Tina Fey's 'The Four Seasons' renewed for third season
The Netflix show, initially an adaptation of a 1981 film directed by Alan Alda, had its characters take a trip down the Shore in its last season.
(Some spoilers ahead)
Clear your TV schedule because the funniest vacation crew is coming back: Tina Fey’s hit romantic comedy series The Four Seasons has been renewed for a third season, Netflix announced this week.
The show, initially an adaptation of a 1981 film directed by Alan Alda, released its second season in May with its ensemble cast including Fey, Colman Domingo, Will Forte, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Marco Calvani, and Erika Henningsen. Each season sees the friend group travel together on four trips throughout the course of one year, going as far as Italy and Puerto Rico and as near as upstate New York and the Jersey Shore (where they filmed in Ocean Grove and Point Pleasant Beach).
Created by Fey and her fellow 30 Rock writers Tracey Wigfield and Lang Fisher, The Four Seasons has been credited for its realistic and heartwarming portrayal of middle-aged couples in long-term relationships and friendships.
Fey and Domingo, from Upper Darby and West Philly, respectively, direct some episodes as well. Like their on-screen friendship, the actors have gotten closer as they’ve worked together on the show, they told The Inquirer last month.
“We grew up so geographically close together. I was like on the very edge of the last street in Upper Darby, and across the street was Cobbs Creek Park,” said Fey, adding that they’re the same age.
“I feel like you can see [our friendship] on screen, because it’s actually what has happened personally for us as well, as we got to know each other and each other’s families, each other’s hearts,” said Domingo. “The Jersey Shore location felt very personal for us, because I feel like we grew up there and it brings up [memories].”
In season two, the group is grieving the death of their friend Nick (Steve Carrell) and navigating major life changes, like in the case of Domingo and Calvani’s characters. Danny and Claude move to Italy after deciding not to have children. In the finale, however, the couple decide to move to Danny’s hometown of Philadelphia to care for his aging mother. (Initially Danny tries convincing mom to live with them in Italy, but when she hears there’s no Wawa in the country, she simply replies, “Then there’s no Beverly in Italy.”)
Will season three see the cast spending any time in Philly? The itinerary hasn’t been announced yet, but we’re holding out hope.
Calvani, in the Netflix announcement, suggested that season three might feature Danny and Claude’s “other, hotter” friend group; Calvani said he hopes to “explore our gay friends” and Domingo added that it would be fun to “take the straights on that vacation.”
One potential new addition to the show is Doctor Who actor David Tennant, who made a cameo in the season two finale as a love interest for Kenney-Silver’s character, Anne. Wigfield hinted at the idea of more story lines with his character, but his involvement isn’t official just yet.
“Tina Fey, Lang Fisher, and Tracey Wigfield have a magical way of blending heart and sharp humor, making us feel like part of the inner circle,” said Netflix’s vice president of U.S. comedy Tracey Pakosta in the announcement. “Audiences have fallen in love with these characters and this legendary cast’s electric chemistry.”
