National Adoption Day is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and we wanted to honor it by honoring the best TV adoption storylines.

We’ve chosen several adoption storylines, from infant adoptions to teenagers relinquishing their babies to special needs adoptions to step-parent adoptions. We hope some of these will resonate with you.

Adoption is an important topic to me because I was adopted, so I was delighted to see stories like mine represented in shows in the 1980s like Punky Brewster and Anne of Green Gables.

Since the 2000s, even more series have covered it.

Shows like The OC and The Fosters highlighted the importance of taking in troubled teens and accepting them as part of your family. They are an often overlooked group.

Callie and Jude Find Their Forever Family (The Fosters)

Callie and Jude worked hard to find their forever family, especially Callie. They had been in too many abusive foster homes and longed for some nurturing affection.

Jude adapted more easily. Stef and Lena almost cheered when Jude argued with Jesus because he acted like an irritated younger brother.

However, the series threw so many roadblocks at Callie that it seemed unimaginable, but that often happened in the system. Birth parents had to be contacted before adoptions could become official.

• New Teaser be Damned: Who Cares About the Duttons’ Land Battle in 1923 With Yellowstone’s Looming Unhappy Ending?
  by Carissa Pavlica
• Landman Season 1 Episode 6 Balances Brutality and Heart, Making It Hard to Look Away
  by Carissa Pavlica
• 15 Christmas Movie Villains That Might Just Be Misunderstood
  by Lisa Babick

Stef taught Callie many lessons about love, including that love was unconditional. It didn’t matter if she screwed up; they would still love her.

When Callie graduated, she told Stef and Lena they were the first to treat her like she wasn’t disposable. They were in a unique spot because they treated their adopted children the same way they treated Brandon.

They worked hard not to show favoritism.

Watch The Fosters Online

Jack and Rebecca Adopt Randall (This is Us)

It wasn’t easy to choose between Randall’s or Deja’s adoption on This is Us. Still, Randall’s had more prolonged effects since growing up as the only African-American person in a white family was challenging.

The series highlighted how hard it was for Randall and how it frightened Rebecca that Randall might explore his heritage. Many adoptees struggle with not fitting in, even if they have a loving home.

Jack loved his son as much as the other triplets, and he strived to learn about Randall’s interests, including participating in a father/son initiation at a martial arts studio.

After Jack died, Randall felt more lost, especially when he learned Rebecca had kept his birth father from him for years, after knowing he had questions about his identity.

This was one of the most realistic TV adoption stories because it highlighted how it affected a family for many years, not just at the beginning.

Watch This is Us Online

Regina Adopts Henry and Becomes a Better Person (Once Upon a Time)

Regina from Once Upon a Time started out evil, but becoming a mom and loving someone else changed her.

Being around children always brought Regina joy. She enjoyed being around Owen. Robin Hood commented she had a soft spot for them when she was kind to Roland.

Therefore, seeing Henry’s adoption story made perfect sense. It started out as a way to bring meaning to her life.

She wasn’t prepared for a crying infant, but she fell in love with baby Henry and refused to give him back after all.

Like any other mother, she was determined to protect her son. Since that was Regina, it came with mixed results until Peter Pan kidnapped him.

That was the beginning of her transformation. She would do anything or work with anybody to save her son. Her love for Henry broke the latest curse on Storybrooke.

While Once Upon a Time was a fantasy series, it demonstrated how an adoptive mother and birth mother could eventually work together for the child’s sake.

Regina and Emma despised each other initially but were like family by the series’ end.

Watch Once Upon a Time Online

Olivia Adopts Noah (Law & Order: SVU)

Noah’s adoption story was more complicated than a typical infant adoption. Olivia and Amanda Rollins found Noah in an abandoned motel room of some pornography producers. Soon after, his birth mom, Ellie Porter, was attacked again and died.

Olivia petitioned to be Noah’s guardian, and everything she did was scrutinized. It seemed like if Noah became sick, it was her fault for being a single working mother.

Things worsened when SVU prosecuted Johnny for his crimes, but he wanted paternity rights to Noah, Olivia’s worst nightmare. After Johnny D died, Olivia assumed there were no more living relatives and that she and Noah would live relatively happily together.

• Days of Our Lives’ Doug Sendoff Reminds Viewers How Good This Soap Used To Be…And Can Be Again
  by Jack Ori
• The Blue Bloods Family Dinners: A Labor Of Love for Viewers and the Cast; Tom Selleck and Donnie Wahlberg In Tears on The Talk
  by Jack Ori
• Dream or Delusion? How TV Shapes Our Vision of the American Dream
  by Lisa Babick

Unlike in Once Upon a Time, Noah’s birth family gave Olivia grief, and she needed to set boundaries. That sometimes happens in real life, and that’s why there are closed adoptions, and adoptive parents have rights.

Sheila Porter never should have been able to contact her that easily.

As Noah grows older, he has become more curious about his birth father, but we haven’t officially seen Olivia confront that delicate subject yet. It’s unique to his case.

Watch Law and Order: SVU Online

Simone Keeps in Touch With Baby Shay (All American/All American: Homecoming)

Many of these TV adoption storylines are from the perspectives of the adoptive parents or the adoptees. Simone’s arc offered an important perspective from a birth mother’s POV.

It was difficult not to sympathize with Simone since her mother, Tina, basically ordered her to give her baby up, or they would disown her. It should have been her decision while she was in high school and had her life ahead of her.

Her dad was the only one who showed her compassion after she delivered her infant son while barely looking at him. Maybe if Simone had taken those few moments to hold her son, she wouldn’t have had doubts.

Simone didn’t want her son back. She wanted assurance that he was cared for, and when she saw him laughing, she knew he was happy with the Douglases.

They were more gracious than most people. I loved their philosophy that Shay had two moms in his life, and Simone could stop by sometimes, which we saw visits in All American: Homecoming.

These are the best situations, but they don’t often happen.

Watch All American Online

Families Come In Different Forms (Modern Family)

While Modern Family provided many laughs, it also taught us that families come in many forms and don’t need traditional roles. One of the most important things Cam and Mitch showed Lily was they were a family because of their love for one another.

Love and feeling like they are part of the family are the most important things to a child.

Since I’ve worked in social work and conducted home visits, I loved the scenes when the case worker visits the house and finds it a mess. It looked lived-in, and it seemed like the child had fun.

Modern Family did so many essential aspects right. For example, they created a storybook about Lily’s adoption so she would know that she was wanted. That’s important since many children question why their other parents abandoned them.

While Cam and Mitch encouraged Lily to learn about her Vietnamese heritage, she always seemed right at home with her dads.

Watch Modern Family Online

Unlikely Allies and Punky Power (Punky Brewster)

Whoever thought a spunky little girl and a grouchy old man would make a good fit? But they did! Many of us admired Punky Brewster for her survival skills and desire to live independently, but she still needed care and supervision.

It was easy to understand why the DCFS initially hesitated about making Henry Punky’s foster father. He was older, unmarried, and never had children.

However, something about Punky warmed even the grouchiest of hearts, and the social worker saw that, as well as Punky’s fear of the orphanage.

• Stacey Farber and Daren Kagasoff Lead a Charming Cast and Bring Joyful Humor to Hanukkah on the Rocks
  by Laura Nowak
• Holiday Spirit or Total Scrooge? Ranking TV’s Most Festive (and Least Festive) Characters
  by Laura Nowak
• Brilliant Minds Season 1 Episode 11 Leaves [Spoiler’s] Life Hanging In the Balance with Shocking Cliffhanger
  by Laura Nowak

There were many challenges as Henry had to give up his space, so Punky felt welcome and assured her he’d always be there. They still had to convince the system they were a good match, which presented many challenges.

