ICarly (2021 TV Series)

''iCarly'' is an American comedy revival series based on the Nickelodeon 2007 TV series of the same name. The series stars Miranda Cosgrove, Jerry Trainor, Nathan Kress, Laci Mosley and Jaidyn Triplett, with Cosgrove, Trainor and Kress reprising their roles from the original series. It premiered on Paramount+ on June 17, 2021, to positive reviews. The second season premiered on April 8, 2022. A third season is scheduled to premiere in 2023.

Premise

Nine years after the events of the previous series, Carly Shay has moved back to Seattle, where she shares an apartment with her roommate Harper. Carly's older brother Spencer has become a wealthy artist after accidentally creating a renowned sculpture. Following two divorces and a failed tech start-up, Freddie Benson has moved back to live with his mother, accompanied by his adopted 11-year-old stepdaughter Millicent. All main characters live in Bushwell Plaza, the apartment building where the original show was set. When Carly decides to relaunch her ''iCarly'' webshow, she receives mainstream attention with the help from Spencer, Freddie and her new friends.

Cast and characters

Main

* Miranda Cosgrove as Carly Shay, a social media influencer and the host of a comedy web series
* Jerry Trainor as Spencer Shay, Carly's older brother, now a wealthy artist
* Nathan Kress as Freddie Benson, Carly's friend, neighbor, and technical producer for ''iCarly''
* Laci Mosley as Harper, a barista and aspiring fashion stylist who is Carly's friend and roommate
* Jaidyn Triplett as Millicent, Freddie's adopted stepdaughter

Recurring

* Lyric Lewis as Maeve (season 1), Harper's cousin who pretended to be kidnapped for four years and dates Spencer for some time
* Poppy Liu as Double Dutch (season 1; guest season 2), a pop singer who hires Harper to be her stylist.
* Josh Plasse as Wes (season 1; guest season 2), a car mechanic and a former love interest of Carly
* Mary Scheer as Marissa Benson, Freddie's mother and Spencer's next-door neighbor. Scheer reprises her role from the original series
* Conor Husting as Beau (season 1; guest season 2), Carly's ex-boyfriend who breaks up with her at the beginning of the series
* Mia Serafino as Pearl (season 2), an animal therapist and Freddie's new girlfriend

Guest stars

* Danielle Morrow as Nora Dershlit (season 1), an obsessive ''iCarly'' super-fan who abducted the ''iCarly'' gang multiple times. Morrow reprises her role from the original series
* Josie Totah as Willow (season 1), an influencer who appears at Spencer's exhibit
* Alex Wassabi as an ASMR influencer (season 1), who appears at Spencer's exhibit
* Reed Alexander as Nevel Papperman (season 1), a former website critic and nemesis of Carly; Alexander reprises his role from the original series
* Tim Russ as Ted Franklin (season 1), Carly and Freddie's former principal from Ridgeway; Russ reprises his role from the original series
* Doug Brochu as Duke Lubberman (season 1), a former student wrestler from Ridgeway; Brochu reprises his role from the original series
* Amanda Cerny as Harmony (season 1)
* Skye Townsend as Kiki (season 1), Millicent's scout leader in the Sunshine Girls
* Christine Taylor as Argenthina (season 1)
* Carmela Zumbado as Gwen (season 1), Millicent's mother, and Freddie's second ex-wife
* Drew Roy as Griffin (season 1), Carly's ex-boyfriend; Roy reprises his role from the original series
* Esther Povitsky as Brooke (season 1), a friend of Carly and Harper's
* Jeremy Rowley as Lewbert (season 2), the former doorman at Bushwell Plaza. Rowley reprises his role from the original series
* Ryan Ochoa as Chuck Chambers (season 2), Spencer's former child nemesis; Ochoa reprises his role from the original series
* Ethan Munck as Guppy (season 2), Gibby's younger brother; Munck, the real life brother of Noah (Gibby), reprises his role from the original series
* Greg Mullavey as Granddad Shay (season 2), Carly and Spencer’s granddad; Mullavey reprises his role from the original series
* Tony Amendola as Vinny (season 2), a man who wants to murder Granddad Shay for stealing his coins
* Rachel Bloom as McKenna (season 2), a matchmaker
* Josh Peck as Paul (season 2), Carly's manager
* Kandy Muse as Cruella Intentions (season 2)
* Mo Heart as Auntie Histamine (season 2)
* Scarlet Envy as Lana Del Slay (season 2)
* Rosé as Kimmy Kimmy Moore (season 2)

