8.8 /10 1 Votes
98% Rotten Tomatoes Genre Sitcom Composer(s) Jeff Cardoni Original language(s) English Program creator Scott Silveri | 7.7/10 IMDb 8.6/10 TV Created by Scott Silveri Country of origin United States First episode date 21 September 2016 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Starring Minnie Driver
John Ross Bowie
Cedric Yarbrough
Mason Cook
Micah Fowler
Kyla Kenedy Network American Broadcasting Company Cast Minnie Driver, Mason Cook, John Ross Bowie, Micah Fowler, Kyla Kenedy Profiles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Speechless is an American sitcom television series that debuted on ABC on September 21, 2016. Created by Scott Silveri and co-executive produced with Christine Gernon, Jake Kasdan and Melvin Mar, the 20th Century Fox Television/ABC Studios co-production was greenlighted to series order on May 13, 2016. A first-look trailer was released on the same day. On September 29, 2016, the series was picked up for a full 22-episode season. An additional episode was ordered on December 13, 2016 for a 23-episode season.
Contents
Plot
The series follows the DiMeo family, each with a unique personality: Maya, a take-charge British mother with a no-holds-barred attitude; her husband Jimmy, who doesn't seem to care what others think; Dylan, their no-nonsense athletic daughter; Ray, their middle child who acts as the "brains" in the family; and their oldest son, JJ—a high schooler with cerebral palsy who has a biting wit and sense of humor. The DiMeos move frequently in an attempt to find a good educational environment for JJ. They believe they have found an optimal choice when they discover a school that prides itself on being inclusive and where JJ will have an aide to speak for him. Though they quickly find that not everything is as good as it could be, JJ enjoys having Kenneth, a well-meaning groundskeeper at the school, work as his aide.
Main
Recurring
Reception
Speechless received positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the series has a rating of 98% based on 41 reviews, with an average rating of 8.2/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Speechless speaks to a sensitive topic with a heartfelt lead performance and a fine balance of sensitivity and irreverence." On Metacritic the series has a score of 76 out of 100, based on 26 critics, indicating "generally positive reviews".
The editors of TV Guide placed Speechless seventh among the top ten picks for the most anticipated new shows of the 2016-17 season. In its review from writer Liam Matthews, "ABC has another worthwhile addition to its strong lineup of modern families with Speechless," adding "It's a clear-eyed and empathetic exploration of life in a special needs family that makes plenty of room for hilarity."