Punky Brewster was so popular that Peacock rebooted it in 2021, and Punky met and fostered a little girl, Izzy, who resembled her younger self.

Watch Punky Brewster Online

Anne Brings Joy to the Cuthberts (Anne of Green Gables)

Megan Follows will always be Anne Shirley to me. The Canadian version taught many viewers the importance of adopting an older child and how an imagination gets them through the darkness of foster care.

Neither Matthew nor Marilla Cuthbert ever married, and their parenting styles differed greatly, but they both loved Anne. Matthew fell for her the minute she chattered on the way home.

While Marilla was stricter, she often had to hide her laughter over some of Anne’s antics before scolding her, especially when she smashed her slate over Gilbert’s head.

Matthew was outwardly more affectionate, but the two women learned how to express their love better after Matthew’s death.

Anne’s adoption story showed that older children shouldn’t lose hope. It was so popular that Netflix redid it with a modernized version, Anne With An E.

Watch Anne of Green Gables Online

The Cohens Adopt Ryan (The OC)

Ryan’s adoption on The OC seemed similar to Callie’s on The Fosters. He ran into trouble, and Sandy Cohen brought him home.

While initially, Kirsten was wary about keeping him, once she met Ryan’s biological mother, Dawn, she insisted Ryan stay with them. Shortly after that, they officially became his legal family.

Soon, Ryan seemed to have been part of the family for years as Ryan and Seth became close friends. Kirsten even commented once that she had forgotten Ryan had another family because he meshed so well in theirs.

Sandy Cohen was one of the best TV dads, initially making Ryan feel loved and motivated. One of the best scenes is from the pilot when he teaches him how to tie a tie in a father-son bonding moment.

However, he was present throughout the series, motivating Ryan to try harder in school and helping him find peace after Marissa was killed.

The OC Online

Arizona Adopts Sofia (Grey’s Anatomy)

It’s rare that a child leads the story, but Sofia has since she was born. Since Callie and Arizona were together when she was born, Arizona legally adopted her in a second-parent adoption. She knew she wanted to be in her life forever.

Things became messy when they divorced, and Callie moved across the country, wanting to take Sofia with her.

While Grey’s Anatomy is fictional, the laws state that Arizona should have been given as much courtesy as Callie since she was also Sofia’s legal mother.

• Grosse Pointe Garden Society: Everything We Know About NBC’s Upcoming Thrilling New Drama
  by Lisa Babick
• Reacher Season 3: Teaser, Premiere Date & Everything Else We Know
  by TV Fanatic Staff
• Yellowjackets Season 3: Teaser, First-Look Photos, Cast and Everything Else We Know
  by TV Fanatic Staff

Therefore, her defense was so poignant when she stated that she chose to be Sofia’s mother, and it was the best decision she made. That is the epitome of being an adoptive parent.

So was the fact that she chose to share custody with Callie for her daughter’s sake, even though she was awarded full custody.

Watch Grey's Anatomy Online

Lily Accepts Chuck as One of Her Own (Gossip Girl)

Chuck’s situation on Gossip Girl was different. Lily technically adopted him after Bart died, though they discussed it while they were still married.

If she was his legal guardian, he would inherit Bass Industries when he became an adult. But it was more than that.

She was the only adult who ever loved him as he was and often reminded him that she loved him like one of her own.

Many times, Lily’s scenes with Chuck were so heartfelt and loving as they schemed together or built each other up.

They were the best family relationship in the series and highlighted the strength of a stepparent and child relationship.

Watch Gossip Girl Online

These are only a few of the best TV adoption storylines. Did we cover your favorite?

Let us know in the comments below.

The post TV’s Best Adoption Storylines appeared first on TV Fanatic.

They break boundaries, challenge authority, and take new risks as they conquer their dreams. Sometimes they succeed, and sometimes they fail.

These women are often driven by a mutual desire — love — and they’ll run towards that unapologetically every time. They will defend their choices, whether protecting their child, running towards a new romance, or defending their title.

These women are entertaining to watch because they are outspoken and passionate about their cases. They light up the screen with both their confidence and their vulnerability.

These imperfect females are the entire package.

Thony De La Rosa (The Cleaning Lady)

Thony De La Rosa is the epitome of an unapologetic, imperfect woman. She would do whatever it took to save her young son, Luca, including committing many crimes.

When The Cleaning Lady began, she worked as a cleaning lady for the mob, and Arman helped to finance medical treatments for Luca’s rare, life-threatening illness.

She soon walked the morality tightrope, where she believed she broke the law for the right reasons.

This became more complicated as the seasons progressed when Arman, Thony, and Nadia got involved in selling Robert Kamdar’s drugs in exchange for Luca’s medicine.

In Thony’s eyes, everything was for Luca, but it fell apart when she tried to operate on him herself, and a doctor called CPS on her and Fiona.

Thony fights for freedom and medicine for her and her family, yet constantly finds herself working for the mob or a drug cartel instead.

Watch The Cleaning Lady Online

Angie Polaski (Will Trent)

Angie Polaski on Will Trent is the type of detective who follows her gut instincts, and sometimes, that pays off or gets her in more trouble.

Since Angie was sexually abused in foster care, she has an affinity for working with teenage victims and a keen sense of justice.

While many in the precinct and the GBI initially thought Angie was an emotional disaster after Angie rescued Joey, a teen in recovery from a drug house, they looked at her with new respect.

• 15 Christmas Movie Villains That Might Just Be Misunderstood
  by Lisa Babick
• The Unhinged Christmas Wish List: Gifts Only TV Characters Would Ask For
  by Thomas Godwin
• 27 Christmas Movies to Watch When You Need a Break from Holiday Cheer
  by Lisa Babick

Angie’s main problem is that she first jumps to rescue someone and then thinks about the consequences later. It’s the reason we love her, and Erika Christensen plays her with such depth.

Angie had made such progress. She had been sober for months, had reunited with Will, and seemed to be in a healthy relationship.

But she hid that Crystal stabbed Lenny, and the teen killed many other sex predators. Angie meant well because she related to the girl, but her compassion landed her in trouble.

We can’t wait to see this one play out.

Watch Will Trent Online

Sloane Ford (Three Women)

Sloane Ford is the most outspoken and unapologetic female on Three Women. You must respect her, even when it’s difficult to like her.

Not many women initiate swinging relationships into their marriages, but she did. She admitted she longed to be desired and cherished but not controlled.

Even though Sloane has a nearly perfect marriage, she doesn’t fit into the mold. She was exhausted from trying to fit the ideal image, and her bulimia even returned.

Sloane’s need to be free caused her to begin an affair with Will, a sexy boater and oysterman who was not from her crowd. For the first time, she lit up the screen and seemed happy.

She’s the type of woman who would do anything to get what she wanted. Sure, Sloane felt guilty about hurting others, but she was addicted to Will and determined to keep him.

You have to respect that gameplay, especially when she arranged a foursome with Will, his girlfriend, and Richard, and they got high on mushrooms. She masterfully acted like they all agreed, even if it was her idea.

Watch Three Women Online

Penelope Featherington (Bridgerton)

We love all of the leading ladies in Bridgerton. They knew how to land their man, and most did not conform to society’s rules.

But there was something special about Penelope Featherington. Perhaps it’s because she was often overlooked as the youngest daughter.

Even though women weren’t supposed to work back then, Penelope created her destiny by crafting the successful Lady Whistledown column.

Sure, it was scathingly witty at times, but also observant and fun.

