Santa_Clarita_Diet

<i>Santa Clarita Diet</i>

Santa Clarita Diet

2017 American horror-comedy television series


Santa Clarita Diet is an American comedy horror television series created by Victor Fresco for the streaming service Netflix, starring Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant.[1] Fresco serves as the showrunner, and is an executive producer alongside Barrymore, Olyphant, Aaron Kaplan, Tracy Katsky, Chris Miller, Ember Truesdell and Ruben Fleischer.[2][3] The series centers on husband and wife real estate team Joel and Sheila Hammond whose normal, mundane lives change dramatically when Sheila shows symptoms of having become a zombie. The bewildered family seek a cure for her condition while dealing with its consequences, such as Sheila's new craving of human flesh and radically altered personality that has become more primal and impulsive.

Quick Facts Santa Clarita Diet, Genre ...

The single-camera series premiered on February 3, 2017.[4] The first season, consisting of 10 episodes, received generally positive reviews. On March 29, 2017, it was announced that Netflix renewed the series for a second season, which premiered on March 23, 2018.[5][6] On May 8, 2018, the series was renewed for a 10-episode third season and premiered on March 29, 2019.[7][8] The series was cancelled after three seasons on April 26, 2019.[9]

Plot

Joel and Sheila Hammond are everyday suburban real estate agents in Santa Clarita, California.[10] The couple face a series of obstacles when Sheila undergoes a metamorphosis, becomes undead and starts craving human flesh. As Joel and the family try to help Sheila through this, they have to deal with neighbors and cultural norms, and get to the bottom of a potentially mythological mystery.[11]

Cast

Main

  • Drew Barrymore as Sheila Hammond, Joel's wife and Abby's mother.
  • Timothy Olyphant as Joel Hammond, Sheila's husband and Abby's father.
  • Liv Hewson as Abby Hammond, Sheila and Joel's daughter.
  • Skyler Gisondo as Eric Bemis, the Hammonds' neighbor, Lisa's son and Dan's stepson.

Recurring

  • Ricardo Chavira as Dan Palmer (season 1), a sheriff's deputy, the Hammonds' neighbor, and Eric's stepfather who is killed by Joel with a shovel and later eaten by Sheila.
  • Mary Elizabeth Ellis as Lisa Palmer, Dan's wife, Eric's mother, and Sheila's friend.
  • Andy Richter as Carl Coby, the Hammonds' obnoxious boss.
  • Richard T. Jones as Rick, a Santa Monica police officer, the Hammonds' neighbor, and Joel's friend.
  • Joy Osmanski as Alondra, Rick's wife and Sheila's friend.
  • Kaylee Bryant as Sarah, a classmate of Abby and Eric's.
  • Nathan Fillion (seasons 1–2) and Alan Tudyk (season 3) as Gary West, a realtor and the Hammonds' co-worker. He is the first person Sheila kills and eats who later turns into a zombie, though only his decayed, severed head remains and is kept by the Hammonds out of guilt.
  • Natalie Morales as Anne Garcia, a religious sheriff's deputy and Dan's partner who becomes romantically involved with Lisa after Dan goes missing.
  • Thomas Lennon as Andrei Novak, the principal of Santa Clarita High School.
  • Ramona Young as Ramona, a wise Rite-Aid employee who turns out to be a zombie.
  • Sydney Park as Winter, a classmate of Abby and Eric's who is in environmental club with them.
  • Grace Zabriskie as Mrs. Bakavić (season 1), Novak's Serbian grandmother.
  • DeObia Oparei as Loki Hayes (season 1), a convicted felon. He turns into a zombie when Sheila is unsuccessful in killing him.
  • Jonathan Slavin as Ron, an asylum inmate, who was later released and who Joel told his little secret to in season 2. Ron later becomes a zombie in season 3, by forcing Gary to bite him.
  • Joel McHale as Chris, a realtor who is married to Christa[12]
  • Maggie Lawson as Christa, a realtor who is married to Chris[12]
  • Zachary Knighton as Paul (seasons 2–3), Marsha's husband and a descendant of the Knights of Serbia, who has been tasked with ending the zombie outbreak[12]
  • Jee Young Han as Marsha (season 2), Paul's wife, who is helping him with the mission to end the zombie outbreak
  • Ethan Suplee as Tommy (season 3), Paul's brother, former Marine Corps sniper, crossbow enthusiast and a descendant of the Knights of Serbia, who has taken over his brother's mission
  • Shalita Grant as FBI Agent Tess Rogers in season 3
  • Matt Shively as Christian (seasons 2–3), a student at Abby and Eric's school who is also Chris and Christa's son
  • Linda Lavin as Jean, a woman Sheila delivers Meals on Wheels to and is later turned into a zombie by Sheila.
  • Goran Višnjić as Dobrivoje Poplović (season 3), a man who works in Serbia who is transferred to Santa Clarita[13]

Guest

Episodes

Series overview

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Season 1 (2017)

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Season 2 (2018)

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Season 3 (2019)

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Production

Development

Fresco came up with the premise from wanting to make "a family show with an interesting approach that we haven't seen before". The zombie angle also allowed Fresco to explore the concept of narcissism: he stated "the undead are the ultimate narcissists. They want what they want when they want it and will do anything to just have what they want and don't care about other people's needs."[15]

