Faking It (2014 TV series)
| Faking It | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Comedy-Drama |
| Created by |
Dana Min Goodman Julia Wolov |
| Developed by | Carter Covington |
| Starring |
|
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 18 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Carter Covington |
| Camera setup | Single-camera |
| Running time | 22 minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | MTV |
| Picture format | 1080i (HDTV) |
| Original run | April 22, 2014 – present |
| External links | |
| Official website | |
Faking It is an American single-camera romantic comedy[1] series that premiered on MTV on April 22, 2014.[2] The series was created by Dana Min Goodman and Julia Wolov. Carter Covington developed the series and serves as the executive producer.[3] An eight-episode first season was ordered by MTV in October 2013.[4] MTV announced a ten episode second season set to premiere on September 23, 2014.[5][6] In August 2014, the show won a Teen Choice Award for "Choice TV Breakout Show". In October 2014, MTV ordered 10 more episodes, meaning season 2 will have a total of 20 episodes[7]
On April 21, 2015 it was announced that the second half of season 2 will air from August 31, 2015 as well being renewed for a third season.[8]
Synopsis
At Hester High School in the suburbs of Austin, being different is popular. After many failed attempts to stand out, Karma Ashcroft (Katie Stevens) and her best friend Amy Raudenfeld (Rita Volk) are invited to a house party hosted by popular gay student Shane Harvey (Michael Willett), who is under the impression that the girls are a lesbian couple.
At the party they are subsequently outed as the school's first lesbian couple and unwillingly nominated for homecoming Queens. Continuing the charade as their popularity soars, Karma attracts the attention of the popular and handsome Liam Booker (Gregg Sulkin), while Amy becomes aware of her growing romantic feelings for Karma.
Cast
Main cast
- Katie Stevens as Karma Ashcroft, an optimistic high school sophomore who will go to any length to achieve popularity. However, she gains more than she bargained for when her latest popularity scheme reveals that her best friend Amy loves her as more than a friend. This results in a complex situation where she has a secret straight affair with Liam Booker, even though she is in a (fake) lesbian relationship with her best friend, Amy.[9]
- Rita Volk as Amy Raudenfeld, a sophomore at Hester High School. Karma's cynical best friend, she hesitantly agrees to Karma's plan of pretending to be lesbians. However, she comes to realize she might not actually be "faking it" and does, in fact, have romantic and sexual feelings for her best friend.[9]
- Gregg Sulkin as Liam Booker, Shane's best friend, a mysterious and sexy artist who is secretly involved with Karma.[9]
- Bailey De Young as Lauren Cooper, Amy's stepsister and the new girl in school. Highly conservative, she is furious with the unordinary school system.[9] In season 2 it was revealed that she is intersex.[10]
- Michael Willett as Shane Harvey, the most popular boy in school, who is also openly gay. He is the best friend of both Liam and Amy. It is Shane who initially (erroneously) outs Karma and Amy as lesbians.[9] Shane later becomes Amy's confidant concerning her growing feelings towards Karma.
Recurring cast
- Rebecca McFarland as Farrah, Amy's mom, a local television reporter who holds conservative views, and is shocked to learn of Amy's sexual orientation.
- Senta Moses as Principal Penelope.
- Erick Lopez as Tommy Ortega, Lauren's ex-boyfriend.
- Courtney Kato as Leila, a friend of Lauren.
- Breezy Eslin as Elizabeth, a friend of Lauren.
- August Roads as Oliver, a friend of Amy, who shows interest in her.
- Anthony Palacios as Pablo, Lauren's dance partner and Shane's ex-boyfriend.
- Amy Farrington as Molly, Karma's mom.
- Lance Barber as Lucas, Karma's dad.
- Yvette Monreal as Reagan, a DJ/waiter who is a love interest for Amy.
- Keith Powers as Anthony "Theo", a friend of Liam and Shane and a love interest for Lauren. He is later revealed to be an undercover police officer.
- Skyler Maxon as Duke Lewis Jr., a closeted love interest for Shane.
Broadcast
Faking It premiered on April 22, 2014 and ran for eight episodes. On June 9, 2014, the series was picked up for a second season of ten episodes,[5][6] which premiered on September 23, 2014. This was later expanded to a twenty episode season on October 21, 2014.[7]
Episodes
| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | |||
| 1 | 8 | April 22, 2014 | June 10, 2014 | |
| 2a | 10 | September 23, 2014 | November 25, 2014 | |
| 2b[11] | 10[12] | August 31, 2015 | TBA | |
| 3[13] | TBA | TBA | TBA | |
Reception
Faking It received generally favorable reviews from critics, receiving a 71 score on Meta Critic as well as a 71% for season 1 on Rotten Tomatoes based on seven reviews.
