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No Activity (American TV series)

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No Activity
GenreComedy
Based onNo Activity
by Trent O'Donnell
Developed by
Directed byTrent O'Donnell
Starring
Opening theme"Happiness, Missouri"
by EL VY
Composers
  • Ex-Hell
  • Matt Blackman
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons4
No. of episodes32
Production
Executive producers
ProducerAshley Chang
Cinematography
  • Judd Overton
  • Gena Fridman
Editors
  • Paul Swain
  • Adam Lichtenstein
  • Hallie Faben-Comfort
Running time25–33 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkCBS All Access
ReleaseNovember 12, 2017 (2017-11-12) –
November 21, 2019 (2019-11-21)
NetworkParamount+
ReleaseApril 8 (2021-04-08) –
May 27, 2021 (2021-05-27)

No Activity is an American comedy television series, based on the Australian series of the same name created by Trent O'Donnell, that premiered on November 12, 2017, on CBS All Access. The series was developed by O'Donnell and Patrick Brammall, both of whom executive produce alongside Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, Joe Farrell, Jason Burrows, and Joe Hardesty. In February 2018, it was announced that the series had been renewed for a second season, which premiered on November 22, 2018. In March 2019, CBS All Access renewed the series for a third season which premiered on November 21, 2019.

In October 2020, the series was renewed for a fourth and final season, in which the series switched to a computer animation format. The season premiered on April 8, 2021.[1][2] In January 2023, the series was removed from Paramount+.[3]

Premise

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No Activity's first series is "set against the world of a major drug cartel bust" and follows "two low-level cops who have spent far too much time in a car together; two criminals who are largely kept in the dark; two dispatch workers who haven’t really clicked; and two Mexican tunnelers who are in way too small a space considering they’ve only just met."[4]

The second and third series juxtapose the double parings, the pair of cops, and a pair of criminals - as well as expanding on the relationships within the dispatch center. In the second series, the El Chapo connection acquires an over exuberant FBI agent involved in the case, and his perspective on matters. Cameos are more frequent.

The third series revolves around the demoted officers, from detectives to patrol, and the cleanup of the El Chapo events and the FBI agent. The patrol car features more cameos, and there is a general resistance to robotic replacements introduced to the dispatch center and other areas of life.

Cast and characters

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Main

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Recurring

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Guest

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Episodes

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SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast airedNetwork
18November 12, 2017 (2017-11-12)December 31, 2017 (2017-12-31)CBS All Access
28November 22, 2018 (2018-11-22)
38November 21, 2019 (2019-11-21)
48April 8, 2021 (2021-04-08)May 27, 2021 (2021-05-27)Paramount+

Season 1 (2017)

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No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
11"Night 35"Trent O'DonnellPatrick Brammall & Trent O'DonnellNovember 12, 2017 (2017-11-12)
22"Deep Sea Fishing"Trent O'DonnellTrent O'DonnellNovember 19, 2017 (2017-11-19)
33"Dig a Hole"Trent O'DonnellPatrick BrammallNovember 26, 2017 (2017-11-26)
44"The Metric System"Trent O'DonnellTrent O'DonnellDecember 3, 2017 (2017-12-03)
55"Golden Age of Tunnels"Trent O'DonnellSeth Cohen & Amy PochaDecember 10, 2017 (2017-12-10)
66"The Crow"Trent O'DonnellAdam ZwarDecember 17, 2017 (2017-12-17)
77"Team Coyote"Trent O'DonnellMatteo Borghese & Rob TurbovskyDecember 24, 2017 (2017-12-24)
88"The Raid"Trent O'DonnellPatrick Brammall & Trent O'DonnellDecember 31, 2017 (2017-12-31)

Season 2 (2018)

