Astronomy Club: The Sketch Show

Astronomy Club: The Sketch Show is an American sketch comedy web television series created by the comedy troupe Astronomy Club, the Upright Citizens Brigade's first all black team. The show stars the team's eight members: Shawtane Bowen, Jonathan Braylock, Ray Cordova, James III, Caroline Martin, Jerah Milligan, Monique Moses and Keisha Zollar. The show features comedy sketches, intermixed with clips from a reality television show where the members live together in a house. The series premiered on December 6, 2019 on Netflix.[1][2] In June 2020, the series was canceled after one season.[3]

Astronomy Club: The Sketch Show
GenreSketch comedy
Created by
  • Jonathan Braylock
  • Raymond Cordova
  • James III
  • Caroline Martin
  • Jerah Milligan
  • Shawtane Monroe Bowen
  • Monique Moses
  • Keisha Zollar
Written by
  • Jonathan Braylock
  • Raymond Cordova
  • James III
  • Caroline Martin
  • Jerah Milligan
  • Shawtane Monroe Bowen
  • Monique Moses
  • Keisha Zollar
  • Ray Cordova
  • Daniel Powell
Directed by
  • J.J. Adler
  • Ryan Anthony Martin
  • Daniel Powell
Country of originUnited States
Original language(s)English
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes6 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)
Production company(s)
  • Khalabo Ink Society
  • Irony Point
Release
Original networkNetflix
Original releaseDecember 6, 2019 (2019-12-06)
External links
Astronomy Club: The Sketch Show

Synopsis

Sketches in the show deal with a range of issues, with a focus on the black experience, race relations, and attitudes towards African-Americans in the media, and cinema in particular.

Structure

Each episode starts with a cold-open, a sketch before the opening credits. Segments between the sketches depict a fake reality show wherein the Astronomy Club members live together in the Astronomy Clubhouse, playing heightened versions of themselves. The show includes Big Brother-style confessionals, where cast members talk to the camera.

Cast

Guest stars

Episodes
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"The Lamp Room"TBATBADecember 6, 2019 (2019-12-06)
2"Ice Cube Day"TBATBADecember 6, 2019 (2019-12-06)
Guest starring: Drew Tarver, Aisha Alfa, Mike O'Gorman.
3"For the Culture"TBATBADecember 6, 2019 (2019-12-06)
Special guest star: Ice Cube. Guest starring: Jon Gabrus.
4"Murder Mystery"TBATBADecember 6, 2019 (2019-12-06)
5"Birthday Party"TBATBADecember 6, 2019 (2019-12-06)
6"Full House But Black"TBATBADecember 6, 2019 (2019-12-06)
Special guest stars: Busy Philipps, Gillian Jacobs.

Production

The show is produced under the banner of Khalabo Ink Society by producer Kenya Barris,[4] creator of Black-ish. Barris developed Astronomy Club as a part of a $100 million development deal with Netflix.[5]

According to an interview, the comedy troupe wanted the sketches to have a message, and "anytime one of [their] sketches tackles race, [they] have to make sure it says something."[6] On June 3, 2020, Netflix canceled the series after one season.[3]

Critical reception

The show received positive critical reception and is rated 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.[7] Caroline Framke writing for Variety stated "This first episode sets the standard for “Astronomy Club” as clever, ambitious, and perhaps most importantly for a sketch show, both self-aware and completely ridiculous."[2]

References
  1. Group Homepage
  2. Framke, Caroline; Framke, Caroline (2019-12-06). "Netflix's 'Astronomy Club: The Sketch Show': TV Review". Variety. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
  3. White, Peter (June 3, 2020). "Netflix Cancels 'Astronomy Club: The Sketch Show' From Kenya Barris' Khalabo Ink Society". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  4. Astronomy Club Sets Netflix Sketch Comedy Series With Kenya Barris Producing
  5. Kenya Barris Signs $100 Million Netflix Deal
  6. Berkowitz, Joe (2019-12-06). "Netflix's 'Astronomy Club' is an A+ sketch show skewering Hollywood's "C+" on race". Fast Company. Retrieved 2020-06-03.
  7. Astronomy Club: The Sketch Show, retrieved 2020-01-13
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