Vida, Sweetbitter: Half-Hour Drama Series Set for May Release Date on Starz - canceled + renewed TV shows

The hour-long comedy-drama or “dramedy” has been a thing since at least the 1980s series, The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd. Far more rare is the half-hour drama, but it does exist. This spring, Starz is introducing two such TV series, on Sunday, May 6, 2018 at a time TBA.

The Vida TV show stars Mishel Prada and Melissa Barrera as two Mexican-American sisters from LA’s Eastside. Meanwhile, the Sweetbitter TV series stars Ella Purnell as Tess, a young woman who goes to New York City, for a fresh start.

Check out these excerpts from a Starz press release, for more on the Vida and Sweetbitter TV show premieres.

STARZ ANNOUNCES 2018 PREMIERE DATES FOR ORIGINALS “HOWARDS END,” “VIDA” AND “SWEETBITTER”

Pasadena, Calif. – January 12, 2018 – Today at the Television Critics Association (TCA) Winter 2018 Press Tour, Starz President of Programming Carmi Zlotnik announced premiere dates for three new originals including the eagerly-awaited STARZ Original Limited Series “Howards End,” premiering on Sunday, April 8. Half-hour dramas “Vida” and “Sweetbitter” will premiere on Sunday, May 6.

[…]

“Vida” is a half-hour drama series focusing on two Mexican-American sisters, Emma (Mishel Prada) and Lyn (Melissa Barrera), from the Eastside of Los Angeles who couldn’t be more different or distanced from each other. Circumstances force them to return to their old neighborhood, where they are confronted by the past and surprising truth about their mother’s identity.

Tanya Saracho (“How to Get Away With Murder,” “Looking,” “Girls“) serves as showrunner and executive producer. Alonso Ruizpalacios (Gueros, Verde) directs the series premiere episode. Big Beach TV’s Robin Schwartz, Peter Saraf and Marc Turtletaub executive produce with Stephanie Langhoff (“Togetherness,” “The Bronze,” “The Skeleton Twins”). Emmy(R) award-winning Chrisann Verges (“Girlboss,” “Getting On,” “Warm Springs”) produces.

“Sweetbitter” tells the story of Tess (Ella Purnell), a 22-year-old who arrives in New York City ready to pursue a new life. When she finds herself interviewing for a position at one of the best restaurants in the city, she thinks she’s found a steady income and a safe place to wait. But Tess is quickly intoxicated by the chaotic, adrenalized world behind-the-scenes, tasting expensive wine, exploring dive bars, and learning who she can trust.

“Sweetbitter” illuminates the sensory journey of developing a palate. How the sweet, sour, salt, bitter, and umami threaten, complement and ultimately need each other so that we can learn to taste. “Sweetbitter” is a show about the life that happens to you while you’re waiting.

“Sweetbitter” is adapted from the best-selling novel of the same name by series creator Stephanie Danler who serves as executive producer and writer on the series. She is joined as an executive producer by Stu Zicherman (“The Americans,” “The Affair,” “Six Degrees“) who also serves as showrunner and director of the finale episode and Richard Shepard (The Matador, Dom Hemingway, “Girls,” “Criminal Minds,” Ugly Betty“) who directed the series premiere episode. Plan B Entertainment’s Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner and Sarah Esberg also executive produce the series.

Starz is the studio for “Vida” and “Sweetbitter.”
[Press release via The Futon Critic]