Speechless (2016)

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Season 1
  • Network: ABC
  • Series Premiere Date: Sep 21, 2016
Season #: 3, 2, 1
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 29 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 29
  3. Negative: 0 out of 29
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Critic Reviews

  1. Collider
    Reviewed by: Allison Keene
    Sep 20, 2016
    60
    Speechless has a lot of promise, and Driver--who brings her same manic, pushy, yet charming persona over from NBC’s cancelled comedy About a Boy--is its driving force. But Yarbrough is quietly the show’s greatest asset, and his interactions with J.J. allow for both characters to have that coveted voice, one that makes them as deeply considered and uproariously funny as anyone else.
  2. Yahoo TV
    Reviewed by: Ken Tucker
    Sep 21, 2016
    50
    Speechless, created by Scott Silveri, wants to avoids mawkishness and pity so much, it goes way overboard in the other direction, making the audience feel like the cop who declines to chase after Driver when she’s speeding: he finds her so hostile and obnoxious, he says it’s just not worth confronting her.
  3. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    Reviewed by: Rob Owen
    Sep 19, 2016
    50
    Speechless has its funny moments, but they are interspersed with So. Much. Yelling.

Awards & Rankings

41
#41 Best TV Season of 2016

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 54 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 36 out of 54
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 54
  3. Negative: 10 out of 54
  1. jes_fine
    Oct 3, 2016
    3
    This is a great premise poorly executed. Trying way to hard to be funny with Minnie Driver absurdly and unbelievably over the top. By the endThis is a great premise poorly executed. Trying way to hard to be funny with Minnie Driver absurdly and unbelievably over the top. By the end of the second episode it just becomes wearing. I'll give it one more show but not optimistic. Too bad.… Full Review »
  2. rwwonwheels
    Dec 22, 2016
    1
    As a wheelchair with Cerebral Palsy. I find "Speechless" to be an insult to the entire disability community. While humor can serve as aAs a wheelchair with Cerebral Palsy. I find "Speechless" to be an insult to the entire disability community. While humor can serve as a vehicle for education and enlightenment, this show is a complete disaster. The adults are unstable and the dialogue doesn't even try to even remotely emulate the real-life struggles of disabled children and their parents--while comedy is fine, real life isn't a joke. The parents come off as scammers and the male caregiver for J.J. (the disabled student) comes off in multiple episodes as an inappropriate sex-crazed pervert in his interactions with the other characters on the show (especially the teenagers) in a disjointed and failed attempt at humor. Finally, I was disappointed to learn that apparently Micah Fowler, the actor that plays J.J., can actually speak with difficulty--the non-speaking nature of the main character reinforces the stereotype that all disabled can't speak and therefore are stupid. This show does ZERO to improve public perception of disability and only reinforces current negative perceptions.… Full Review »
  3. beachldy
    Oct 3, 2016
    4
    Love the lead actor (Micah Fowler)... but Minnie Driver's character is just too "over the top" and overly-emoted. The show unfortunately isLove the lead actor (Micah Fowler)... but Minnie Driver's character is just too "over the top" and overly-emoted. The show unfortunately is quite dull, and rarely actually funny. While we do need more shows with handicapped actors, this one could have had potential but lacks luster of any kind with a boring story line.… Full Review »
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