CinemaBlend.com said "About as relevant to the gay lifestyle as Modern Family, Faking It shoots for the stars, but only hits a bunch of brightly colored rainbows on "Vote for Me" posters."[14] New York Times had this to say about the show: "Faking It isn't anything more than a smarter-than-average high school comedy, but there's a freshness to it, perhaps because so many of the key people involved are relative newcomers."[14] New York Daily News said "The engine driving this show is female friendship, the kind strong enough to get you through even high school. For Amy and Karma, we want that."[14] TV Fanatic said "It could be an interesting twist for Amy to stop pretending to be gay and suddenly be pretending to be straight."[14] Common Sense Media said "The coming-of-age-and-coming-out story is certainly a time-honored one in the LGBT cinematic canon, and having both girls playing gay-for-social-cachet is an interesting farcial spin."[14] Hollywood.com said "Anyone following MTV's Awkward will be sure to love the new series, but even non-fans won't fake their enjoyment of the new show." [14] Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said "While the show's premise seems like it could be difficult to maintain, Faking It holds up in two early episodes sent for review."[15] Boston Globe said "Faking It is an odd, interesting, lightly subversive, and potentially offensive concoction from MTV. It’s a twisted comedy that has charm, but also a premise that could be insulting if not handled intelligently." Boston Herald said "There’s something hilarious and twisted about outcasts running a school and turning out to be as much idiots as the typically popular kids. Faking It is the real deal."[15] Entertainment Weekly said "Credit the winning cast, especially Volk, and executive producer Carter Covington's sweet/snarky tone for a half hour viewers won't have to pretend to love."[15]
In an average review to the show, Philadelphia Daily News said "For Stevens' character, Karma, kissing her best friend, Amy (Volk), is a way --admittedly not the most direct way--of getting closer to Liam, a cute guy (Gregg Sulkin) with commitment issues. For Amy, though, it's more complicated, and that's where Faking It begins to seem less like a joke, as the shift in a relationship stirs up feelings that move her into the "questioning" column of LGBTQ."[15]
Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season One | |||||
| Breakout Show | Won | ||||
| Season Two | |||||
| Favorite TV Comedy | Won | ||||
| Favorite TV Actress | Won | ||||
| Favorite Fictional Lesbian Couple | Nominated | ||||
| Favorite Lesbian/Bi Character | Won | ||||
| Favorite Cable TV Comedy | Nominated | ||||
| Outstanding Comedy Series | Nominated | ||||
Faking It cast member Yvette Monreal also won Editor's Pick for Favorite Tweeter at the 10th Annual AfterEllen Visibility Awards.[20]
References
- ↑ "Faking It: Official website". MTV. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
- ↑ "MTV Announces Premiere Dates for Returning and New Comedy Series at Winter TCA Presentation". The Futon Critic. January 10, 2014. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
- ↑ Hale, Mike (21 April 2014). "Their Surprise Route to Popularity". The New York Times. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
Correction: April 22, 2014 - An earlier version of an information box with this review misidentified the creators of the show “Faking It.” As the review stated, they are Dana Goodman and Julia Lea Wolov; not Carter Covington. (Mr. Covington is the show’s executive producer.)
- ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (October 18, 2013). "MTV Picks Up Comedy Pilots 'Happyland' & 'Faking It' To Series". Deadline.com. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lesley Goldberg (2014-06-09). "'Faking It' Renewed for Second Season at MTV". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Ossad, Jordana (July 11, 2014). "‘Catfish’ Is Returning For Season Four — Plus More Premiere Dates Announced!". MTV.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "MTV Orders 10 More Episodes of ‘Faking It’ for Season 2 | Variety". variety.com. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
- ↑ http://deadline.com/2015/04/mtv-scream-shannara-series-faking-it-upfronts-1201413502/
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Goldberg, Lesley (August 23, 2013). "'Wizards' Alum Gregg Sulkin, 'Bunheads' Star Headline MTV's Carter Covington Comedy (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
- ↑ AIC plays a role this season in MTV’s new hit show, Faking it! Advocates for Informed Choice, September 12, 2014.
- ↑ "MTV's 'Faking It' Gets 10-Episode Pickup - Faking It. Facebook". Retrieved April 21, 2015.
- ↑ "MTV's 'Faking It' Gets 10-Episode Pickup - Hollywood Reporter". hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
- ↑ "MTV's 'Faking It' Gets Season 3 - Faking It. Facebook". Retrieved April 22, 2015.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 "Faking It: Season 1 - TV Reviews - Rotten Tomatoes". rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 "Critic Reviews for Faking It (2014) Season 1 - Metacritic". metacritic.com. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
- ↑ "MTV Teen Choice Awards".
- ↑ "10th Annual AfterEllen Visibility Awards".
- ↑ "2015 People's Choice Awards".
- ↑ "2015 GLAAD Media Awards".
- ↑ "The 2014 AfterEllen Visibility Award Winners". afterellen.com. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Faking It. |
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