For Bridgerton’s first two seasons, Penelope was in that awkward friend zone, and she crushed on Colin hard. She cleverly went after him, begging for a kiss, saying it didn’t have to mean anything, and we all know how that turned out.

• Days of Our Lives’ Doug Sendoff Reminds Viewers How Good This Soap Used To Be…And Can Be Again
  by Jack Ori
• The Blue Bloods Family Dinners: A Labor Of Love for Viewers and the Cast; Tom Selleck and Donnie Wahlberg In Tears on The Talk
  by Jack Ori
• Dream or Delusion? How TV Shapes Our Vision of the American Dream
  by Lisa Babick

When he finally returned her advances, Penelope worried she would have to change her career and herself since being a gossip columnist wasn’t proper. You should never change who you are.

Watch Brigerton Online

Amanda Rollins (Law and Order: SVU)

Amanda Rollins has been a vital part of Law and Order: SVU since she joined the cast in Season 13. However, she doesn’t like following the rules and speaking her mind, especially to get justice.

If Law and Order: SVU and Will Trent aired on the same network, Amanda and Angie Polaski would likely be friends. They’re both outspoken, impulsive, and passionate, which sometimes backfires on them.

It’s always entertaining to watch, though. Since Amanda arrived, her past often triggered how she dealt with cases, whether it was her dysfunctional family relationships or her gambling addiction.

In several episodes, she went undercover in dangerous situations, some without backup or permission, to catch rapists. She did that more than once to learn a psychopath’s type and get him to become attracted to her.

Amanda was also outspoken about domestic violence victims. At times, she didn’t have much sympathy for them because her mom never left her dad years ago, so she had to balance her views with her career.

It took years, but she finally found her happy ending: marrying Sonny Carisi and having a family. We love that she found a new career and frequently appears on the show.

Watch Law and Order Special Victims Unit Online

Clare Pierce (Tiny Beautiful Things)

Clare Pierce from Hulu’s Tiny Beautiful Things is a hot mess, so we love her.

Something is endearing about someone who can mess up yet pick themselves up and give others advice based on their failures.

Clare Pierce (Kathryn Hahn) has lost everything. Her husband disowned her after she spent their daughter’s college fund to bail out her drug-addicted brother.

• Exclusive Interview With Matlock’s David Del Rio: The Actor Takes Fans Behind The Scenes To The Heart of Matlock
  by Joshua Pleming
• Jacob Lofland on Cooper’s Journey in Landman: “It’s Not Going to Be Easy”
  by Carissa Pavlica
• Hallmark Hits the Field: Tyler Hynes and Hunter King Tease the Chiefs’ Christmas Romance
  by Carissa Pavlica

She took out her sorrows on a one-night stand with an Uber driver.

She no longer recognizes herself, so a friend suggested she take over the “Dear Sugar” advice column.

It was a real-life Cheryl Strayed column, and Carol Pierce gave energizing and witty advice on avoiding certain life scenarios.

Watch Tiny Beautiful Things Online

Olivia Baker (All American)

Olivia Baker has been passionate and outspoken since All American began.

Typically, her Liv the Truth podcast served a beneficial purpose, such as when she spread the word about racism in Crenshaw. However, sometimes, her views were extreme, like releasing the police body-cam footage of Tamika’s death.

Olivia has always been a social activist, and getting off scot-free for the drunk driving accident fueled her.

That could have wrecked her mother’s legal career since Laura was trying to get justice for Tamika.

Olivia was similar to her father, and they even followed a story together about a corrupt football coach. When she won an award for it, she dedicated it to Billy.

All American won’t be the same without Olivia chasing a story or leading a cause.

Watch All American Online

Rue Bennett (Euphoria)

Rue Bennett is the type of character that many viewers relate to. She’s memorable because so many of us have experienced loss.

Rue had access to drugs since she cared for her father, who died of cancer. That’s heartbreaking for a young teenager.

Like many teenagers, she went to rehab, and when she returned, she plastered a happy smile on her face and pretended she was sober.

• New Teaser be Damned: Who Cares About the Duttons’ Land Battle in 1923 With Yellowstone’s Looming Unhappy Ending?
  by Carissa Pavlica
• Prison Break Reboot From Mayans M.C. Boss Receives Pilot Order at Hulu
  by TV Fanatic Staff
• Friday Night Lights Reboot Lands at Peacock (But It Will Never Recapture the Magic of the Original Series)
  by Tyler Johnson

She became so memorable because she deals with everyday teenage issues while coping with addiction, anxiety, and depression.

Rue then falls in love with Jules. In the beginning, this seems healthy, but as the story progresses, it almost seems like her relationship with Jules is a co-dependent replacement for drugs.

The drugs almost wrecked Rue’s life until her family did an emotional intervention during Euphoria Season 2. It was painful, haunting, and healing.

Watch Euphoria Online

Rhaenyra Targaryen (House of the Dragon)

Rhaenyra Targaryen has never followed the rules of the House of the Dragon.

Since she was a young girl, she understood the pressures of a woman being named to the throne in a man’s world.

She was her father’s daughter to the core and wanted to please King Viserys, but that didn’t mean she bowed to his will, especially with matters of the heart.

Her romantic choices often cause issues with the court, but she maintains control of her family and destiny.

Firstly, Rhaenyra is a mother, and she’s horrified when Aemond kills Luke and demands revenge.

It’s only when more children die that she begs Allicent to stop this war.

While Rhaenyra wants to prove she deserves the throne, she despises the senseless deaths of children.

Watch House of the Dragon Online

Georgia Miller (Ginny & Georgia)

Georgia Miller once said on Ginny & Georgia that she loves a good scam. That’s partly how she got a job working with Paul at the mayor’s office since she was not a lady of society.

Georgia had been abused by her stepfather as a young teen and ran away. That experience taught her not to take that behavior ever again, and when her boyfriend and Austin’s dad, Gil, abused her, she left him.

Georgia had a habit of running from abusive men, and that’s why the cops were after her. She killed her last husband because he hit on Ginny, and Georgia wanted a better life for her daughter.

Even though Ginny and Austin’s childhoods may not have been stable, Georgia tried to protect her children. Her decisions caught up with her, and she was arrested at her wedding. We can’t wait to see how she gets out of this one.

Watch Ginny and Georgia Online

Now that you’ve seen our picks, which imperfect TV females are on your list?

Let us know in the comments below.

The post Unfiltered and Unapologetic: Celebrating TV’s Imperfect Females appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Sometimes, tropes are overdone or offensive, but they often exist to give the audience a sense of familiarity and relatability.

If I had to choose a favorite trope, it would be the concept of found family, and I wouldn’t even have to think about it.

A grouchy, tough boss has a soft spot for a rough-around-the-edge intern and becomes a parental figure for them.

A set of childhood best friends grow into adulthood together, sharing all of life’s challenges and celebrations like siblings.

Sometimes, a character gets the “Dirty Uncle Sal” treatment.

• Inside the 9-1-1 Fandom: How the Fans Made the Show Their Own
  by Haley Whitmire White
• Why is Chicago Fire Shafting Stellaride?
  by Haley Whitmire White
• Chicago Fire Season 13 Midseason Report Card: Best Episode, Worst Ship, and More
  by Haley Whitmire White

As Meredith Grey so eloquently put it on Grey’s Anatomy, this character is “the one who embarrasses everyone at family reunions … but you invite him to the picnic anyway.”

No matter how the relationship dynamic plays out, these platonic friendships that morph into families who do life together will always make me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

There are hundreds of examples of families found on television, but we’ve gathered a few that stand out for us to celebrate the trope.