Episodes

Series overview

Season 1 (2021)

Season 2 (2022)

Production

Development

Then-Nickelodeon executive Paula Kaplan contacted Cosgrove with a pitch for a new ''iCarly'' series, revolving around Carly and Spencer running a Hype House-like content house with a new generation of influencers taking influence from the ''iCarly'' web show. The demographic for the show was planned to be aimed towards kids, following in the same footsteps as other revivals and spin-offs like Disney Channel's ''Raven's Home'' and ''Girl Meets World''. "I don't think that any of us would have been up for that dea" she says. "What excited me about doing ''iCarly'' again was getting to put the characters in situations that we couldn't show before." Cosgrove contacted Jerry Trainor, Nathan Kress and Jennette McCurdy about the project. Kress and Trainor were on board with the project, however McCurdy declined. After multiple conversations with the returning cast, Cosgrove requested that the revival series be aimed towards the adults who grew up with it, which ViacomCBS and AwesomenessTV immediately agreed to, unlike the shelved ''Lizzie McGuire'' series being developed at Disney+. As the executive producer of the series, Cosgrove wanted to incorporate more mature topics and diversity into the series, as well as nostalgia.

The series was announced in December 2020, with Jay Kogen and Ali Schouten serving as co-showrunners and executive producers. Cosgrove, Kress, and Trainor would reprise their roles from the original series. In February 2021, it was reported that Kogen left the project due to "creative differences" with Cosgrove. Later that month, McCurdy confirmed that she would not reprise her role of Sam Puckett for the revival, as a result of quitting acting and feeling embarrassed by her past career. It was also revealed that the revival had been picked up for 13 episodes, with the pilot being directed by Phill Lewis, and written by Kogen and Schouten. In May, the premiere date was revealed to be June 17, 2021, with a teaser image also being revealed. On June 1, the first official trailer of the revival was released. On July 15, the series was renewed for a second season.

On July 27, 2022, the series was renewed for a third season, which is scheduled to premiere in 2023.

Casting

In March 2021, it was reported that Laci Mosley had been cast as Harper, Carly's new roommate and best friend, and that Jaidyn Triplett had been cast as Millicent, Freddie's snarky and social media-obsessed step-daughter. Since the announcement of her casting, Mosley has been the target of attacks from fans who saw her as a replacement for Jennette McCurdy's character from the original. In response, Franchesca Ramsey, one of the writers of the show, tweeted "Laci's character Harper isn't replacing Sam. No one could replace Jennette McCurdy or her incredible talent! But it's both racist as hell & completely unfair to decide that Laci hasn't earned her role especially since the show isn't even out yet!!"

Filming

In March 2021, filming for the revival had officially begun. Production on the first season ended on June 25, 2021. Production on the second season began in October 2021 and ended on February 2, 2022.

Release

The first three episodes were released on June 17, 2021, with subsequent episodes releasing weekly until August 26, 2021. The first episode, albeit slightly shortened, aired on Nick at Nite on July 17, 2021. The second season premiered on April 8, 2022. "iObject, Lewbert!" became the second episode overall to receive a linear airing, leading out of the 2022 Kids' Choice Awards on April 9 on Nickelodeon, as well as an airing on MTV on April 19, 2022.

Reception

Critical response

Critics gave the first season positive reviews. On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the first season holds a 100% approval rating with an average rating of 6.7/10, based on eight reviews.

Awards and nominations

References

External links

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{{Authority control

ICarly
English-language television shows
2020s American comedy television series
2021 American television series debuts
Paramount+ original programming
American sequel television series
Race-related controversies in television
Television shows set in Seattle
Television series about social media