Chad Powers co-creator Michael Waldron on season 2 reception and possible season 3
In a Variety interview, co-creator Michael Waldron discussed season 2 of Hulu's "Chad Powers", its viewing figures and reviews, and a possible third season that Hulu has not yet ordered. The A.V. Club picked up his "basketball team or something" remark.
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The story, neutrally told
Left · 2Michael Waldron, co-creator of Hulu's "Chad Powers" with star Glen Powell, told Variety the show is "a deep, and deeply stupid, show" and said, "And I’m very proud of it." VarietyLC ““It’s a deep, and deeply stupid, show,” co-creator Michael Waldron says” Read at Variety ↗ The A.V. ClubLC “Described as a “deep and deeply stupid show” by co-creator Michael Waldron in a new interview with Variety” Read at The A.V. Club ↗ Left · 2All six season 2 episodes launched on Sept. 3. According to Nielsen, as cited by Variety, the premiere "7th Quarter" drew 2.86 million U.S. viewers, third among scripted series returns on Hulu behind FX's "The Bear" (8.96 million) and "Paradise" (6.72 million). VarietyLC “All six new episodes launched on Sept. 3, and according to Nielsen, the Season 2 premiere episode “7th Quarter,” ranks third among scripted series returns on Hulu, with 2.86 million viewers in the U.S.” Read at Variety ↗ The A.V. ClubLC “becoming Hulu’s third-biggest returning show of the year, behind The Bear and Paradise” Read at The A.V. Club ↗ Left · 1In its first 28 days, season 2 averaged 2.75 million U.S. viewers per episode, compared with 2.96 million for season 1, according to Variety's Nielsen figures. VarietyLC “averaging 2.75 million viewers per episode in the U.S. (Those numbers are relatively comparable to Season 1, which averaged 2.96 million viewers per episode.)” Read at Variety ↗
Left · 1Variety reports that the Rotten Tomatoes critics score rose from 60% for season 1 to 93% for season 2, with the audience score at 93% against 85%. It says many reviews credited a darker tone that Waldron, who directed four of the six episodes, built to evoke "Point Break" and films by Tony Scott, Jonathan Demme and Sam Raimi. VarietyLC “Rotten Tomatoes’ critics score surged from 60% in Season 1 to 93% for Season 2.”“which Waldron, who directed four of the season’s six episodes, crafted to evoke “Point Break” and films from Tony Scott, Jonathan Demme and Sam Raimi.” Read at Variety ↗ Left · 1The season 2 finale ends on a cliffhanger. Russ (Powell) and Ricky (Perry Mattfeld) kiss after beating Texas, and Ricky's father, Coach Jake Hudson (Steve Zahn), catches them. Booster Tricia Yeager (Wynn Everett) has learned Russ's identity and demands he keep playing as Chad. VarietyLC “But then, Coach Jake Hudson (Steve Zahn), the Catfish’s head coach and Ricky’s father, catches them.”“Russ and Danny will live on her ranch to keep Russ playing as Chad — and serving as her cash cow.” Read at Variety ↗ Left · 2Hulu has not yet ordered a third season, and Waldron said, "Nothing’s guaranteed." He and Powell designed the story in three parts following one football season of the fictional South Georgia Catfish. Season 3 would cover the national championship game, possibly against Waldron's Georgia Bulldogs or Powell's Texas Longhorns. VarietyLC “He and Powell designed the story to evolve in three parts, following the fictional South Georgia Catfish over the course of one football season.”“audiences will watch the Catfish compete to win the Natty (the national championship game)” Read at Variety ↗ The A.V. ClubLC “A third season order from the streamer still awaits the Powell-led football comedy” Read at The A.V. Club ↗
Left · 2Waldron joked, "If they want us to make more, I guess Chad can join the basketball team or something," and said he would keep trying to subvert the predictable conventions of sports stories. He also said, "A story like this certainly doesn’t want to overstay its welcome." VarietyLC ““If they want us to make more, I guess Chad can join the basketball team or something,” Waldron says, laughing again.” Read at Variety ↗ The A.V. ClubLC ““A story like this certainly doesn’t want to overstay its welcome,” he says.” Read at The A.V. Club ↗ Left · 1Variety notes Waldron's other work: Marvel's "Loki", co-writing "Avengers: Doomsday" (due in December), developing a "Nova" movie, and the Disney+ pilot "Spaceship Earth", co-written with Jason Fuchs. VarietyLC “He’s also co-writer of “Avengers: Doomsday,” out in December, and in the early stages of developing a “Nova” movie.”“Co-written by Jason Fuchs (“It: Welcome to Derry”) and Waldron” Read at Variety ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left2 outlets
- Framing
- Variety runs a long, upbeat interview built around the show's ratings and critical growth and the plans for season 3. The A.V. Club's short item rewrites the Variety interview and leads with the basketball joke.
- Emphasis
- Viewing figures, the jump in Rotten Tomatoes scores, the darker 'Point Break'-like tone, and the possible third season.
- Leaves out or plays down
- The A.V. Club leaves out the viewing figures and the plot detail Variety gives. Neither article includes outside voices such as Hulu or critics.
- Charged language
- “deeply stupid”“acquired taste”“BAM”
- For example
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“Here’s the thing about “Chad Powers”: It’s an acquired taste.” — Variety
“it’s been a hit with viewers, becoming Hulu’s third-biggest returning show of the year” — The A.V. Club
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Season 2 of Chad Powers arrived on Hulu in early September.
- Waldron called the show "deeply stupid" in a Variety interview.
- Hulu has not yet renewed the show for a third season.
- Waldron joked that Chad could join a basketball team in a further season.
Michael Waldron person
Waldron says he is proud of the show and happy that audiences keep finding it. He says a third season is not guaranteed and that the story should not overstay its welcome.
““Making this show is the great joy of my career,” Waldron says.” — Variety
““Nothing’s guaranteed,” he continues.” — Variety
Glen Powell person
Powell is co-creator and star. He and Waldron planned the story in three parts, and the coverage gives no direct comment from him.
“He and Powell designed the story to evolve in three parts” — Variety
Left2 articles
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Celebratory Promotional-leaning interview presenting season 2 as a ratings and critical success and discussing a likely season 3.
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Chad Powers might join "basketball team or something" in season three
Neutral Light, jokey summary of Variety's interview focused on the basketball quip and the pending renewal.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 16 Oct 17:11 First VarietyLC ‘Chad Powers’ Boss Michael Waldron on the Football Comedy’s Season 2 Growth and Shifting Gears to a ‘Point Break’-Like Thriller, Plus Plans for Season 3
- 16 Oct 17:59 +48m The A.V. ClubLC Chad Powers might join "basketball team or something" in season three
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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