Meredith Grey and Richard Webber: Grey’s Anatomy

The writers of TV’s longest-running medical drama could host a master class in the art of creating a found family.

Over the years, characters have built families with the coworkers they see constantly.

But one of the most realistic examples of chosen family on Grey’s Anatomy is in the daughter/father dynamic between Meredith and Richard.

The love hasn’t always been reciprocated, but Webber has considered himself responsible for Meredith since her first day as an intern.

Despite the ups and downs in their relationship (and I mean a LOT of them), these two have always been family.

We even saw a glimpse of what life might have been like if Richard had raised Meredith in Grey’s Anatomy Season 8 Episode 13.

Watch Grey's Anatomy Online

Evan “Buck” Buckley and Christopher Diaz: 9-1-1

9-1-1 is another show that doesn’t hold back when it comes to creating a family feel.

Perhaps the most meaningful example of this on the show is the relationship between Buck and Christopher.

Christopher isn’t biologically related to Buck; he’s the son of Buck’s closest friend and partner, Eddie.

But that has never stopped Buck from loving Christopher like his own and stepping in as a parental figure when needed.

In a testament to their bond, Eddie named Buck in his will as Christopher’s legal guardian in the event of Eddie’s death.

Christopher trusts Buck even when he can’t talk to his dad, and Buck has proven time and time again that he’s worthy of that trust.

Watch 9-1-1 Online

April Ludgate and Leslie Knope: Parks and Recreation

April may have a snarky attitude and pretend she’s too cool for school, but the love she has for Leslie shines through on Parks and Recreation.

Leslie isn’t old enough to be April’s mother, but she’s certainly acted in a big sister capacity over the years.

As April’s boss, Leslie always did a great job of supporting her professionally.

• Tracker Season 2 Midseason Report Card: Lots of Thrills & Room to Grow
  by Whitney Evans
• Revenge Plots, Breakups, and Drama: The Best TV Shows for Spilling the Tea
  by Whitney Evans
• 9-1-1 Season 8 Midseason Report Card: Heart-Pounding Highs & Missed Opportunities
  by Whitney Evans

More importantly, she showed up for April outside of work, supporting her through years of major life changes.

No matter how hard April tried to feign otherwise, she loved and appreciated Leslie’s advice and support and frequently sought it out.

Leslie’s influence is directly responsible for much of April’s growth, and April shows her gratitude in her own way.

Watch Parks and Rec Online

Rosa Diaz and Jake Peralta: Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Brooklyn Nine-Nine is another one of those shows where everyone feels connected to each other in a familial way.

Jake even slips up more than once and calls Captain Holt “Dad,” if that tells you anything about their relationship.

But one of the most special duos on this show is Jake and Rosa, best friends who act more like siblings.

They bicker and fight, but they always have each other’s backs at work and in their personal lives.

When Rosa came out as bisexual, Jake stood by her side as she navigated coming out to her parents, who were less than supportive.

And for her part, Rosa showed up for Jake to back him up in his many, many shenanigans, often getting him out of messes he created himself.

Watch Brooklyn Nine-Nine Online

Stella Kidd and Wallace Boden: Chicago Fire

Found family in a firehouse is almost a given, so this may be too easy.

Still, no one was more devastated about Chief Boden’s departure from 51 than Stella.

She viewed him as a father figure who was always available for advice and encouragement.

Boden saw Stella as a daughter and would have done anything she needed at any time.

The bond these two shared was just one of many examples of beautiful platonic friendships on Chicago Fire.

Through good times and bad, Boden and Stella set a fantastic example of how powerful chosen family can be.

Watch Chicago Fire Online

Billy Baker and Spencer James: All American

Billy Baker treated Spencer as another son from the minute he moved him into his house so he could be a star player on the Beverly football team.

While it was originally about the team and Spencer’s potential, they grew to care deeply about each other over the years.

When Billy died during All American Season 5, it devastated Spencer because they had been arguing and had not made peace yet.

When Billy makes a ghostly visit in Season 6, he tries to help all his children, including Spencer.

Watch All American Online

Amanda Wagner and Will Trent: Will Trent

Amanda appears as a tough old bird, but she has always considered Will to be part of her family.

At the end of Will Trent Season 1, it was revealed that she found baby Will in the trash can and tried to raise him herself.

However, society didn’t let single African-American women keep infants, and she had to give him back, but she gave him a part of her, his name.

She also gave him a job at the GBI, and Will was always loyal to her.

Watch Will Trent Online

Harlan “Sonny” Jennings and Emily “Em” Wright: HI-Surf

Em is the only one who can ever really call Sonny out.

Unlike others in his life, Em doesn’t hold back.

• Accused Season 2 Report Card: Flashes of Brilliance in a Sea of Mediocrity
  by Jasmine Blu
• Copy & Paste: Franchise Fatigue & Why The Rookie’s New Spinoff Already Lost Us
  by Jasmine Blu
• Unapologetically Real: TV Characters Who Embrace Their Flaws
  by Jasmine Blu

You can always tell how hard it is on him when he feels like he has disappointed her and not met her expectations.

They have such a strong dynamic, and you can tell there’s a lot of history there that the series hasn’t even begun to dig into.

Watch Rescue HI-Surf Online

Vince Leone and Jake Crawford: Fire Country

Vince Leone always reads as very paternal when it comes to both Jake and Eve on Fire Country.

He considered both of them his other children, and that especially was solidified when his and Sharon’s daughter died, and Bode went to prison.

In work environments, there is a healthy dose of respect, but you also get the sense that Vince is the dad of the house.

Just as quickly as he extends advice to both Jake and Eve, they also confront him in a way you’d expect from children calling out their parents.

Watch Fire Country Online

Melinda “Mel” Monroe and Vernon “Doc” Mullins: Virgin River

Funnily enough, when Mel first got there, Doc seemed to hate her and didn’t want her around at all.

But they eventually settled into a beautiful rhythm and developed this very special filial relationship, which is almost as much at the center of the show as her romance with Jack.

Doc never had the opportunity to raise children, but you can tell he pours all of this fatherly affection and love into Mel. As for Mel, she returns his affection in kind.

The two share a bond that includes confiding in each other, seeking out advice, holding secrets, and comforting each other.

In fact, the upcoming season of Virgin River will be interesting as Mel explores a relationship with her biological father.

Because she and Doc have been so close for the past few years, it makes you wonder if he’ll feel a pang of jealousy or resentment.

Watch Virgin River Online

Susannah Fisher and Isabel “Belly” Conklin: The Summer I Turned

Pretty

Sadly, this mother-daughter dynamic on The Summer I Turned Pretty ended in tragedy.

But Belly looked to Susannah as a second mother and, at times, had a stronger relationship with Susannah than she did with her own mom.

And Susannah, given that she only had two sons, always viewed Belly as her daughter.

• Days of Our Lives’ Doug Sendoff Reminds Viewers How Good This Soap Used To Be…And Can Be Again
  by Jack Ori
• Days of Our Lives Spoilers For The Week of 12-16-24: Could There Be ANOTHER Twist In The Philip/Xander War?
  by Jack Ori
• Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 18 Wrapped Up A 14-Year Run With A Reminder Of Everything That Makes This Cancelation Hurt
  by Jack Ori

It made things interesting since Susannah actively rooted for Belly to be with one of her sons; her opinion on this matter adds weight to the already complicated and messy love triangle between Belly and the two brothers.

Still, Belly and Susannah sometimes felt more like mother and daughter than she did with her actual mom.

