'Connecting': Release date, plot, cast, trailer and all you need to know about NBC's coronavirus-era comedy series
Since the Covid-19 pandemic has forced the entertainment industry to make some changes, one of those changes includes the release of productions that showcase the consequences of the virus. Using the pandemic, creators are able to push out scripts that include the health crisis as part of the narrative in many genres, including comedy. NBC has ordered a social distancing comedy titled 'Connecting' that will air next month showcasing a group of friends as they try to cope with new circumstances that tagged along with the pandemic. Here is all you need to know about the upcoming series.
Release date
'Connecting' releases on Thursday, October 1, 2020. The series has received an eight-episode straight-to-series order.
Plot
According to Deadline, the series "is an ensemble comedy about a group of friends trying to stay close (and sane) through video chats as they share the highs and lows of these extraordinary times." The article further goes on to describe the characters from the series as "Shakina Nayfack will play Ellis, a pragmatic, type-A and a huge Clippers fan. Keith Powell and Jill Knox, who are married in real life, will play husband and wife Garrett and Michelle, who are thriving in quarantine. Ely Henry will play Rufus, paranoid and conspiracy-minded, he’s more comfortable online than off."
It adds, "Preacher Lawson will portray Ben. His girlfriend broke up with him just before the pandemic started and he is debating whether to take her back." They also describe Pradeep, played by Parvesh Cheena, as loving kids but "but is not used to being around them this much" and Annie played by Otmaro Marrero, identifies as female and has friends that "describe her as a hermit who would barely go out, even before the quarantine started."
Cast
The cast includes Keith Powell known for '30 Rock' as Garrett, Jill Knox is known for 'Keith Broke A Leg' as Michelle, Shakina Nayfack known for 'Transparent' as Ellis, Ely Henry known for 'Suburgatory' as Rufus, Preacher Lawson known for 'America’s Got Talent' as Ben, Otmaro Marrero known for 'StartUp' as Annie and Parvesh Cheena known for 'Outsourced' as Pradeep.
Keith Powell
Besides '30 Rock', Powell is known for his roles as Richard from 'About a Boy' (2014-2015), David from 'Train Baby' (2015) and Jordan from 'Grace and Frankie'. The actor is also a writer and has multiple credits under his belt such as 'Keith Broke His Leg' (2015), 'People We Meet' (2014), 'Train Baby' (2015) and 'Sophie's Quinceañera' (2019). His recent works include 'Better Things' (2019), 'Lying and Stealing' (2019), 'Marvelous and the Black Hole' (2020) and 'The Beta Test' which is in post-production.
Jill Knox
Knox is known for 'Keith Broke His Leg' (2015) where she played herself, 'Train Baby' (2015) where she played a female bar employee and 'Long Distance Relationship' (2011). Her other works include 'The Reunion Experiment' (2009), 'Keith Powell Directs a Play' (2009), 'These People' (2015) and 'Discard' (2017).
Creators
The series comes from 'Blindspot' creator and executive producer Martin Gero and writer Brendan Gall and Universal Television. Connecting' is written and executive produced by Gero and Gall.
Trailer
The trailer for the series is yet to be released. Stay tuned for updates.
Where to watch
Catch 'Connecting' on Thursday, October 1, 2020, at 8.30 pm EST.
If you like this, you will love these:
'Social Distance'
'Love in the Time of Corona'
'Coastal Elites'
'28 Days Later'
'Quarantine'