
Grand Crew
By Monique Jones,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Mature comedy expands Black characterizations on TV.
Add your rating
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Grand Crew
Community Reviews
Based on 1 parent review
What's the Story?
GRAND CREW takes what fans love about Living Single, Friends, and Sex and the City and merges it together in a new comedy. A group of friends -- including Noah (Echo Kellum), his sister Nicky (Nicole Byer), Sherm (Carl Tart), Wyatt (Justin Cunningham), and Anthony (Aaron Jennings) -- meet up each week at their favorite Los Angeles wine bar to discuss what's happening in their lives, ranging from love woes, to job successes, to awkward social interactions.
Is It Any Good?
This show is just what fans of the classic "group of friends" conceit need. Featuring some of the funniest people in the business in 2021, particularly Byer, Kellum and Tart, Grand Crew makes for some laugh-out-loud moments, keeping audiences entertained and engaged.
The obvious thing to note is that the show features an all-Black cast on mainstream television, something that calls back to the histories of both Living Single and Friends. Fans of both series might be aware that Friends came after Living Single, but with its all-white cast, Friends was marketed much more than Living Single, which was marketed primarily to Black audiences despite having a multicultural fanbase. Now, many years later, Grand Crew's primetime slot illustrates that not only are Black casts marketable to multiple audiences, but they are important to giving audiences a full view of American life. The show comments on its own universality by starting out with a monologue by longtime comedic actor Garrett Morris, who says that Black men aren't just stereotypically mean and gruff ("We got layers, y'all"); they're also sensitive, have needs, and have desires that many might not understand they have. It's a bold introduction to a series that aims to showcase that Black people are people too.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Grand Crew portrays positive friendships. What does each friend bring emotionally to the group? How does the group work through interpersonal issues?
How does Grand Crew add to television's focus on diversity?
What does Grand Crew say about Black masculinity?
TV Details
- Premiere date: December 14, 2021
- Cast: Nicole Byer , Garrett Morris , Carl Tart , Aaron Jennings , Echo Kellum , Justin Cunningham , Grasie Mercedes
- Network: NBC
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Friendship
- Character Strengths: Communication , Compassion , Curiosity , Empathy
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: June 14, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate