All American

Bibliographic Information:  

• Title: All American  
• Creator: Nkechi Okoro Carroll 

• Publisher: The CW   
• Copyright Date: 2018  

Genre: Teen, drama, sports  

Awards or Honors: None 

Watch Level: TV: 14 

Plot Summary: Spencer James is a football star and a good student going to South Crenshaw High. When Beverly Hills football coach Billy Baker, a former NFL football player from Crenshaw, comes to visit, he offers Spencer the chance to come to play at Beverly Hills. However, Spencer is torn about the decision, as he has friends at Crenshaw High. He also wants to stay close to his mom and brother in Crenshaw. If he does decide to go to Beverly Hills, he would have to leave Crenshaw and move in with Coach Baker. He meets Coach Baker’s children, and they tell him what life would be like in Beverly Hills. He decides to go to Beverly Hills and moves in with Coach Baker. He learns to adjust to life in Beverly Hills and going to a new high school. He makes new friends and clashes with some new teammates as he adjusts to a different culture.   

Creator Background: Nkechi Okoro Carroll is the executive producer and took over after the first couple of episodes. She has previously been an executive producer on Rosewood and The Resident and worked for FBC and NBC. She was also a writer-producer on Bones and a staff writer on The Finder. She is also involved in other projects on ABC (Andreeva, 2018).   

Carroll worked as an economist at the Federal Reserve after college before getting into the entertainment industry. She grew up in Nigeria, the United States, and the United Kingdom. She speaks several languages (Andreeva, 2018).   

Critical Evaluation: The show is a dramatic and interesting look at the difference in life for people in Los Angeles. Crenshaw is a mostly Black and Latino area, while Beverly Hills is a white area. The difference in wealth, resources, and opportunities is a central theme throughout the show. There are many scenes and shots of Los Angeles, and the viewer gets a feel for the neighborhoods and areas of Los Angeles. The show is fast-paced and filled with drama and sudden changes. The show, at times, can feel like there is too much going on. So much happens in one episode, and the viewer must keep up. The show gives lots of lessons to kids and adults, and no one is perfectly good or bad. Characters are developed throughout the series and face lots of challenges.   

Creative Use Library Program: I would have this tv show be part of a library film festival for teens. This show would be one of several shown throughout the day. We would also try and get an actor from the show to call in via Zoom or visit to talk about the show. They could offer the teens a look into the show and how they got into acting. Kids can watch the show and learn more about the acting profession.   

Book Talk: Spencer James is a high school football star in Crenshaw. Life has its challenges, but he is getting through with his friends, mother, and brother. Then, a life-changing offer comes out of nowhere. Former NFL star Billy Baker offers him the chance to play for nationally ranked Beverly Hills High. Spencer is torn. Should he take this opportunity and try something new, or should he stay grounded and stay with his family and what he knows in Crenshaw?    

Potential Challenge Issues: Potential issues might be for scenes of drugs, alcohol, addiction, and violence. I would defend the show scenes as important aspects that honestly portray teen life. The scenes of alcohol, drugs, and violence are things teens should avoid and be cautious about. We need more honest portrayals of teen life instead of insisting teens don’t make bad decisions. I believe libraries can successfully defend the show.   

Reason for Inclusion: I picked the show because it was a diverse show for sports fans, including information about drama, romance, and teenagers growing up. The show is also based on a true story and talks about race and class themes that are important. The show is fast-paced and is popular on the CW. I watched the show and thought it was interesting and might appeal to people who play sports.   

All American. (2018). Retrieved November 15, 2020, from https://www.netflix.com/watch/81028479?trackId=13752289&tctx=0%2C0%2Cbaa4385de3cfdd32986f2da994c606308cb9fb61%3A1e038591eb797d0c3bfd3fabc9e4061e19a8fa04%2Cbaa4385de3cfdd32986f2da994c606308cb9fb61%3A1e038591eb797d0c3bfd3fabc9e4061e19a8fa04%2C%2C 

Andreeva, N. (2018, October 2). ‘All American’: Nkechi Okoro Carroll Tapped As New Showrunner As Creator April Blair Exits CW Series. Deadline. https://deadline.com/2018/10/all-american-nkechi-okoro-carroll-new-showrunner-creator-april-blair-exits-1202475065/