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No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
91"Big Boy Has the Flu"Trent O'DonnellPatrick Brammall & Trent O'DonnellNovember 22, 2018 (2018-11-22)
102"The Actress"Trent O'DonnellTrent O'DonnellNovember 22, 2018 (2018-11-22)
113"Honesty & Action"Trent O'DonnellNina PedradNovember 22, 2018 (2018-11-22)
124"The Duck Egg"Trent O'DonnellPatrick BrammallNovember 22, 2018 (2018-11-22)
135"Good Cop, Tolbeck Cop"Trent O'DonnellSteve ToltzNovember 22, 2018 (2018-11-22)
146"Mr. X"Trent O'DonnellAli SchoutenNovember 22, 2018 (2018-11-22)
157"By the Siege Side"Trent O'DonnellNina Pedrad & Allison LymanNovember 22, 2018 (2018-11-22)
168"Operation Meat Puppet"Trent O'DonnellSteve ToltzNovember 22, 2018 (2018-11-22)

Season 3 (2019)

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No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
171"Tooth and Nail"Trent O'DonnellTrent O'DonnellNovember 21, 2019 (2019-11-21)
182"Flight JA761"Trent O'DonnellPatrick BrammallNovember 21, 2019 (2019-11-21)
193"There's No Ocean in Wichita"Trent O'DonnellNina PedradNovember 21, 2019 (2019-11-21)
204"Death Knock"Trent O'DonnellSteve ToltzNovember 21, 2019 (2019-11-21)
215"Leon's Retirement Party"Trent O'DonnellTrent O'DonnellNovember 21, 2019 (2019-11-21)
226"Kasprowicz vs. Haldeman"Trent O'DonnellSteve ToltzNovember 21, 2019 (2019-11-21)
237"Googy"Trent O'DonnellPatrick BrammallNovember 21, 2019 (2019-11-21)
248"Oops Sorry"Trent O'DonnellNina PedradNovember 21, 2019 (2019-11-21)

Season 4 (2021)

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No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date [5][6]
251"It’s Not a Cult!"Trent O'DonnellTrent O'DonnellApril 8, 2021 (2021-04-08)
262"Brother Eduardo"Trent O'DonnellPatrick Brammall & Trent O'DonnellApril 15, 2021 (2021-04-15)
273"Magnolia"Trent O'DonnellPatrick Brammall & Trent O'DonnellApril 22, 2021 (2021-04-22)
284"Tea for Two! Two for Tea"Trent O'DonnellPatrick Brammall, Trent O'Donnell & Nina PedradApril 29, 2021 (2021-04-29)
295"Not Another Waco!"Trent O'DonnellPatrick Brammall, Trent O'Donnell & Nina PedradMay 6, 2021 (2021-05-06)
306"Exit Counselor"Trent O'DonnellPatrick Brammall, Trent O'Donnell & Steve ToltzMay 13, 2021 (2021-05-13)
317"40 Days & 40 Nights"Trent O'DonnellPatrick Brammall & Trent O'DonnellMay 20, 2021 (2021-05-20)
328"Breaking Bread"Trent O'DonnellSteve ToltzMay 27, 2021 (2021-05-27)

Production

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Development

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On August 1, 2017, it was announced that CBS All Access had given the production, an American adaptation of the Australian television series No Activity, a series order. Executive producers were expected to include Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, Patrick Brammall, Trent O'Donnell, Jason Burrows and Joe Farrell. Production companies involved with the series were slated to consist of CBS Television Studios, Gary Sanchez Productions, and Funny Or Die.[7] On October 4, 2017, it was announced that the series would premiere on November 12, 2017.[4][8]

On February 13, 2018, it was announced that the series had been renewed for a second season.[9] On September 25, 2018, it was announced that the second season would be released all at once on November 22, 2018.[10]

On March 3, 2019, it was reported that the series had been renewed for a third season.[11] On October 15, 2019, it was announced that the third season would premiere on November 21, 2019.[12] On October 29, 2020, CBS All Access renewed the series for a fourth and final season, with the season being animated rather than live-action, during the set on COVID-19 pandemic.[1]