As a result, Belly’s grief over Susannah’s passing has fundamentally shaped who she is as a young woman moving forward and made her grief story carry just as much weight as that of Conrad and Jeremiah’s.

Watch The Summer I Turned Pretty Online

While the bond between biological relatives can be lovely, it’s often the people we meet later in life that make the biggest impact.

We’d love to hear from you!

Let us know in the comments if you have favorite TV found families that we missed.

The post 11 Examples of Found Family on TV that Prove Genetics Aren’t Everything appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Sorry, we tend to go overboard with the football metaphors when we’re talking about this show!

But in all seriousness, All American Season 7 has been confirmed, and we have the latest news surrounding the cast of the CW‘s beloved sports drama.

Deadline reported today that Michael Evans Behling, Greta Onieogou, and Bre-Z will all be returning as series regulars

Additionally, Antonio J. Bell (Khalil) and Alexis Chikaeze (Amina) have both been promoted to series regulars.

And that’s not all! Osy Ikhile and Nathaniel McIntyre will join the cast in newly created roles.

But here’s the real kicker (football pun intended): Samantha Logan (Olivia), Cody Christian (Asher), Karimah Westbrook (Grace James), Monét Mazur (Laura Baker) and Chelsea Tavares (Patience) are all leaving the series.

Needless to say, this show will look very different in its seventh season!

Still the news of all these new and returning stars likely comes as a comfort to All American fans who were feeling nervous about the show’s future following Daniel Ezra’s departure.

While there’s been a bad trend of lead characters being sloppily written off of shows in recent years, Ezra’s send-off was mostly satisfying.

We got to see his character, Spencer James, make it to the NFL, win the Super Bowl, and get married.

Endings don’t get much happier than that!

• New Teaser be Damned: Who Cares About the Duttons’ Land Battle in 1923 With Yellowstone’s Looming Unhappy Ending?
  by Carissa Pavlica
• Landman Season 1 Episode 6 Balances Brutality and Heart, Making It Hard to Look Away
  by Carissa Pavlica
• 15 Christmas Movie Villains That Might Just Be Misunderstood
  by Lisa Babick

And in news that’s sure to delight All American fans, Deadline is reporting that Ezra will return for guest appearances and is slated to direct at least one episode.

Otherwise, the show will be returning to its high school roots.

“Season 7 is taking it back to where it all began: Beverly Hills High and South Crenshaw High.

“It’s the same heart, same NFL dream, same crosstown rivalry, same messy hormones, ushered in by a new generation of LA teens, a new Beverly Coach, and our OG vortex fam, who are surprised to find they’re supposed to be the responsible adults now.”

Some fans were baffled by the CW’s decision to renew All American after the show had so neatly wrapped up its main characters’ storylines.

But with quality programming in short supply these days, we’re willing to give the show’s multi-generational approach a chance.

After all, every promising rookie needs a vet to mentor them, and the show’s newcomers might benefit from joining such a talented cast.

What do you think, TV fanatics? Is All American still your MVP, or is it time for this series to hit the showers?

Hit the comments section below to share your thoughts!

Watch All American Online

The post All American Casting Shakeup: SIX Stars Exit as Michael Evans Behling, Greta Onieogou Return For Season 7 appeared first on TV Fanatic.

While this season started off slowly, it evolved into one of the best seasons since the series explored character arcs, relationship dynamics, and fulfilled career goals.

Therefore, I’m unsure why The CW renewed All American for Season 7. The core cast’s journeys were complete with the additional two episodes in Season 6.

Since Daniel Ezra (Spencer James) decided to leave the series after Season 6, why would the network renew it? Spencer, Olivia, and their friends are the characters we’ve invested in for six seasons.

It would be entertaining if Season 7 involved watching Spencer and Olivia’s married life and his professional football career or watching Jordan follow his father’s footsteps and coach football.

Related: The CW Announces Its 2024 Fall Schedule

But most fans have no interest in watching a new generation of teens on All American.

Rebooting the series this late never works, so why is The CW doing it?

The All American Season 6 Finale Felt Complete

Everyone in the vortex achieved their goals, so let’s raise a glass and toast to them. Seriously, I teared up and cried so much in the last few episodes. I’ve grown to care about these characters over the last six seasons.

After some setbacks, Spencer made the draft and even became the Super Bowl MVP.

All of these achievements seemed a bit rushed with the shortened season, and so did his engagement to Olivia.

However, we’re grateful the series added two extra episodes, so viewers saw the long-awaited wedding.

It was an important season for Jordan and Layla, too. They both worked on grief issues, while Layla realized her past issues with her mom made her fear marriage.

When they tied the knot, they were finally in a better place, though they longed for a place that felt like home. Laura helped with that when she gifted them the Baker home, and Jordan finally felt ready to coach the next generation.

Related: With Talk of More All-American Spinoffs, Is the Franchise In Danger of Overextending Itself?

Asher and Jaymee found their footing as new parents with the help of their village. Working at Coastal didn’t work for Asher, so he asked an old friend for help. He will return to coach at West Beverly with Mrs. Coach Montes.

Jaymee realized her passion and would assist at Layla’s after Layla realized she needed a reliable manager.

After all the trouble Coop got into, she blossomed under Laura Baker’s mentoring and got into multiple law schools. Since she was accepted into Yale and Patience got an offer for a musical, they are probably also headed East with Spencer and Olivia.

Is There a Need for More Seasons of All American?

For months, Showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll has hinted that she would like to keep the All American franchise running for years.

She’s often referred to the original Beverly Hills, 90210 as her inspiration and following a group of teenage friends through their journey of achieving their lifelong goals and dreams.

She’s achieved that with the core group and now wants to reset the series by returning to high school. That’s not so much like Beverly Hills, 90210, who added cast throughout the series but kept the core group.

Friday Night Lights did that in Seasons 4 and 5 when they added newer teens like Lucke and Becky and Vince and Jess, but they still had the Taylors full-time, and Landry, Julie, Tim Riggins, and Matt making appearances.

Related : The Vampire Diaries, the Arrowverse… Remember When The CW Ruled TV Fandoms?

Since The CW canceled All American: Homecoming, it seems more likely that All American Season 7 will follow a different batch of teens to continue the legacy. However, it would have made more sense to end both simultaneously.

How Rebooting Series This Late Hurts Them

This reboot feels similar to what Once Upon a Time did when they rebooted the series between Seasons 6 and 7, and half of their main cast left. Season 6 also ended well, with the core cast ending their journeys.

Starting a series over with so many characters that viewers don’t know or care about generally doesn’t work because they watch a show because they’re invested.

The CW already made a mistake when they sent Riverdale‘s core cast back to the 1950s in its final season instead of letting them get their closure.

It appears the network is making a similar mistake since the ratings will likely dip, with most of the main cast leaving. Many fans have threatened not to watch if Spencer and Olivia aren’t on it.

What Role Will Daniel Ezra Play in Future Seasons of All American?

While showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll has assured viewers that Daniel Ezra and Spencer will be integral in future seasons, Ezra has only agreed to return as a guest star.

He felt like Spencer’s journey had been completed and was grateful to Nkechi for writing two additional episodes so that Spencer and Olivia got their dream wedding and his send-off.

“Thanks to Nkechi and the writers, I got my wish. Season six is ‘Spencer’s goodbye.’ I’ll miss him. I’ll miss our cast and crew,” Ezra said.

During All American’s 100th episode, Ezra directed the pivotal episode. He would be open to returning to the other side of the camera and directing again.

Related: All American: Homecoming Canceled After 3 Seasons on CW

He’s excited to watch the series from a different perspective. I wish I had shared his enthusiasm, but Spencer’s heart made the series. It’s difficult to imagine All American without it.

