Grown-ish
Grown-ish is an American sitcom series and a spin-off of the ABC series Black-ish. The single-camera comedy follows the Johnsons' eldest daughter Zoey as she goes to college, begins her journey to adulthood but quickly discovers that not everything goes her way once she leaves the nest. Deon Cole, Trevor Jackson, Francia Raisa, Emily Arlook, Jordan Buhat, Chloe Bailey, Halle Bailey, Luka Sabbat, and Chris Parnell also star.
Created by Black-ishs Kenya Barris, the series is produced by Khalabo Ink Society, Wilmore Films, Cinema Gypsy Productions and Principato-Young Entertainment, with Anthony Anderson, Brian Dobbins, and Helen Sugland acting as executive producers. Freeform officially ordered 13 episodes of the spin-off in May 2017, and it premiered on January 3, 2018. In January 2018, Freeform renewed the series for a second season of 21 episodes and it premiered on January 2, 2019. In February 2019, Freeform renewed the series for a third season, which premiered on January 16, 2020. In January 2020, the series was renewed for a fourth season.
Plot
The Johnson family's firstborn daughter Zoey leaves the family to go to college. As she attends college while befriending some people, she discovers that her journey to adulthood and her departure from the family does not go the way she hoped.Cast and characters
Main
- Yara Shahidi as Zoey Johnson, the narrator of the series who is actually shown in the break of a scene. She meets her six core friends in Professor Telphy's class. She originally intended to become a fashion designer but has since created her own major, "The Sociology of Fashion", and turned her career goals to fashion styling. She is a freshman in Season 1, a sophomore in Season 2, and a junior in Season 3. She dated Luca until their breakup at the end of season 2.
- Deon Cole as Professor Charlie Telphy, a close friend of Zoey’s family and former night time adjunct professor turned dean of students at Cal U teaching a class called "Digital Marketing Strategies", which is all about drones. He becomes Dean in Season 2.
- Trevor Jackson as Aaron Jackson, a student at Cal U. He is "woke", as evident by his many buttons to various causes dealing with African Americans. He later takes up a job as an RA for Hawkins Hall in Season 2. He is a sophomore in Season 1, a junior in Season 2, and a senior in Season 3.
- Francia Raisa as Analisa "Ana" Patricia Torres – Ana is a student at Cal U. She was born to Cuban immigrants, is a devout Catholic, and a Republican. She was Zoey's roommate in Season 1. In the second season, she and Zoey move into an apartment with Nomi and she develops a romantic interest in Aaron. Ana is a freshman in Season 1, a sophomore in Season 2, and a junior in Season 3. In Season 2, Episode 19, her major is revealed as Political Science.
- Emily Arlook as Nomi Segal, a Jewish American. She is bisexual, but she is not out to her family until season 2. She is a freshman in season 1 and then a sophomore in season and a Junior in season 3. At the start of the third season, she is revealed to be pregnant.
- Jordan Buhat as Vivek Shah, a first-generation Gujarati Indian American. His parents are devout Hindus. He is a drug dealer to support his fashion choices. He is an engineering major and has shown great intelligence throughout the series. He originally lived in the rich-kid Winthrop house but was kicked out in Season 2 and has been crashing at Hawkins Hall with Aaron and Doug. He is a freshman in Season 1, a sophomore in Season 2, and a junior in Season 3. He is best known as having a style that is highly influenced by black culture.
- Chloe Bailey as Jazlyn "Jazz" Forster and Halle Bailey as Skylar "Sky" Forster, are track athletes at Cal U. From South Los Angeles, both girls are intensely smart, sassy, but focused on the bigger picture. They are very close and support each other's goals but also argue like normal siblings. They are freshmen in Season 1. sophomores in Season 2, and juniors in Season 3. In Season 2, Episode 19, their majors are revealed to be Economics and Early Education, respectively.
- Luka Sabbat as Luca Hall, a fashion design major at Cal U and is a stoner. He is very independent and a trendsetter, as seen in his outlandish fashion choices and his relaxed attitude toward life. He also works alongside Zoey at Teen Vogue, an internship he got by chance. Zoey and Luca become an official couple starting season 2 but break up in the season 2 finale. He is a freshman in season 1, a sophomore in season 2, and a junior in Season 3.
- Chris Parnell as Dean Burt Parker, the dean of students. He is also Nomi's uncle. He leaves the university for unknown reasons before the events of season 2.
- Diggy Simmons as Douglas Frederick “Doug” Edwards, Jazlyn's boyfriend. He is best friends with Aaron and Vivek.
Recurring
- Da'Vinchi as Cash Mooney, Zoey's first college boyfriend and star of the school's basketball team. Also her first love and the first person she had sex with.
- Katherine Moennig as Professor Paige Hewson, the professor of Gender Studies class that Zoey and her friends are in who is also Nomi's love interest.
- Marcus Scribner as Andre "Junior" Johnson, Zoey's younger brother from black-ish. He becomes Sky's romantic interest in season 2.
- Ryan Destiny as Jillian, a transfer student from Spelman College and Luca's new love interest.
- Henri Esteve as Javier / "Javi", a gorgeous grad student whom Ana interns with at Cal U.
- Andrew Liner as Rodney, a soft-spoken, baby-faced babe with a killer smile who becomes Sky's new love interest.
- Raigan Harris as Rochelle, an opinionated, well-informed member of the Black Student Union who’s always down to fight for a cause.
- Phemza The Kween as Hillfiger, a 15 year old rapper who has feels for Zoey but couldn't tell her. Zoey knew how he feels about her when she heard one of Hillfiger's songs saying "Z-O-E-Y, yeah the love that heals all secrets!"
Notable guests
- Anthony Anderson as Andre "Dre" Johnson Sr., Zoey's father
- Tracee Ellis Ross as Dr. Rainbow "Bow" Johnson, Zoey's mother
- Laurence Fishburne as Earl "Pops" Johnson, Zoey's grandfather
- Miles Brown as Jack Johnson, Zoey's younger brother and Diane's twin brother
- Marsai Martin as Diane Johnson, Zoey's younger sister and Jack's twin sister
- Joey Badass as himself
Production
Development and casting
"Liberal Arts", the 23rd episode of season 3 of Black-ish, functioned as a backdoor pilot for this spin-off, featuring Yara Shahidi's character, Zoey Johnson, as she goes to college. Shahidi stars in the series, with Chris Parnell, Mallory Sparks, Matt Walsh, and Trevor Jackson guest starring in the backdoor pilot. The series was later titled College-ish, with Parnell and Jackson reprising their roles from the backdoor pilot, and Emily Arlook replacing Mallory Sparks in the role of Miriam. In August 2017, Francia Raisa joined the cast as Ana along with Jordan Buhat as Vivek. Music duo Chloe and Halle would also star as twin sisters Sky and Jazz.On May 19, 2017, Freeform officially ordered 13 episodes of the spin-off under the final title, Grown-ish. On January 18, 2018, Freeform renewed the series for a second season. On February 5, 2019, the series was renewed for a third season. On November 7, 2019, it was announced that the third season will premiere on January 16, 2020. On January 17, 2020, Freeform renewed the series for a fourth season.
On May 19, 2020, Freeform announced that the remaining episodes from season three will premiere in 2021 due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic in the television industry.