season on May 12, 2017, premiering September 27, 2017, and a third season on May 11, 2018, airing Fridays at 8:30 P.M. EST from October 5, 2018. The show was canceled after three seasons due to low ratings, being the lowest-rated series on the network with about 2.3 million live viewers in its final season.
Reception
Speechless received largely positive reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds a 98% rating based on 41 reviews, with an average score of 8.2/10. The critical consensus describes it as speaking to a sensitive topic with a heartfelt lead performance and a balance of sensitivity and irreverence. On Metacritic, the series scored 79 out of 100 from 29 critics, indicating generally favorable reviews. TV Guide ranked it seventh among the most anticipated new shows of the 2016–17 season. Critics noted it as a clear-eyed exploration of life in a special-needs family that allows for humor. The show was one of the few to portray a teenager with a disability and to cast a disabled actor in that role. Despite good audience reception, it was canceled after a couple of seasons due to low ratings.
More in Works About Cerebral Palsy and Other Paralytic Syndromes
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