Connecting
Connecting: Healing Ourselves and Our Relationships is a 1997 book by Larry Crabb, an American psychologist and Christian author, in which he contends that deep, authentic interpersonal connections within small communities are essential for emotional healing and spiritual maturity, rather than dependence on isolated self-effort or professional therapy alone.[1] Crabb, drawing from his background in clinical psychology and evangelical theology, critiques modern individualism and superficial relationships as barriers to releasing innate human goodness empowered by divine grace.[2] The work advocates forming "mini-communities" of mutual vulnerability and encouragement, positioning ordinary believers as capable of fostering healing akin to counseling.[3] Published by Word Publishing, it reflects Crabb's broader oeuvre on integrating psychological insights with biblical principles, influencing Christian counseling circles despite debates over its optimistic view of relational transformation amid human sinfulness.[4]Overview
Premise and Setting
Connecting... is an American sitcom that depicts a group of friends attempting to sustain their social bonds during the COVID-19 pandemic through virtual video calls facilitated by a Zoom-like application. The premise centers on the enforced physical isolation resulting from lockdown measures implemented in early 2020, which prevent in-person gatherings and exacerbate interpersonal tensions, professional uncertainties, and emotional strains among the ensemble.[5] [6] Set against the backdrop of widespread quarantines and social distancing protocols across the United States, the series illustrates the characters' navigation of real-time challenges such as remote work disruptions, family dynamics under confinement, and the psychological toll of prolonged separation. Virtual interactions serve as the primary mechanism for conflict and resolution, with episodes unfolding in multi-paneled screen formats that mimic contemporary video conferencing experiences.[7] [8] The narrative emphasizes the improvisational nature of digital connectivity, where attempts at virtual socializing reveal both the conveniences and inadequacies of technology in replicating authentic human connection during crisis. Premiering on NBC on October 8, 2020, the show reflects the immediate cultural shift toward online communication amid the global health emergency declared by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020.[9] [10]Format and Production Style
Connecting... employs a single-camera comedy format adapted to simulate multi-participant video conferences, presenting scenes in a grid layout akin to popular conferencing software such as Zoom, with individual actor feeds composited to mimic real-time group interactions.[11] This stylistic choice emphasizes the constraints of virtual communication during the COVID-19 pandemic, forgoing traditional studio setups in favor of remote filming where actors performed from their home environments.[11] To achieve authenticity, production teams mailed actors self-filming kits including iPhones for capture, microphone packs for audio clarity, lighting trees, and diffusion materials, enabling isolated shoots that captured the informal, glitch-prone nature of pandemic-era calls.[11] [12] The series consists of eight episodes, each averaging 22 minutes in runtime, designed for half-hour television slots.[13] The first four episodes aired weekly on NBC Thursdays from October 8 to October 29, 2020, at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT, while the remaining four were released exclusively online via Peacock and NBC.com following the network's decision to pull the show from broadcast amid low viewership.[14] [6] Visual production remains minimalistic, relying on basic compositing of remote feeds rather than elaborate effects, which contributes to a deliberately unpolished aesthetic that prioritizes narrative intimacy over cinematic polish; screen-sharing and app interface elements are rendered simply to maintain the illusion of unscripted virtual gatherings without advanced CGI interventions.[11] This approach not only adhered to health protocols but also reinforced the show's thematic focus on technological mediation in human connections.[15]Cast and Characters
Main Characters and Casting
The principal cast of Connecting... features an ensemble of seven friends representing diverse urban professionals who confront isolation and personal upheavals during the early COVID-19 pandemic via group video chats.[16] Otmara Marrero stars as Annie, a television enthusiast fixated on the sitcom Cheers, who develops romantic feelings for her friend Ben and explores co-quarantining as a means to advance their relationship.[17] Preacher Lawson portrays Ben, a man recently dumped by his girlfriend just before lockdowns began, who weighs reconciliation amid the group's virtual support.[18] Parvesh Cheena plays Pradeep, a father overwhelmed by managing his disruptive children at home while participating in calls.[19] Additional core roles include Ely Henry as Rufus, Jill Knox as Michelle, Keith Powell as Garrett, and Shakina Nayfack as Ellis, each embodying archetypes like frontline workers, creative professionals, and those navigating identity and relational shifts in confinement.[20] The characters' arcs center on incremental growth through shared vulnerabilities—such as Pradeep's parenting frustrations and Ellis's personal transitions—fostered by remote interactions that mirror real-world pandemic strains.