Casting

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Alongside the series premiere announcement, it was confirmed that the series would star Patrick Brammall and Tim Meadows with guest stars including Will Ferrell, Mark Berry, Arturo Castro, Mackenzie Davis, Bridget Everett, Darren Gilshenan, Travis Guba, Jake Johnson, Sunita Mani, Jason Mantzoukas, Adrian Martinez, Jesse Plemons, Fred Pohl, Alex Rodriguez, Amy Sedaris, J. K. Simmons, Courtenay Taylor, Michaela Watkins, and Daniel Zolghadri.[4]

Release

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On October 4, 2017, a teaser trailer for the first season was released.[4] On October 30, 2017, the official trailer for season one was released.[13] On November 12, 2018, the official trailer and key art for season two were released.[14]

Showcase (Canadian TV channel) picked up the show and broadcast season 1 in autumn 2020.[15]

Reception

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The first season was met with a mixed reception from critics upon its premiere. On the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the first season holds a 70% approval rating, with an average rating of 5.58 out of 10 based on 10 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "No Activity feels refreshingly slapdash and agreeably aimless for a cop comedy, welcoming viewers to bask in its gentle mirth – though its hook may be less than satisfying for some viewers."[16] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the season a score of 56 out of 100 based on 5 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[17]

In a positive review, The Guardian's Luke Buckmaster gave the series a rating of 3 out of 5 stars saying, "No Activity plays in minor key, a reminder of some of comedy’s essential ingredients. Shticks combine irreverence with mundanity, there is generous give and take between performers, and it shows an appreciation of incongruity in various iterations."[18]

References

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  1. ^ a b Petski, Denise (29 October 2020). "'No Activity' Renewed For Season 4 By CBS All Access". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 19 November 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  2. ^ "Trailer: Toonified 'No Activity' S4 Sets Paramount+ Premiere". 3 March 2021.
  3. ^ Longeretta, Emily (1 February 2023). "Paramount+ Removes Jordan Peele's 'Twilight Zone,' 'Real World: Homecoming' and More Titles". Variety. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d Andreeva, Nellie (4 October 2017). "'No Activity' CBS All Access Comedy Adds Tim Meadows As Co-Lead & Guest Cast Led By Will Ferrell, Gets Premiere Date". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 14 August 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  5. ^ "No Activity – Listings". The Futon Critic. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  6. ^ Paramount+. "Watch No Activity Season 4 Episodes". Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  7. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (2 August 2017). "CBS All Access Greenlights Drama Series 'Strange Angel' & '$1', First Comedy Series 'No Activity', Mulls More 'Big Brother' – TCA". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 30 December 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  8. ^ Otterson, Joe (4 October 2017). "Will Ferrell, Adam McKay CBS All Access Comedy 'No Activity' Sets Cast, Premiere Date". Variety. Archived from the original on 14 February 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  9. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (13 February 2018). "Funny Or Die's 'No Activity' Comedy Renewed For Season 2 By CBS All Access". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  10. ^ Petski, Denise (25 September 2018). "'No Activity': CBS All Access To Release Second Season All-At-Once In November". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 19 November 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  11. ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (4 March 2019). "CBS All Access Comedy 'No Activity Renewed For Season 3". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 19 November 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  12. ^ "Binge the New Season of CBS All Access' "No Activity" Beginning Thursday, Nov. 21". The Futon Critic. 15 October 2019.
  13. ^ Petski, Denise (30 October 2017). "'No Activity' Redband Trailer: First Extended Look At Will Ferrell CBS All Access Comedy". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 19 November 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  14. ^ Petski, Denise (12 November 2018). "'No Activity': CBS All Access Unveils Season 2 Trailer & Key Art". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 13 November 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  15. ^ "No Activity | Schedule and Full Episodes on Showcase". www.showcase.ca. Archived from the original on 21 August 2020.
  16. ^ "No Activity: Season 1 – Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Archived from the original on 27 November 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  17. ^ "No Activity: Season 1 – Metacritic". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 2 October 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  18. ^ Buckmaster, Luke (21 November 2017). "No Activity review – Will Ferrell and Bob Odenkirk join faithful US reboot of Aussie cop comedy". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 6 December 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
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