ABC renews 'Black-ish' for season 6 and orders new prequel spinoff 'Mixed-ish'
Black-ish is coming back for another season and not alone. ABC has officially picked up the Johnson family comedy for a sixth season. The renewal of season 6 also comes with the announcement of a new prequel spinoff "Mixed-ish", focusing on the younger years of Bow (Tracee Ellis Ross).
“Black-ish” centers on the Johnsons, an affluent black family in a predominantly white neighborhood. Parents Andre “Dre” (Anthony Anderson) and Rainbow are trying to raise their kids, who are growing up in very different worlds than they did, to have the right values and appreciate their roots. Among ABC’s dozen sitcoms, it ranks ninth in terms of viewers and average demo rating, besting 'Fresh Off the Boat', 'Speechless' and 'Splitting Up Together'. “Black-ish” was created by Kenya Barris and is executive produced by Barris, Jonathan Groff, Kenny Smith, Gail Lerner, Courtney Lilly, Lindsey Shockley, Anthony Anderson, Laurence Fishburne, Helen Sugland, and E. Brian Dobbins. The series is produced by ABC Studios.
The spinoff series Mixed-ish, which has been in development since February, focuses on the experience of Tracee Ellis Ross’ character, Rainbow Johnson, growing up in a mixed-race family in the ‘80s. The episode — titled “Becoming Bow,” which was scheduled to air next Tuesday, May 7 — will now “be held for next season,” according to ABC. Mixed-ish will be starring 'The Haves and the Have Nots‘ Tika Sumpter as the mom of a young Rainbow, young Bow is played by Arica Himmel. The role of Bow’s father was played by former Champions star Anders Holm in the already-filmed “Becoming Bow” but will be recast for the spinoff. The adult versions of Bow’s parents, Paul and Alicia, are played on Black-ish by Anna Deavere Smith and Beau Bridges.
The series will mark the second spinoff show to join the “Black-ish” universe after “Grown-ish,” which was recently renewed for a third season at Freeform. Black-ish airs on ABC network every Tuesday and can be streamed on Hulu.
If you have an entertainment scoop or a story for us, please reach out to us on (323) 421-7515