For the setting, Fresco drew from his own experience growing up in San Fernando Valley. Santa Clarita was chosen because of its middle class residents.[15] The Hammonds' profession as realtors was chosen because "it gets them out into the world" as well as the "forced friendliness" inherent to the profession.[15]

Promotion

Hal Johnson and Joanne McLeod appeared in a Canadian promo for the series, promoting the eponymous "diet" in a parody of their Body Break series of television PSAs.[16]

In February 2017, advertising for the show sparked criticism in Germany, where Netflix promoted the show with posters depicting a human finger sliced up like a currywurst, a popular German fast food dish. After receiving more than 50 complaints that the advertising was glorifying violence and inducing fear, especially in children, the German Advertising Council, a self-regulatory institution, forwarded the complaints to the company. Netflix then decided to end the campaign and remove all posters.[17]

Reception

The first season of Santa Clarita Diet received generally positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the season has an approval rating of 78% based on 73 reviews, with an average rating of 7.20/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Santa Clarita Diet serves up an excellent cast, frequent laughs, and an engaging premise — but the level of gore might not be to everyone's taste."[18] Metacritic reports that the first season received "generally favorable reviews" with a score of 67 out of 100, based on 30 critics.[19]

The second season received generally positive reviews as well. The season has an approval rating of 89% based on 19 reviews, with an average rating of 7.85/10 on Rotten Tomatoes. The site's critical consensus states: "Santa Clarita Diet rides the momentum of its freshman season with non-stop comedic gore and a big heart that bleeds — profusely — for its lovable characters."[20]

The third season has an approval rating of 100% based on 18 reviews, with an average rating of 7.78/10 on Rotten Tomatoes. The website's critical consensus reads, "Santa Clarita Diet's third season is a generous meal of entrails, morbid humor, and a touching affirmation of marital love — with Barrymore and Olyphant's pitch-perfect chemistry brightening each blood-soaked installment."[21]


References

  1. Andreeva, Nellie (March 18, 2016). "Drew Barrymore & Timothy Olyphant To Star In 'Santa Clarita Diet' Netflix Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 11, 2019. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  2. Goldberg, Lesley (March 18, 2016). "Drew Barrymore, Timothy Olyphant to Star in Netflix Comedy Series 'Santa Clarita Diet'". Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 9, 2017. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  3. Abrams, Natalie (November 28, 2016). "Netflix sets premiere for Drew Barrymore comedy Santa Clarita Diet — exclusive". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 28, 2016. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
  4. Wagmeister, Elizabeth (March 18, 2016). "Drew Barrymore & Timothy Olyphant to Star in Netflix Comedy Series 'Santa Clarita Diet'". Variety. Archived from the original on June 23, 2018. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  5. Andreeva, Nellie (March 29, 2017). "Drew Barrymore Comedy 'Santa Clarita Diet' Renewed For Season 2 By Netflix". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  6. "Get back on the Santa Clarita Diet next month on Netflix". EW.com. Archived from the original on February 20, 2018. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  7. Andreeva, Nellie (May 8, 2018). "'Santa Clarita Diet' Renewed For Season 3 By Netflix". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 9, 2018. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  8. Pedersen, Erik (February 14, 2019). "'Santa Clarita Diet' Season 3 Premiere Date Set On Netflix – Watch The Video Announcement". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 28, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  9. Andreeva, Nellie (April 26, 2019). "'Santa Clarita Diet' Canceled By Netflix After 3 Seasons". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 27, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  10. Respers, Lisa (February 2, 2017). "'Santa Clarita Diet' brings attention to city". CNN Entertainment. Archived from the original on June 30, 2018. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
  11. Harnick, Chris (January 17, 2017). "Drew Barrymore Is TV's Newest Zombie (But, Don't Call Her a Zombie)". E! Online. Archived from the original on June 23, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
  12. Petski, Denise (February 16, 2018). "'Santa Clarita Diet': Joel McHale, Maggie Lawson, Gerald McRaney & Zachary Knighton To Guest Star In Season 2". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  13. Ausiello, Michael (August 29, 2018). "Ask Ausiello: Spoilers on Good Place, Empire, 9-1-1, Lucifer, The Flash, Supernatural, NCIS, TWD and More". TVLine. Archived from the original on August 29, 2018. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
  14. Barrett, Malcolm (August 29, 2018). "Working with Victor Fresco, creator of Santa Clarita Diet..." Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  15. Bacle, Ariana. "Santa Clarita Diet creator calls new zombie comedy 'a romantic piece'". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on August 21, 2017. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
  16. "How the Body Break duo turned a passion project into a 30-year career". CBC News. February 12, 2018. Archived from the original on June 22, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  17. Plaga, Corinne (February 20, 2017). ""Angstauslösend" Netflix muss Werbeplakate für TV-Serie "Santa Clarita Diet" abhängen". Mitteldeutsche Zeitung (in German). Archived from the original on February 24, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  18. "Santa Clarita Diet: Season 1 (2017)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
  19. "Santa Clarita Diet: season 1 reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  20. "Santa Clarita Diet: Season 2 (2018)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  21. "Santa Clarita Diet: Season 3 (2019)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved March 22, 2020.

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