State of the Union (British TV series)
State of the Union is a British comedy television series that premiered on 6 May 2019 on Sundance TV.[1][2]
| State of the Union | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Comedy |
| Written by | Nick Hornby |
| Directed by | Stephen Frears |
| Starring | |
| Composer | Roger Eno |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 10 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producer | Amy Jackson |
| Running time | 10 minutes |
| Production company | See-Saw Films |
| Release | |
| Original network | Sundance TV |
| Original release | 6 May 2019 – present |
| External links | |
| Official website | |
On January 25, 2021, the series was renewed for a second season.[3]
Premise
State of the Union follows "Louise and Tom who meet in the pub immediately before their weekly marital therapy session. Each episode pieces together how their lives were, what drew them together and what has started to pull them apart."[4]
Cast and characters
- Rosamund Pike as Louise
- Chris O'Dowd as Tom
Episodes
| No. | Title [5] | Directed by | Written by | Original air date [5] | US viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Marathon" | Stephen Frears[4] | Nick Hornby[4] | 6 May 2019 | N/A |
| 2 | "Antique Globes" | Stephen Frears | Nick Hornby | 6 May 2019 (Sundance Now) 7 May 2019 (Sundance TV) | N/A |
| 3 | "Syria" | Stephen Frears | Nick Hornby | 7 May 2019 (Sundance Now) 8 May 2019 (Sundance TV) | N/A |
| 4 | "Plaster Cast" | Stephen Frears | Nick Hornby | 7 May 2019 (Sundance Now) 9 May 2019 (Sundance TV) | N/A |
| 5 | "Normal Slope" | Stephen Frears | Nick Hornby | 8 May 2019 (Sundance Now) 10 May 2019 (Sundance TV) | N/A |
| 6 | "Nigel and Naomi" | Stephen Frears | Nick Hornby | 8 May 2019 (Sundance Now) 13 May 2019 (Sundance TV) | N/A |
| 7 | "Call the Midwife" | Stephen Frears | Nick Hornby | 9 May 2019 (Sundance Now) 14 May 2019 (Sundance TV) | N/A |
| 8 | "Dolphins" | Stephen Frears | Nick Hornby | 9 May 2019 (Sundance Now) 15 May 2019 (Sundance TV) | N/A |
| 9 | "Prison Sex" | Stephen Frears | Nick Hornby | 10 May 2019 (Sundance Now) 16 May 2019 (Sundance TV) | N/A |
| 10 | "Another Drink" | Stephen Frears | Nick Hornby | 10 May 2019 (Sundance Now) 17 May 2019 (Sundance TV) | N/A |
Production
Development
On 13 July 2018, it was announced that Sundance TV had given the production a series order consisting of ten episodes running around ten minutes each. The series was expected to be written by Nick Hornby and directed by Stephen Frears, both of whom were set to be executive producers. Production companies involved with the series were noted to include See-Saw Films.[4][6][7]
On January 25, 2021, the series was renewed for a second season.[3]
Casting
Alongside the series order announcement, it was confirmed that Rosamund Pike and Chris O'Dowd had been cast in the series' lead roles.[4][6][7]
Release
Marketing
On 10 October 2018, a "first-look" image from the series was released.[8]
Premiere
On 28 January 2019, the series received its world premiere during the 2019 Sundance Film Festival.[9]
Reception
In a positive review, Variety's Daniel D'Addario praised the series saying, "State of the Union pulls off a neat trick; given both its short running time and its fleetness of dialogue, we never get tired of hearing this couple's arguments, which could in other contexts be tiresome and circular."[10] In another encouraging criticism, The Hollywood Reporter's Daniel Fienberg described the series as a "clever and beautifully acted piece" and declared that "Stephen Frears and Nick Hornby's perceptive two-hander is still well worth seeing."[9]
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Short Form Comedy or Drama Series | State of the Union | Won |
| Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series | Chris O'Dowd | Won | ||
| Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series | Rosamund Pike | Won |
References
- "SundanceTV Marries Short Form Innovation with Premium Scripted Drama in "State of the Union," Starring Award-Winners Rosamund Pike and Chris O'Dowd". The Futon Critic (Press release). 27 March 2019.
- "Clooney's Catch-22, Fleabag Returns, Five-0 Finale and More". TVLine. 17 May 2019.
- "Back for a Little More, The Emmy Award-Winning Short Form Series "State of the Union" Renewed for a Second Season on SundanceTV" (Press release). Sundance TV. 25 January 2021 – via The Futon Critic.
- White, Peter (13 July 2018). "Rosamund Pike & Chris O'Dowd To Star In Stephen Frears-Directed, Nick Hornby-Penned Comedy Series For SundanceTV". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
- "State of the Union – Listings". The Futon Critic. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
- Clarke, Stewart (13 July 2018). "Rosamund Pike, Chris O'Dowd Have a Marital Crisis in Nick Hornby's SundanceTV Comedy". Variety. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
- O'Connell, Michael (13 July 2018). "Rosamund Pike, Chris O'Dowd to Star in 10-Minute Sitcom From Nick Hornby". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
- Petski, Denise (10 October 2018). "'State Of The Union': First-Look Photo Of Rosamund Pike & Chris O'Dowd In SundanceTV Comedy Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
- Fienberg, Daniel (28 January 2019). "'State of the Union': TV Review | Sundance 2019". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
- D'Addario, Daniel (29 January 2019). "Sundance TV Review: 'State of the Union'". Variety. Retrieved 10 February 2019.