Everyone loves a good spin-off series. Especially if it’s of an already incredible TV show. Which is why ABC’s newest show to debut this fall, Mixed-ish, is so anticipated.
It’s the prequel spin-off of Black-ish, the network’s multi-award-winning series that debuted in 2014 and is still raking in nominations and wins 5 seasons later.
Mixed-ish will be the second spin-off to come from the primary series, following Grown-ish that premiered in 2018. Even Grown-ish has been nominated multiple times since its premiere, so we can definitely bet on Mixed-ish being just as spectacular!
The pilot episode of Mixed-ish was initially set to be an episode on Black-ish but was subsequently shelved.
However, in early May 2019, it was announced that it would instead serve as the pilot of the new spin-off with the cast of the parent show in a “Present Day” cameo role. And just a day after that, the network announced that the series would premiere in the fall. September 24, 2019, to be exact. And will air every Tuesday at 9/8 central on ABC!
Who’s behind the show?
The production company behind the show is, of course, ABC Studios as a part of Disney Television Studios in cooperation with 20th Century Fox Television and Fox 21 Television Studios.
Creator of Black-ish Kenya Harris is the brilliant creator and writer behind Mixed-ish, and also serves as executive producer. Joining him as a writer is Peter Saji. While Black-ish main star Tracee Ellis Ross will co-executive produce alongside Randall Winston, Brian Dobbins, Laurence Fishburne, Helen Sugland and Anthony Anderson.
What’s the Mixed-ish story?
If you’ve been following the parent series, then you’ll already know who Rainbow Johnson is.
Well, Mixed-ish still follows the life of Rainbow. But it will take its viewers back in time in an autobiographical narration of her experiences growing up in a mixed-race family.
The trailer shows Rainbow and her two younger siblings, Santamonica and Johan, as they struggle to stay true to themselves in a “real world” that’s so different from the hippie commune they previously lived in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv0C2yWFcWM
Who will we see?
Tracee Ellis Ross makes a cameo in the pilot episode and will remain as a narrator for the duration of the show. And playing a young Rainbow (back then still a Jackson) will be Arica Himmel (Thanksgiving).
The adorable Mykal-Michelle Harris (Big Little Lies) will play Santamonica. While Ethan William Childress will portray young Johan.
These three young actors are still relatively under the radar, but their performance in the pilot are impressive. So it’ll be fun to see such fresh, new faces on our screens this fall!
Playing the Jackson parents are Tika Sumpter (Gossip Girl, The Game) as Alicia Jackson. And Mark-Paul Gosselaar (Franklin & Bash, The Passage) as Paul Jackson, replacing Anders Holm (Champions) in the role, who played Paul in the pilot episode but was later recast.
Who should watch Mixed-ish?
If Tracee Ellis Ross (or Rainbow Johnson) is your queen. And you though the first two “-ish” series’ were amazing, go right ahead and Mixed-ish to your to-watch list this fall! You won’t regret it!
And don’t forget, catch Mixed-ish every Tuesday night on ABC starting September 24!