Dante Carrillo
Santa Clarita Diet is an American horror-comedy series created by Victor Fresco for Netflix. The show follows suburban realtors Joel and Sheila Hammond, played by Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant, whose lives take a dark turn when Sheila becomes a zombie and starts craving human flesh. The series received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise for its cast, humour, and engaging premise, although the level of gore was noted as not being to everyone's taste. Victor Fresco is also known for writing off-kilter family comedies and wanted to create a fun show with a crazy idea grounded in a real way.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Creator | Victor Fresco |
| Genre | Horror-comedy |
| Type | Netflix original series |
| Number of seasons | 3 |
| Number of episodes | 10 |
| Premiered | February 3, 2017 |
| Cancelled | April 26, 2019 |
| Stars | Drew Barrymore, Timothy Olyphant |
| Characters | Sheila Hammond, Joel Hammond, Abby Hammond, Eric Bemis, Dan Palmer, Lisa Palmer |
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What You'll Learn
Victor Fresco created the show
Fresco is known for writing off-kilter family comedies, and he brought his unique style to this surreal series. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, he explained his desire to take a crazy idea and ground it in the dynamics of family life. He wanted to create a show with an interesting twist, moving away from the typical suburban family dramas.
Fresco's creative process for Santa Clarita Diet started with the idea of an otherwise normal person experiencing undead symptoms and the comedic potential of a character eating people. He wanted to explore the theme of empowerment and the fine line between it and narcissism. The show also serves as a commentary on consumerism and the consequences of our actions.
As a showrunner and executive producer, Fresco played a crucial role in bringing the show to life. He worked alongside other executive producers, including Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant, who also starred as the lead actors. The series received generally positive reviews from critics and fans, with particular praise for its blend of humour, gore, and engaging premise.
Santa Clarita Diet ran for three seasons on Netflix before its cancellation in 2019. While it had a successful run, with many fans disappointed by its ending, the show left a lasting impression with its unique blend of comedy and horror.
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Drew Barrymore is an executive producer
Santa Clarita Diet was created by showrunner Victor Fresco, who also serves as an executive producer. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Fresco explained that he wanted to create a family show with an interesting twist. He aimed to ground the show in the dynamics of the family, presenting a couple that was "'so wildly in love' despite the challenges they faced.
Fresco has also discussed the process of developing the show's unique tone, which blends sweet and horrific elements. He chose to write the TV pilot as a spec script to ensure that everyone involved understood the tone and world of the show. This allowed him to maintain control over the show's direction and fully realise his creative vision.
As an executive producer, Barrymore likely played a key role in bringing Fresco's vision to life. Her involvement behind the scenes, in addition to her on-screen performance, demonstrates her commitment to the show and its unique blend of humour and horror. Barrymore's experience in the entertainment industry, both as an actor and producer, has undoubtedly contributed to the success of Santa Clarita Diet.
The series received generally positive reviews from critics, with particular praise for its cast, humour, and engaging premise. The first season holds a Rotten Tomatoes approval rating of 78%, while the second season improved to 89%.
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The show's advertising was criticised in Germany
Netflix's advertising campaign for its horror-comedy series Santa Clarita Diet received criticism in Germany in February 2017. The billboard campaign featured a dismembered, sliced-up finger coated in a blood-like substance and sprinkled with curry powder. This image was evocative of the German sausage dish currywurst. Netflix even set up food trucks serving currywurst around Potsdamer Platz in Berlin, where a giant billboard of the dismembered finger was hung.
The advertisement was considered offensive and disgusting by a portion of the German public. Over 50 complaints were filed with Germany's advertising regulator, the Deutscher Werberat, alleging that the ad was "offensive to children and young people, fear-evoking, and disgusting". As a result, Netflix took down the billboard campaign and currywurst stands.
Santa Clarita Diet is an American horror-comedy series created by Victor Fresco for Netflix. The series stars Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as Sheila and Joel Hammond, married real estate agents living in Santa Clarita, California. The show centres on the couple's lives as they take a dark turn when Sheila dies and becomes a flesh-eating zombie.