Will Other Original Cast Members Appear in Season 7?

Since Jordan (Michael Evans Behling) took the coaching position at South Crenshaw, it seems like he could be following Billy’s legacy.

Now that Laura left Jordan and Layla the Baker home, it seems like the series is setting them up to be the next couple in charge.

Maybe Jordan will discover the next “All American” like Billy discovered Spencer, and the Baker home will still be filled with Jordan and Layla mentoring teenagers.

This scenario could work, especially since Asher (Cody Christian) is coaching at Beverly. There would still be footage of the two friends coaching at rival schools.

While I still would have preferred ending with Season 6, it would have been gratifying to spend more time with Jordan, Layla, and Asher.

They’ve all had wonderful mentors, so watching them mentor the next generation could work.

Over to you, All American Fanatics. Were you satisfied with how Season 6 ended?

Related: How Technology Changed TV Tropes Forever

Are you planning to watch Season 7, hoping that Jordan and Layla will be the leading couple and guiding the next generation?

We’re interested in knowing your thoughts on this reboot, so share them with us below.

The post All American Completed the Core Cast’s Journeys: Why Was it Renewed? appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Deadline reported today that star Daniel Ezra will not be returning as a series regular for the show's upcoming seventh season.

Ezra has portrayed Spencer James on every episode of the acclaimed football drama.

Though Ezra has left the door open to returning as a guest star, his statement to Deadline makes it clear that he feels his time on the show has mostly come to an end.

“After making the difficult decision to leave All American, my sole focus became completing the journey of the most life-affirming character I’ve ever played in the manner he deserves," Ezra said today.

Related: All American Does These Things Better Than Friday Night Lights

"Thanks to Nkechi and the writers, I got my wish. Season six is ‘Spencer’s goodbye.’ I’ll miss him. I’ll miss our cast and crew," his statement continued.

"I hope it’s been as fun to watch him as it has been to play him."

Despite the finality of Ezra's statement, the CW insists that he will continue to play "an integral role" in the show going forward.

Obviously, this is big news that will require the show to take a dramatic change in direction in its seventh season.

Today's news comes on the heels of a monumental All American episode that showed Ezra's character being drafted into the NFL.

That was followed by a time jump that showed Spencer playing in the Super Bowl and getting engaged to Olivia (Samantha Logan).

The final two episodes of this season will reportedly center around Spencer and Olivia planning their wedding and getting married.

When All American was renewed for a seventh season earlier this month, it was widely rumored that it would be the show's final outing.

Those reports were bolstered by the cancelation of the spinoff series All American: Homecoming.

With Ezra's departure from the show, it now seems almost certain that All American will come to an end following its seventh season.

Many fans believe that there's been a drop-off in quality due to the All American franchise diluting itself with too many spinoffs.

Others, however, believe that the series has remained strong and was poised to conclude Spencer's story in a highly satisfactory way.

Related: Love Is In The Air For These TV Couples

We guess that conclusion will now be happening sooner than expected.

Here's hoping it will still be satisfactory.

What do you think, TV fanatics? Is All American showing signs of age? Did Daniel Ezra make the right call by heading into early retirement?

Hit the comments section below to share your thoughts.

The post All American: Daniel Ezra Will NOT Return as Series Regular For Season 7 appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Since its spinoff, All American: Homecoming, was also renewed and is scheduled to air sometime in the summer of 2024, it’s not overall surprising they want to capitalize on both.

It’s not uncommon for a TV to expand its universe into spinoffs. Most often, procedural-type franchises such as CSI, Law & Order, and the One Chicago Universe have done it.

However, we’ve seen teen shows do it successfully, including The Vampire Diaries universe on The CW and The Fosters transitioning into Good Trouble on Freeform.

All American and All American: Homecoming are succeeding the way they are. Do we need additional spinoffs?

What is All American About?

All American was inspired by the life of professional football player Spencer Paysinger. Daniel Ezra portrays the fictional lead role of Spencer James.

All American has seemed like a mixture of other popular teen television shows, including Friday Night Lights, The OC, and Beverly Hills 90210. Like Ryan moves in with the Cohens on The O.C., Spencer moves in with the Bakers and becomes like family.

Billy Baker cared about his players like Eric Taylor did on Friday Night Lights. He alternated between compassion and tough love because he often considered them his children.

Right from the beginning, All American oozed drama and tension and left audiences wondering if Billy Baker and Grace James had a fling that would destroy everything.

That scandal, plus the drama that the Baker twins caused, was enough to keep audiences glued to the television, and we haven't even begun to discuss the leading couple, Spencer James and Olivia Baker.

Spencer and Olivia oozed chemistry from the minute they met, but at the time, it seemed forbidden since they were all living under her parents' roof. However, they bonded in ways others didn't understand, and it was hot when they became a couple.

However, Spencer and Olivia have had a complicated relationship when they've been on and off as they've experienced growing pains. It's amusing that her twin brother, Jordan, ended up being engaged to her best friend, Layla.

Besides Olivia, Layla had one of the best character arcs. We've seen her admit her vulnerability, conquer her depression, and become a successful businesswoman. She's a total badass who has helped and supported her friends, including Coop and Patience.

While All American: Homecoming has tackled sports and mental health better, the mothership has featured plenty about addiction, mental health, and grief, most recently with Billy's death.

While everyone is moving on, they are still finding it difficult without Billy.

What is All American: Homecoming About?

All American: Homecoming had a backdoor pilot on All American Season 3 Episode 17, when Jordan, Simone, Spencer, and Olivia visited Simone’s Aunt Amara and toured Bringston University.

Initially, the spinoff focused on Simone’s (Geffri Maya) tennis aspirations and her love triangle with Jordan and infamous baseball star Damon Sims (Peyton Alex Smith).

Maya and Smith oozed chemistry, so Simone and Damon quickly became a rootable couple, just as Jordan and Layla did on the mothership. As Jordan and Simone ended their relationship, there wasn’t as much need for crossovers between the two shows.

The last time they interacted was in the holiday episode on All American Season 5 Episode 1 before Simone ended things indefinitely. Simone is stuck in another love triangle with Damon and another baseball player, Lando.

All American: Homecoming covered so much more than love triangles, though. They were better than the mothership at delving into sports and mental health issues.

Coach Marcus struggled with having bipolar, and after he melted down, he was determined to show his players that needing help wasn’t a weakness.

The series dealt with some core issues like bomb threats, sexual assault, racism, and danger. Near the end of All American: Homecoming Season 2, Coach Marcus and Amara created a student service building to help with mental health.

Is There a Need for More Spinoffs in the All American Universe?

Showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll recently hinted there were more stories ahead.

“I’ve been talking to the studio about some possibilities, so the ideas and interest are there. We’ll see what happens, but right now, our focus is on the mother ship and  All American: Homecoming and really seeing these characters through,” she says.

“But the beauty of this world, the universal story, and the pursuit of what is seemingly the impossible dream for the Black community are endless.”

Her dreams for the universe seem endless, as she often refers to All American as her multiverse. Carroll would love for the series to run for years, as Spencer and Jordan have joined the NFL and have their own families.

Ideally, she sees this generation as Beverly Hills 90210. Is it better to branch the characters into multiple shows or keep them on the mothership?

What Ideas Would Work for Possible Spinoffs?

The All American franchise is about watching the Black community achieve their dreams. When All American: Homecoming first started, the series branched off into Jordan’s girlfriend, Simone Hicks, fulfilling her dream of playing tennis at Bringston University.

