The first season of All American: Homecoming was announced by The CW on May 24, 2021. The season premiered on February 21, 2022, and concluded on May 23, 2022.
Premise[]
ALL AMERICAN: HOMECOMING is a young adult sports drama set against the backdrop of the HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) experience at Bringston University, where Black excellence is a way of life. The series follows Simone (Geffri Maya, “All American”), a young tennis hopeful from Beverly Hills who is trying to fight her way back to great after some time away from the court, and Damon (Peyton Alex Smith, “Legacies”), an elite baseball player from Chicago who is carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. After Simone’s aunt Amara Patterson (Kelly Jenrette, “Manhunt”), a journalism teacher and activist, exposes a scandal that threatens to derail the school’s beloved baseball program, new coach Marcus Turner (Cory Hardrict, “The Chi”) is determined to bring a championship back to Bringston the honest way — with Damon’s help. Damon will adjust to his new normal with fellow baseball player and childhood friend JR (Sylvester Powell, “Five Points”) by his side. Meanwhile, as Simone struggles to find her footing, she will get a little guidance from Thea (Camille Hyde, “Katy Keene”), the super-competitive queen bee of the Bringston tennis team, and Keisha (Netta Walker, “Come as You Are”), the school’s unofficial mayor, who will help Simone learn how to live her best life. As they contend with the high stakes of college sports, Simone and Damon will also navigate the highs, lows, and sexiness of unsupervised early adulthood at a prestigious HBCU.
Cast and Characters[]
Starring[]
- Geffri Maya as Simone Hicks
- Peyton Alex Smith as Damon Sims
- Kelly Jenrette as Amara Patterson
- Cory Hardrict as Coach Marcus Turner
- Sylvester Powell as Jessie Raymond
- Camille Hyde as Thea Mays
- Mitchell Edwards as Cam Watkins
- Netta Walker as Keisha McCalla
Recurring Cast[]
- Rhoyle Ivy King as Nathaniel
- Tamberla Perry as Keena Sims
Notable Guest Cast[]
Episodes[]
| No. | Episode title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Start Over" | Michael Schultz | Nkechi Okoro Carroll | February 21, 2022 | 0.47[1] |
| NEW BEGINNINGS - Simone is excited to move into her dorm and start navigating life on her own terms, but her past choices present unexpected setbacks. Eager to turn the baseball team around, Damon and Coach Marcus are thrown an even bigger curve ball than they were anticipating. Meanwhile, Amara faces the consequences of her actions, and what that means for her future. | |||||
| 2 | "Under Pressure" | Kelli Williams | Marqui Jackson | February 28, 2022 | 0.40[1] |
| FIGURING IT ALL OUT - With everything Simone is trying to balance, she starts to crack but finds the motivation to keep going from a group assignment with Damon and Thea. Damon struggles to bond with the team, but with the help of JR, Damon does something that scares him and gets him back on track. Keisha wrestles with letting go of her dream, while Cam's dream may be over before it even started. Meanwhile, Coach Marcus witnesses what the cost of being a whistleblower is having on Amara. | |||||
| 3 | "Love and War" | Sheelin Choksey | Cam'ron Moore | March 7, 2022 | 0.40[1] |
| GOOD INTENTIONS - When Damon and JR devise a plan to help boost the baseball team's morale, they realize they have their work cut out for them when an unforeseen obstacle enters that could derail their efforts. Simone tries to extend an olive branch to Thea, but things don't turn out as she was expecting. As the RA in her dorm, Keisha is met with constant complaints and in the midst of it all, a secret she has been keeping from a friend is revealed. Meanwhile, a former student offers Amara a tempting offer, but Coach Marcus makes a surprising discovery that might be of more interest to Amara. | |||||
| 4 | "If Only You Knew" | Oz Scott | Alison McKenzie | March 14, 2022 | 0.44[1] |
| MEMORIES - With Athletic Alumni weekend in full swing, Simone must juggle playing doubles with Thea, and trying to spend time with an unexpected guest. Damon's growing relationship with Simone hits a snag, so he focuses his efforts on the alumni game. Amara and Coach Marcus' past comes to the forefront when they run into an old classmate. Cam confides in Keisha about his plans to get back on the field. Meanwhile, JR is excited to spend time with his parents but learns of some shocking family news instead. | |||||
| 5 | "Truth Hurts" | Michael Schultz | Holli Overton | March 21, 2022 | 0.41[1] |
| GETTING ANSWERS - When the power goes out at Bringston, everyone takes the time to reveal some surprising truths to each other. Simone grapples with telling her friends about her son when she learns he will be in town for a visit, and Thea unexpectedly turns to Simone for dating advice. Damon becomes worried about JR who is dealing with issues in the wrong way. Cam challenges Keisha when she is ready to give up on her choreography dreams. Meanwhile, Coach Marcus and Amara's relationship comes to a head, leaving them questioning how to move forward. | |||||
| 6 | "Family Affair" | Ryan Zaragoza | Jeffrey David Thomas | March 28, 2022 | 0.38[1] |
