Weeds (TV series)

Weeds
GenreBlack comedy[1][2]
Comedy drama[1][3]
Satire[1]
Created byJenji Kohan
ShowrunnerJenji Kohan
Written by
  • Jenji Kohan (21 episodes)
  • Roberto Benabib (14 episodes)
  • Matthew Salsberg (12 episodes)
  • Victoria Morrow (11 episodes)
  • Rolin Jones (9 episodes)
  • Stephen Falk (9 episodes)
  • Brendan Kelly (8 episodes)
  • David Holstein (7 episodes)
  • and others
Directed by
  • Craig Zisk (20 episodes)
  • Scott Ellis (18 episodes)
  • Michael Trim (18 episodes)
  • and others
Starring
Opening theme"Little Boxes"
Composers
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons8
No. of episodes102 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • Jenji Kohan
  • Roberto Benabib (seasons 3–8)
  • Craig Zisk (seasons 3–5)
  • Matthew Salsberg (seasons 6–8)
  • Mark A. Burley (seasons 7–8)
  • Scott Ellis (season 8)
  • Lisa I. Vinnecour (season 8)
Production locationsRed Studios (seasons 1–6) and Universal Studios (seasons 7–8) in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
Running time26-31 minutes
Production companiesTilted Productions
Lionsgate Television
Showtime Networks
Original release
NetworkShowtime
ReleaseAugust 8, 2005 (2005-08-08) –
September 16, 2012 (2012-09-16)
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

Weeds is an American dark comedy-drama[1][2][3] television series created by Jenji Kohan, which aired on Showtime from August 8, 2005, to September 16, 2012. The series tells of Nancy Botwin (Mary-Louise Parker), a widowed mother of two boys (Hunter Parrish and Alexander Gould) who begins selling marijuana to support her family. Other main characters include Nancy's lax brother-in-law (Justin Kirk); foolish accountant Doug Wilson (Kevin Nealon); narcissistic neighbor Celia Hodes (Elizabeth Perkins) living with her husband (Andy Milder) and their daughter (Allie Grant); as well as Nancy's wholesalers Heylia James (Tonye Patano) and Conrad Shepard (Romany Malco). Over the course of the series, the Botwin family becomes increasingly entangled in illegal activity.

Kohan serves as showrunner and is executive producer, under her Tilted Productions label. The first three seasons are set primarily in the fictional town of Agrestic, located in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, California. During seasons four and five, the Botwins reside in the also fictional San Diego suburb of Ren Mar. In season six, the family relocates to Seattle, Washington and Dearborn, Michigan. In season seven, the family resides in New York City, living in Manhattan for the duration of the season, but relocates to Connecticut in the season seven finale and throughout season eight.

When the show debuted on the Showtime cable network, it earned the channel's highest ratings.[4][5] In 2012, TV Guide Network bought the airing rights and provided an edited version of the show free of charge.[6] The show has received numerous awards, including two Emmy Awards, two Satellite Awards, one Golden Globe Award, a Writers Guild Award, and a Young Artist Award.

  1. ^ a b c d Stanley, Alessandra (5 August 2005). "Television Review – Mom Brakes for Drug Deals". The New York Times.
  2. ^ a b McCabe, Janet Elizabeth; Akass, Kim (2006). Reading 'Desperate Housewives': Beyond the White Picket Fence. I.B.Tauris. p. 5. ISBN 1-84511-220-2. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  3. ^ a b "Jenji Kohan and Roberto Benabib". KCRW. July 30, 2008. Retrieved April 25, 2011.
  4. ^ "Weeds Cancelled". TVLine. 2012-06-13. Archived from the original on 2012-10-15. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
  5. ^ Glennis, Sadie (2012-06-13). "Weeds to End After Upcoming Season". TV Guide. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
  6. ^ "'Weeds Awareness Week' Welcomes Show to TV Guide Network". TV Guide. Oct 11, 2010. Retrieved April 24, 2011.