The options are limited if the series wants to follow some of the same characters. The best option would be a new show or spinoff about Spencer getting drafted into the NFL and following his professional and Olivia’s journalism careers.

Another option could be following Thea Mays as she changes back to her professional tennis career.

Another interesting choice would be an All American: Homecoming prequel about when Coach Marcus and Amara were in college and he was drafted. There were hints that her family disliked him, and then Marcus took some drugs to assist with a sports injury.

These choices destroyed their relationship, but it would be exciting to see this play out versus only hearing about it.

Besides those options, the series would start with brand new characters in a spinoff, and that’s risky when viewers are already invested in long-term characters and story arcs. While they may get invested, do we need another spinoff?

What do you think, All American Fanatics? Should The CW create another All American spinoff or further invest in its long-term characters? What would type of spinoff would you like to see?

Let us know in the comments below.

All American airs at 8/7c on Mondays on The CW.

The post With Talk of More All American Spinoffs Is the Franchise In Danger of Overextending Itself? appeared first on TV Fanatic.

When All American Season 6 Episode 1 began, there had been a major time jump of a year and three months. That's only a few more months in real-time and made sense for most storylines, but there were a few moments that would have been beneficial to see.

Almost all of the vortex members have matured and moved on, so the time jump helped them.

Let's start with Spencer. The football ban allowed him to appreciate the fun of the game, and now that GAU is eligible for the championships again and he's eligible for the NFL draft, he was feeling the weight of the team on his shoulders.

Spencer has always hated media attention, so he hated having reporters, the GAU president, the Boosters, and Coach Kenny harping on how important this season was to them.

Jordan: Look, Spence, contrary to what the media and the Boosters are saying, this is not all on your head. The whole team is going to lead us to the chip.

_{🔗 permalink: Look, Spence, contrary to what the media and the Boosters are saying, this is not all on your…}

Part of Spencer's worries were that he was stressed about seeing Olivia since he hadn't seen her in a year, and he hadn't admitted that to anyone until Jordan checked in.

I loved that Jordan and Spencer could be rivals on the football field and still act like brothers.

There was nobody besides Jordan who could understand getting all of your priorities in order. He's matured greatly and learned how to be happy.

Jordan: Spence, the football pressure is what it is. This is a critical year, but for the Liv part, I suggest you figure out those answers before she gets home tomorrow. The rest will fall into place.

_{🔗 permalink: Spence, the football pressure is what it is. This is a critical year, but for the Liv part, I…}

Since they were apart for a year, Spencer over-compensated by wanting to throw Olivia a massive welcome home party. He even offered to bring Laura with him to the airport.

Coop was correct that Spencer seemed to be avoiding being alone with Olivia. When Olivia chose to stay in London for another year to continue finding herself, it affected him more than he thought. They were naive to assume things would stay the same.

Olivia was just as nervous as Spencer, which she admitted to Layla when she arrived back early.

While it was sweet that Olivia didn't want to miss Layla and Patience's big night, she also wanted her and Spencer's reunion to be among friends to avoid the important talk until later.

At least both of them had matured enough to discuss the elephant in the room as soon as possible. Olivia has changed. Being in London without Spencer, her friends, or her family allowed her to grow as an individual without anyone to lean on.

That was important because she's always identified as Billy Baker's daughter, Jordan's twin, or Spencer's girlfriend. She discovered who she was standing on her own two feet. It was important that she wanted to return home and be with Spencer.

Olivia: I can’t speak for you, but for me, I’m sure of one thing that old me and new me share and that’s my love for you. That was clear the minute I saw you tonight.

_{🔗 permalink: I can’t speak for you, but for me, I’m sure of one thing that old me and new me share and…}

It's important that these two take their time getting reacquainted. Something tells me that some of Olivia still lives in London, which could be an issue.

I wish we had seen more of the last year with Layla, Patience, and Coop. While seeing every part of Patience's recovery may have been tedious, seeing how she dealt with the aftermath would have been beneficial.

It's almost like we jumped too far in this story. Suddenly, Layla was opening her own lounge, and Patience was her first act at the new club. It was her first performance since the stabbing.

Even though Patience insisted she was ready to move on and that Coop and Layla hovered too much, it was obvious that Patience was in denial. She had only recently learned that Miko was released from prison, so she feared for her life again.

That added pressure put stress on Layla as the opening neared, and I wished the two ladies had talked about what really mattered since Layla had dealt with a stalker before with Carrie.

While it wasn't the same, she would understand the fear and what it takes to start over.

With everything going on, it made total sense that Patience had a panic attack when she took the stage and thought Miko was there. It also made sense that Layla broke down in Jordan's arms, thinking it was her fault and that she pushed Patience too hard to return.

Both women needed to learn that only Miko was to blame, and I was relieved that the rest of their friends were surrounding them.

Coop saved the day by jumping on stage and getting the crowd riled up as she sang Patience's best songs. It was a shame Patience missed that part. She could have witnessed that Coop would have done anything for her.

As much as I enjoy them, Coop was correct. Patience needs to focus on healing and doesn't need any excess pressure.

Asher seemed like he finally had it all as he juggled new parenthood with his career. Coach Montes even gave him the coveted ring, even though he knew Asher would have rather earned it winning a gone than assisting in coaching a team.

Coach Montes: Parenthood looks great on you. I bet that ring would, too.

_{🔗 permalink: Parenthood looks great on you. I bet that ring would, too.}

Since Asher had a tenuous relationship with his parents, he has always been close to his mentors.

He's already lost Billy Baker during All American Season 5. Since Kamar de los Reyes, who portrays Coach Montes, recently died of cancer, he won't be on-screen much longer, either.

That may be a huge storyline for Asher since Coach Montes and the other coaches provided advice and comic relief as Asher dealt with bringing his son, AJ, to work.

It takes a village to raise a child, and while I initially thought Spencer and Jordan would be jumping in, they seemed too preoccupied with their own lives.

Let's discuss the other elephant in the room: JJ left for Tibet, and Hunter Clowdus exited the series.

I suspected that at the end of last season, but that is still a disappointment, especially with Asher's storyline. JJ would have been a fun uncle.

What did you think, All American Fanatics?

Was the time jump beneficial for the vortex? Are you happy Spencer and Olivia are still together? Will you miss JJ?

We'd love to hear your thoughts, so let us know in the comments below.

The post All American Season 6 Episode 1 Review: Things Done Changed appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Jaymee is starting a new job while Asher adjusts to taking care of their son, AJ, more.

Jordan is bitter about all the attention Spencer is getting. Coach Kenny puts more pressure on Spencer by telling him how he matured and that football needs to be the priority.

Spencer annoys Layla, Coop, and Patience by being bossy and having them prepare the house for Olivia's welcome home party. Layla is nervous about her lounge opening the next night.

On the news, there's a report that Miko was released from prison and that the defense plans to assassinate Patience's character, who looks shaken.

Laura returns home and reassures Coop that she contacted the DA to get more info on Miko's case. Spencer invites her to accompany him in picking up Olivia, who worries Coop.

Coop wonders why he's afraid to be alone with Olivia and counters why she hasn't told Patience how she feels about her.

Coach Montes gave Asher a football ring and promoted him. They shared a sweet moment before the daycare called, saying that AJ was sick.

Patience feels like Coop and Layla are hovering, and it's time to move on.

Spencer reads a letter from Olivia, and through a flashback, we learn that Olivia decided to stay in London a year ago to continue finding herself.

Things are stressful between Jordan and Spencer, but the president of GAU is happy to see them. He mentions the Boosters are happy with the season, but Spencer only feels more stressed.

Jordan tries to comfort him, telling him the entire team has him and he's not alone. They seem more like brothers as Jordan listens and gives relationship advice, telling Spencer to figure out what he wants with Olivia and football.

Asher had to take his baby to a coach's meeting since AJ was sick and he had no sitter. They all gave him advice, and Coach Montes even offered to watch AJ while Asher took an important exam.

Layla hears someone breaking in. It's Olivia returning, so she drops the bat, and they hug. Olivia didn't want to miss her big night, and she wanted to surprise Spencer. Olivia is also nervous about seeing Spencer.

Jordan is so excited to see Olivia, and she's excited that his life is going well.

Spencer is shocked to see Olivia, but before they can catch up, Ryan interrupts, saying Layla and Patience need her. Jordan admits he could be right, as Layla seemed nervous that day.

When Layla takes the stage, she's excited, but when Patience does, she freezes and thinks she saw Miko. She runs off the stage in a panic. Ryan is more interested in saving the night, so Coop runs on stage and starts singing Patience's songs.

She gets the crowd going, saves the day, and makes everyone look so proud.  Patience freaks out backstage and asks Olivia to take her home, while Layla breaks down to Jordan, blaming herself.

Spencer meets Olivia at home, and they talk about how the year apart changed them, but they still love each other and want to try again.

Everyone shows up at the Bakers for a sleepover. Patience goes to find Layla and tells her that she doesn't blame her and to come home.

Olivia doesn't seem happy to be home.

The post All American Season 6 Episode 1 Recap: Things Done Changed appeared first on TV Fanatic.

That said, there is no denying that All American has a way of doing things better than its predecessor.

All American is based on the real-life experiences of football player Spencer Paysinger, focusing on two different schools, South Crenshaw and Beverly High School, their students, families, and communities.

We tend to think that money brings happiness. The kids at Beverly High are privileged with lovely things and hefty allowances, but the more meaningful things in life, like family, solidarity, and character, shine at South Crenshaw.

After first watching All American, it's hard not to draw a comparison from it being a mix of Friday Night Lights and whatever teen drama show first comes to mind, whether it's 90210, The OC, or Riverdale, but a deeper look reveals there's much more to the show.

From shining a light on critical social issues to more dramatic storylines, we are here to share the key differences that All American does better.

Socioeconomic Issues, Racism, And Violence

On the show, we see topics like gun violence, racial profiling, gang violence, racism, and socioeconomic issues prevalently featured. Yes, we see some of those briefly shown on FNL, but nothing like we do on All American.

The CW series tells a story that is bigger than just football. While we see how the world can be unfortunately divided, at a deeper review, it also points out how we are all human and have shared stories.

When Spencer first transfers to Beverly High, his first year is brought with racism and stereotyping by fellow students. We even see Asher ask him if he is a crip or blood in All American Season 1 Episode 1.

However, it doesn't end there. Spencer also experiences resentment and stereotyping from his former teammates for leaving them and joining the world of the affluent.

Regardless of how anyone sees him, Spencer is a humble character with undying hometown pride who will do everything for his friends and community, including preserving it from gentrification, an all too real-world problem.

His dedication to his friends is highly evident in his friendship with Coop. She ends up in a gang, and her character, among others, depicts how not having many options in life can lead her down a violent path.

Spencer does not want that to happen to anyone, especially Coop and his younger brother. Along with opening up a conversation, we also see action taken and positive outcomes. This educational angle gives All American, no matter the topic, a step above.

Before FNL saw the split of East Dillon and West Dillon, inequality, racism, and gang violence was scarce. The exception, of course, is Coach Mac McGill's racist comments and Smash's protest of how it was handled.

While FNL covers class differences, it is not near the economic gap seen in All American and the problems that arise from it.

Gun violence is front and center when Spencer is shot while protecting Liv from a drive-by shooting and circles characters like Coop, Preach, and Tyrone. FNL's best depiction of the issue is Vince giving Coach Taylor his gun.

Sexuality

In Friday Night Lights, the queer characters are minor, at best. The most we see is on Friday Night Lights Season 4 Episode 4 when Julie and Devin Boland go to a gay bar and see assistant coach Stan Traub.

However, in All American, Coop is abandoned by her family for being a lesbian. Patience, her girlfriend at the time, is there for her by providing her with a place to stay and someone to help her work through her sexuality and accept herself.

Their relationship is by far one of the best on the show, and there is no lack of content depicting their loyalty and love for one another.

While the LGBTQ+ community has been more prevalent in TV series nowadays, it is not where it should be, and often, the depictions fall flat. Still, this natural, beautiful relationship is inspirational.

Police Brutality

During All American Season 3, Olivia is enraged by the shooting of Tamika, a young Black woman who is killed by police while asleep in her car. Olivia can't help but think back to how she drove intoxicated with Spencer and got in a fender bender.

Olivia and Spencer were offered a ride home because her white mother is the District Attorney, but she can't get over the fact that things could have ended much differently.

That is not the only time we see this in the show. On All American Season 1 Episode 3, Spencer and Jordan were pulled over by the cops while driving Jordan's convertible. Spencer immediately raises his hands and acts calm, while Jordan is confused and questions the cop.

In the end, the two end up face down on the pavement and handcuffed. When they get home, Spencer scolds Coach Baker for not educating Jordan on what to do when such situations arise.

When recalling FNL, no big moments of education come to mind. 

Racial Profiling

In All American, there is no lack of racial profiling depicted. A great example is when Spencer, Olivia, Jordan, Dillon, Asher, and Kia get frozen yogurt.

When Dillon and Spencer start arguing, the owner doesn't just kick them out; she calls the cops on the group for "loitering and disorderly conduct." To top it off, the cops ask them if they are part of a gang.

This scene is incredibly infuriating, given that this shop results from gentrification in Crenshaw.

Maybe more of an example of just pure racism, but when the police pull over Dillon's bus to talk to Smash, claiming he was the one to throw the first punch in the brawl seen in Friday Night Lights Season 1 Episode 6, we see racial profile.

Smash was walking away, and Tim Riggins was the starter of the altercation. However, the true instigators were the opposing team and refs.

Mental Health

In All American, Layla struggled with depression. Her absent father, her mother's death, and overall pressures from life become too much, and she attempts to take her own life and ends up in a mental health facility.

This significant moment creates a conversation surrounding mental health and how even the people who seem to have it all together can be hiding what's going on inside.

This is not to say that FNL didn't cover issues surrounding mental health.

We see Jason Street struggle after becoming paralyzed, Waverly Grady has bipolar disorder, and Tyra Collette clearly has PTSD. Still, it lacks the education and conversation around these issues that All American drives home.

Substance Abuse

From the start of All American Season 1, Olivia's addiction issues are front and center. Her sobriety is something she has fought for every day since going to rehab. We even see she has a sponsor.

Unfortunately, she does end up relapsing. However, addiction cannot be cured; there is no medication for it, and it's important for viewers to understand this and to break the stigma.

Tim Riggins struggles with alcoholism in FNL, and he definitely lacks the parental support Olivia has.

Also, no one tries to stop him like they do other underage characters, and it is barely talked about as a legitimate problem, so there's no surprise his attempts to stop never work.

The list could go on. All American is way more than just your average teen drama. Pregnancy, betrayal, first loves, heartbreak, injuries, steroids, the toxic culture that football can have, death, lies in families, plus many more topics all have a home in the series.

Hopefully, the show will continue for a while and can continue to educate its fans on the severe issues many TV shows won't touch on because they are too controversial.

The post All American Does These Things Better Than Friday Night Lights appeared first on TV Fanatic.