Two freshman comedies from mega-producer Chuck Lorre have been renewed for a second season. B Positive & United States of Al will both be returning to the network next season.
B Positive, which stars Thomas Middleditch and Annaleigh Ashford, was the first new CBS show to debut as a part of the 2020-21 broadcast season and was the second new show of the season, after ABC's Big Sky, to receive a backorder. The series follows a therapist and newly divorced dad (Middleditch) who is faced with finding a kidney donor when he runs into a rough-around-the-edges woman from his past (Ashford) who volunteers her own. Together they form an unlikely bond and begin a journey that will change both of their Iives. The show also stars Izzy G, Sara Rue, Kether Donohue, & Terrence Terrell.
There was some question about B Positive being renewed because its star Thomas Middleditch was accused of groping two women at a now-shuttered Hollywood club in 2019. The report landed in the "Los Angeles Times" in March and neither the actor, CBS nor producer Warner Bros. TV has commented on it publicly.
Much like B Positive, United States of Al hasn't been a huge breakout hit but Lorre's name carries weight at the network where he has had many past hits and currently has two other series already renewed on the schedule (Young Sheldon & Bob Hearts Abishola). The network realizes comedies can take longer to catch on & that's why these two shows are also getting more time to grow.
United States of Al focuses on the friendship between Riley (Parker Young), a Marine combat veteran struggling to readjust to civilian life in Ohio, and Awalmir (Al) (Adhir Kalyan), the Interpreter who served with his unit in Afghanistan and has just arrived to start a new life in America. The series also stars Kelli Goss, Dean Norris, & Elizabeth Alderfer. The show did face some criticism early in its run over what was characterized as stereotypical portrayals but it appears the show has made moves to correct that.
Are YOU excited for these shows to return?