| SPEAKING YOUR TRUTH - Simone is excited that Baby Shay is coming to town, but another visitor she wasn't expecting surprises her as well, thanks to Amara. Damon struggles on the field, while family drama could threaten his new bond with his mom. JR goes home to try to get to the bottom of what is going on with his parents, but not before he does something rash. Meanwhile, Cam helps to push Keisha to follow her dreams, but her decision could ruin an important relationship. | |||||
| 7 | "Godspeed" | David McWhirter | Charia Rose | April 11, 2022 | 0.32[1] |
| IDENTITY - When Simone is faced with her first college level tournament, she learns she has to conquer an unexpected bigger foe and gets some sage advice from Thea. Damon struggles with an assignment as it hits a little too close to home when it triggers some of his insecurities. As JR re-examines his identity, he gets advice from an unexpected source. Amara continues to fight her battle with President Allen and Bringston in her own way. Meanwhile, the gang rallies around Keisha as she tries to navigate her late mom's birthday on her own since her relationship with her father is strained. | |||||
| 8 | "Just A Friend" | Dawn Wilkinson | Megan McNamara | April 18, 2022 | 0.30[1] |
| EVOLVING RELATIONSHIPS - When Damon goes home for a quick trip to get answers from his father about his adoption, Simone drops everything to be his support system. Thea and Nathaniel immerse themselves in sorority life by helping with the gala, but they discover sorority politics are no joke. JR knows what he wants now and is ready to fight for it and Keisha helps push Cam out of his comfort zone. Meanwhile, Amara fights for her job as a video of her criticizing Bringston surfaces. | |||||
| 9 | "Ordinary People" | Christine Swanson | Cam'ron Moore & Alison McKenzie | April 25, 2022 | 0.38[1] |
| REEVALUATING - Simone and the gang rally around Amara as she struggles with what to do next as new information comes to light. Coach Marcus is excited about the all-HBCU baseball game he put together until an old teammate stirs up bad memories that could possibly derail everything. As Damon, JR and the team are focused on the game, they are faced with some challenging guests and new adversaries. Thea has a close call with danger which costs her one relationship and brings a potential new one into her life. Meanwhile, Simone struggles to explain to Jordan her friendship "break-up" with Damon. | |||||
| 10 | "Move On" | Eric Dean Seaton | Hollie Overton | May 2, 2022 | 0.34[1] |
| MAKING A DIFFERENCE - Excited about service week, Simone channels all her volunteer efforts into her mentee and gets an idea for a bigger project and get assistance from some unexpected allies. Damon's quest to learn his father's connection to Celine has some surprising revelations. Keisha and Cam get into a conformation making Keisha realize she needs to continue to focus on self-improvement. Still reeling from what happened, Thea decides to confront her fears. Meanwhile, Amara learns who is out to get her, but doesn't seem to get any support from the administration, rather she does get support from someone surprising. | |||||
| 11 | "What Now?" | Nikhil Paniz | Jeffrey David Thomas & Charia Rose | May 9, 2022 | 0.31[1] |
| FACING IT HEAD ON - After returning from break, Simone throws herself into distraction, including her tennis tournament, to avoid dealing with what's really bothering her. When Damon finds himself with more questions than answers, he finds help from Thea. With the help of Nathaniel, JR realizes he needs to change his narrative on how he sees himself after he has a viral game moment. Meanwhile, Amara inches closer to the issues going on with Bringston and Coach Marcus' paranoia is at an all-time high. | |||||
| 12 | "Confessions" | Benny Boom | Marqui Jackson | May 16, 2022 | 0.40[1] |
| HIGH STAKES - During Homecoming week, Simone, and Thea get ready to compete in a professional tournament and face opponents that challenge them in different ways. With the encouragement of JR, Damon tries to reveal how much he wants to share with his mother. Coach Marcus is spiraling out of control and reveals a big secret leaving the team once again divided. Keisha is ready to face her fears and is afraid she may be too late but is ready to fight for what she wants. Meanwhile, Amara comes up with a plan to help Bringston, but things don't go as she hoped. | |||||
| 13 | "Irreplaceable" | Christine Swanson | Nkechi Okoro Carroll & Megan McNamara | May 23, 2022 | 0.48[1] |
| MEANT TO BE - As Homecoming week continues, Simone grapples with her role on the tennis team and Thea receives some upsetting news. With Coach Marcus nowhere to be found, an interim coach steps in which creates conflict for Damon and JR as they try to win their most important game. Keisha throws herself into raising funds for Bringston in the hopes of helping to keep her chosen family together, while Cam makes a decision that could have major consequences. Meanwhile, Amara finds herself back in the spotlight with a surprising career opportunity. | |||||
Production[]
Filming[]
Filming on the Warner Brothers lot wrapped up on March 4, 2022.[2] Cory Hardrict shot his last scene on March 8.[3] Camille Hyde shot her last scene on March 9. The season officially wrapped up on March 11, 2022.