The show's first season received generally positive reviews from critics, with an approval rating of 78% on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 67 out of 100 on Metacritic. The second season also received positive reviews, with an approval rating of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite the show's critical success, the advertising campaign in Germany faced backlash due to its graphic and disturbing nature.
While the German advertising regulator cannot force advertisers to remove ads, they advised Netflix of the complaints, and the company took the initiative to stop the campaign immediately. This incident highlights the cultural sensitivities that companies like Netflix need to consider when promoting their products in different countries. It also demonstrates the power of public opinion in shaping the marketing strategies of global companies.
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The show received positive reviews
Santa Clarita Diet received generally positive reviews from critics. The first season has an approval rating of 78% on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average rating of 7.20/10. Metacritic reports that the first season received "generally favorable reviews" with a score of 67 out of 100, based on 30 critics. The show's second season also received positive reviews, with an approval rating of 89% and an average rating of 7.85/10 on Rotten Tomatoes.
The show's unique blend of horror and comedy was well-received, with critics praising the cast, frequent laughs, and engaging premise. One reviewer on IMDB described the show as "freaking hilarious", praising the way it balanced funny and dark moments. Another IMDB reviewer lamented the show's cancellation, stating that "other shows with not even half the talent and script continue on air".
The show's creator, Victor Fresco, is known for writing off-kilter family comedies, and he wanted to create a show with a "crazy idea" that was grounded in the dynamics of a family. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Fresco said:
> "I get tired of watching shows about a family and the big change that happens to them is one of the parents moves in or something like that. As a writer, you just try to do something that you feel is going to be really fun for you to write, and this felt like — and was — fun to write."
Fresco also wanted his fans to relate to the characters, noting that unlike in the 90s, when characters on shows like Friends were inherently likable, many characters on television today aren’t likable or overly interesting. He wanted to create a relationship that viewers would root for, and so he "cast these two people who were wonderful, likable, loving and funny."
Fresco also spoke about the challenges of writing comedy, noting that it "does everything drama does, except that it also has to be funny." He also believes that too much long-term planning can be a hindrance to television shows, as new storylines can have a "domino effect" that creates spontaneous plot points.
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The show's central message is about empowerment
Santa Clarita Diet is an American horror-comedy series created by Victor Fresco for Netflix. The show stars Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as Sheila and Joel, a married couple who work as realtors in Santa Clarita, California. Their lives take an unexpected turn when Sheila dies and transforms into a zombie, craving human flesh.
The central message of the show, according to Fresco, is about empowerment. In an interview, he stated that "empowerment is a good thing: to take hold of your life and get what you want, and be confident". He encourages viewers to embrace confidence and strive for their desires. However, Fresco also acknowledges the fine line between empowerment and narcissism. He observes the glorification of narcissism in contemporary culture, particularly in reality television shows.
The writer wanted to create relatable characters that the audience could root for. He aimed to portray a strong couple, Joel and Sheila, who unite to navigate the challenges of the outside world. Their dynamic serves as a source of empowerment, showcasing the importance of confidence and mutual support in overcoming obstacles.
Additionally, the show offers a unique twist to the traditional zombie narrative. By presenting Sheila as a zombie who looks and feels better than ever, Fresco adds a layer of dark humour to the story. The show explores the consequences of her condition, including her cravings for human flesh, and how it impacts her relationships and daily life.
Santa Clarita Diet received generally positive reviews from critics, with particular praise for its cast, humour, and engaging premise. The show's blend of comedy and gore captivated audiences, and it successfully completed three seasons before its cancellation in 2019.
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Frequently asked questions
Victor Fresco created and wrote the series Santa Clarita Diet. He is well known for writing off-kilter family comedies.
Santa Clarita Diet is about a married couple, Joel and Sheila Hammond, who are real estate agents living in Santa Clarita, California. Their lives take a dark turn when Sheila dies and becomes a zombie.
Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant star as Sheila and Joel Hammond.