[11] Casting announcements commenced in early 2020, with Marrero and Cheena cast first, followed by the remaining principals on August 5, 2020, selected for their ability to convey authentic emotional depth in self-filmed scenes using personal devices like iPhones.[18] Actors drew from their own quarantine realities, including Powell and Knox, who are married in real life and filmed domestically, enhancing the performances' realism without on-set chemistry building.[12] [21] Interpersonal dynamics emphasize unresolved romantic pursuits, like Annie's overtures toward Ben, alongside friendship tensions amplified by digital mediation, which build across the eight-episode season but conclude abruptly due to the series' cancellation in October 2020.[17] [19]| Actor | Character | Key Traits and Arc Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Otmara Marrero | Annie | Cheers fan pursuing romance amid lockdown longing. |
| Preacher Lawson | Ben | Post-breakup indecision on ex-reunion. |
| Parvesh Cheena | Pradeep | Parental exhaustion from homebound family chaos. |
| Ely Henry | Rufus | Supportive friend aiding group emotional navigation. |
| Jill Knox | Michelle | Professional navigating isolation's relational toll. |
| Keith Powell | Garrett | Creative type confronting creative and social blocks. |
| Shakina Nayfack | Ellis | Identity exploration intensified by separation. |
Recurring and Guest Roles
The series featured sporadic appearances by characters' family members and professional contacts, who joined the group's video chats to inject external perspectives and comedic tension into the core ensemble's dynamics. These recurring elements often depicted parents or relatives interrupting conversations, underscoring generational gaps in adapting to virtual communication during the pandemic; for example, older family figures struggled with technical glitches or expressed bewilderment at younger characters' slang and habits.[16][7] Guest stars appeared in single-episode arcs, mimicking the impromptu celebrity drop-ins common in 2020's real-world Zoom fatigue era, thereby adding satirical layers to the show's quarantine premise. Notable contributions included Tony Plana as Ramon, Annie's father, in the episode "Day 135" (aired November 5, 2020), where his character's outdated views sparked clashes with the group's modern sensibilities.[7][22] Constance Marie portrayed Marta in the same episode, further emphasizing familial intrusions via video.[23] Other guests, such as Loretta Devine and Carl Tart (as Wendell) in "Day 90" (November 5, 2020), provided brief but pointed commentary on relationships and isolation.[24] Jaime Cepero as Kirby and D'Lo as Zach also featured in isolated episodes, contributing to the episodic variety without extending into multi-appearance roles.[7] Alex Landi appeared as Cameron in select segments, rounding out the limited external inputs.[25] Across the eight-episode run, guest and supporting contributions totaled approximately five to seven distinct instances, constrained by the remote filming logistics that prioritized the main cast's consistent availability over extensive external hires.[26] These appearances enhanced the portrayal of disrupted social bubbles without overshadowing the primary friend group's internal conflicts.Episode Guide
Season 1 Episodes
Season 1 of Connecting... comprises eight half-hour episodes, each structured around a group video call among friends navigating life during the early COVID-19 pandemic. The series aired its first four episodes on NBC from October 8 to October 29, 2020, before being pulled from the broadcast schedule due to declining ratings; the remaining episodes premiered exclusively on Peacock on November 5, 2020.[6] [14] Episodes typically run approximately 21 minutes, consistent with NBC's sitcom format. Martin Gero, the series co-creator, directed multiple installments, including the season finale "Day 229."[27] No second season was produced owing to insufficient viewership.[28]| No. | Title | Air Date | Director | Plot Overview |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot | October 8, 2020 | N/A | A group of friends initiates a virtual hangout at the onset of quarantine; Annie weighs confessing her feelings to Ben amid growing concern for absent friend Jazmin.[29] |
| 2 | Day 30 | October 15, 2020 | N/A | Pradeep contends with preparing dinner for his selective children, exposing underlying group tensions; Annie's impulsive online purchases lead to an unforeseen delivery.[30] |
| 3 | Day 78 | October 15, 2020 | N/A | Garret proposes a Memorial Day getaway to Big Bear, premised on adherence to rigorous safety protocols.[30] |
| 4 | Day 82 | October 29, 2020 | N/A | Michelle balances professional duties and a communal meal contribution while fielding queries on racial dynamics; Garret and Ben pursue means of temporary relief.[30] |
| 5 | Day 90 | November 5, 2020 | N/A | The friends gear up for participation in a Black Lives Matter demonstration; Ben encounters hurdles, compounded by familial meddling.[30] |
| 6 | Day 135 | November 12, 2020 | N/A | Quarantine exhaustion prompts Annie to consider relocating to her parents in Florida; Ben and Rufus attempt to dissuade her via a provocative message.[30] |
| 7 | Day 226 | November 16, 2020 | N/A | Ellis orchestrates a remote Halloween gathering; Ben schemes to advance his interest in Annie, interrupted by an unexpected participant's arrival.[30] |
| 8 | Day 229 | November 16, 2020 | Martin Gero | As the 2020 U.S. presidential election looms, the group confronts individual doubts and pivotal choices.[30] [27] |