Casting[]
On March 29, 2021, it was announced that Peyton Alex Smith, Cory Hadrict, Kelly Jenrette, Sylverser Powell, Netta Walker and Camille Hyde are set to star in the Geffri Maya-led backdoor pilot spin-off.[4] On December 16, 2021, it was announced that Mitchell Edwards will reprise his role as Cam as a series regular. Rhoyle Ivy King is cast in a recurring role as Nathaniel.[5] On January 28, 2022, it was reported that Tamberla Perry joined the cast in a recurring role as Keena Sims.[6]
Reception[]
Critical response[]
On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the first season holds an approval rating of 100%, based on 5 reviews, and an average rating of 8.30/10.[7]
Ratings[]
| No. | Title | Airdate | 18-49 Demo | Demo Change | Viewers (millions) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Start Over" | February 21, 2022 | 0.14 | 0.473 | ||
| 2. | "Under Pressure" | February 28, 2022 | 0.10 | -28.57% | 0.402 | -15.01% |
| 3. | "Love and War" | March 7, 2022 | 0.14 | 40.00% | 0.409 | 1.74% |
| 4. | "If Only You Knew" | March 14, 2022 | 0.13 | -7.14% | 0.443 | 8.31% |
| 5. | "Truth Hurts" | March 21, 2022 | 0.13 | 0.00% | 0.419 | -5.42% |
| 6. | "Family Affair" | March 28, 2022 | 0.11 | -15.38% | 0.384 | -8.35% |
| 7. | "Godspeed" | April 11, 2022 | 0.07 | -36.36% | 0.329 | -14.32% |
| 8. | "Just A Friend" | April 18, 2022 | 0.09 | 28.57% | 0.300 | -8.81% |
| 9. | "Ordinary People" | April 25, 2022 | 0.10 | 11.11% | 0.381 | 27.00% |
| 10. | "Move On" | May 2, 2022 | 0.10 | 0.00% | 0.335 | -12.07% |
| 11. | "What Now?" | May 9, 2022 | 0.08 | -20.00% | 0.314 | -6.27% |
| 12. | "Confessions" | May 16, 2022 | 0.13 | 62.50% | 0.396 | 26.11% |
| 13. | "Irreplaceable" | May 23, 2022 | 0.14 | 7.69% | 0.483 | 21.97% |
HBCU Scholarship[]
- Official press release from Warner Bros. Television Group released on February 23, 2022.
Warner Bros. Television Group today announced the establishment of a new scholarship to support students in need of financial assistance at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), inspired by the new WBTV series All American: Homecoming, from executive producer/showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll and Berlanti Productions. Developed in partnership with the NAACP, the Warner Bros. Television Group All American: Homecoming Grand Slam Scholarship will award $100,000 in grants to 10 students ($10,000 per scholarship) pursuing degrees at HBCU institutions throughout the United States. All American: Homecoming is a new young adult sports drama for The CW set against the backdrop of the HBCU experience at the fictional Bringston University, where Black excellence is a way of life. The announcement was made today during an All American: Homecoming panel hosted by the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA). A spinoff of the critically acclaimed hit WBTV/The CW drama All American, All American: Homecoming continues to tell inclusive and authentic stories that center the Black experience in American life.
HBCU students can apply for the WBTVG All American: Homecoming Grand Slam Scholarship in early March. For more information, please visit the NAACP's website.
Warner Bros. Television Group Chairman Channing Dungey said: "We are thrilled to partner with the NAACP on the All American: Homecoming scholarship, which will provide financial support to students at HBCUs as they pursue their dreams through education. And we are also excited to celebrate the dynamic on-screen depiction of HBCU life at Bringston University in this powerful new show from Nkechi Okoro Carroll and Berlanti Productions."
All American: Homecoming executive producer/showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll said: "Honoring my family and friends who attended HBCUs by bringing Bringston University to life has been a dream come true. All American: Homecoming is a celebration of the HBCU experience, a celebration of Black youth, a celebration of our culture. It's wonderful that Warner Bros. Television Group is furthering that celebration and contributing to the pursuit of excellence by offering scholarships to real-life HBCU students."
This initiative marks the Studio's first time collaborating with the NAACP to offer scholarships to HBCU students.
NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson said: "The partnership with Warner Bros. Television Group is an excellent illustration of how corporations can give back and do their part for a more equitable society. We know these scholarships will be an invaluable resource to HBCU students interested in careers in entertainment. We look forward to continuing this type of collaboration on future endeavors."
Trivia[]
Gallery[]
Promotional[]
Videos[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 All American: Homecoming: Season One Ratings
- ↑ @bringstonuniversity on Instagram
- ↑ @bringstonuniversity on Instagram
- ↑ ‘All American: Homecoming’: Peyton Alex Smith & Cory Hardrict Among Six Cast In the CW’s Planted Spinoff
- ↑ ‘All American: Homecoming’: Mitchell Edwards Joins CW Spinoff As Series Regular
- ↑ Tamberla Perry Joins ‘All American: Homecoming’; ‘Power Book II: Ghost’ Casts Petey McGee
- ↑ All American: Homecoming - Rotten Tomatoes