Talk:This Is Us season 2

Lonnie Chavis' recurring role as young Randall

In view of the fact that some people may have missed this, the teenage actors playing Kevin, Kate & Randall and the child actors playing young Kevin and young Kate have been promoted to series regulars in view of their pivotal roles in the series. Lonnie Chavis, the actor who plays young Randall, has not been promoted to series regular because he is credited as a series regular on a show airing on another network, and there is a conflict-of-interest clause in his contract for that which prevents him from being credited as a series regular on This Is Us while he stars on that other series. That is well documented by the sources cited in the article. I just wanted to mention that here on the talk page so anyone with any questions in that regard has that information. Thanks. --Jgstokes (talk) 04:10, 5 October 2017 (UTC)

Looks like they started crediting Lonnie Chavis as a series regular on 17 October 2017 (episode 4 of season 2): IMDB started to show Chavis as first-billed for that episode. Refer to IMDB This Is Us, Season 2, Episode 4 "Still There" , and note that Chavis was not shown as first-billed in the previous episode, but he has been first-billed in episode 4 and afterwards. (I would like to know, however, the date that the conflict-of-interest clause expires - or whether first-billing implies whether an actor is a series regular.) Thank you for reading this entry. -- Bwefler (talk) 15:55, 6 November 2017 (UTC)

After doing some digging, it would appear that IMDB finds it easier to bill them together, since Chavis is listed with his counterparts portraying the other two of "The Big Three." There has also been nothing whatsoever to indicate that the exclusivity clause in Chavis's contract has expired. Unless the other series for which he is billed as a regular has ended, then since the material previously cited about how Chavis cannot be credited as a series regular has not been updated saying that is no longer the case, it was probably more convenient for IMDB to bill the three 10-year-olds together. It would appear that the other series is White Famous, and from what I have read about that show (which is headlined by SNL alum Jay Pharoah, if memory serves), it would make sense that Chavis's involvement as a lead in that series would preclude his being so credited on this one. Just some additional thoughts. I will not revert the change back to what it was to allow time for consensus and research from anyone else. --Jgstokes (talk) 06:40, 12 January 2018 (UTC)

Just researched some more. It would appear that "White Famous" was cancelled after a few episodes. Unless he is a series regular anywhere else, that would end his contract on that show, which means he can be (and likely is) credited as a series regular now on this show. Thanks. --Jgstokes (talk) 06:40, 12 January 2018 (UTC)

Uhm... how is this an issue that needs investigating? Just watch the credits in the actual episodes. If the show has started billing him with the rest of the main cast (Moore, Ventimiglia, etc.), then he can be listed as main cast. Otherwise, recurring. Not sure what the issue is here. —Joeyconnick (talk) 18:26, 12 January 2018 (UTC)

The issue is in the fact that the cited sources stating that Chavis could not be credited as main cast on "This Is Us" has yet to be updated to reflect the fact that the clause in his contract which prevented him from being a series regular on "This Is Us" no longer applies. And it seems easier to assume that Chavis is likely credited where he is because it's a format thing where all of the younger actors playing The Big Three at ages 10 and 17 are credited together. If we could find conclusive evidence that Chavis is no longer bound by that contract, that would settle my concerns. But the cited sources stating he cannot be so credited have not been updated. That is the issue. --Jgstokes (talk) 18:59, 12 January 2018 (UTC)

Whether someone is listed as main is not based on secondary sources... it is based on the credits in the actual episodes as per MOS:TVCAST. So if the series itself is billing him as main, it doesn't matter what old and/or secondary sources are saying about him not being able to be billed as main. I trust the people making the show actually know the status of his contract as they are going to be sued or face other repercussions if they screw up on that. —Joeyconnick (talk) 19:07, 12 January 2018 (UTC)

The article's "Casting" section now contains the text, "Lonnie Chavis began the season continuing as young Randall in a recurring role, but was ultimately promoted to series regular." But it is cited to the article that explicitly states, "[Chavis] is not a contractual series regular on This Is Us," and contains no update. I watched the opening credits of the season finale, "The Wedding," and in the main cast (readily identifiable as it includes credited cast regulars who did not appear in the episode, and it preceded the guest cast listing) I believe I saw Niles Fitch, Hannah Zeile, and Logan Shroyer (the teen actors) credited together on one screen, followed by another single-screen credit for Mackenzie Hancsicsak and Parker Bates (young Kate and Kevin) but not Lonnie Chavis. The show's official website on NBC.com is no help; its "cast" page omits all of the non-adult actors. So, unless someone can attest that they saw Lonnie Chavis credited as a series regular (and not just in the opening credits as a guest in an episode he appeared in), or can provide another source that Chavis's status was upped during this season, I will give it a week and then delete the statement to that effect. Meanwhile, I'll make an effort to watch the opening credits of S02E04, which Bwefler above specifically mentioned as an episode in which Chavis was "first-billed," although that might have pertained to IMDB only. --DavidK93 (talk) 17:19, 16 March 2018 (UTC)

Just to clarify for any future lookers-in, the above assessment that Chavis was upgraded from episode 4 is incorrect; he is in fact credited with the main cast throughout the season, but (unlike the contracted series regulars) only in the episodes he appears in. I've amended the article to reflect that. U-Mos (talk) 00:18, 28 May 2022 (UTC)

Improvement of plot summaries

I have started to shorten some of the plot summary sentences in sections flagged as possibly too long or having unnecessary details. I could use input on which details aren't really needed. Thank you. --Bwefler (talk) 15:18, 6 November 2017 (UTC)

Production codes?

Where do we find the production codes assigned for each episode? I don't want to just assume what the code for each upcoming episode is; I want each production code to be verifiable. Thanks. -- Bwefler (talk) 23:09, 18 November 2017 (UTC)

Never mind - think I figured out the answer in Production code number. So apparently 2AZC10 means season 2, show identifier AZC (whoever assigns that), episode 10. -- Bwefler (talk) 05:10, 23 November 2017 (UTC)

"List of This Is Us characters" updates

I've been trying to update the List of This Is Us characters article based on information and events from season 2. I could please use some help with or constructive critique on it. Thanks. -- Bwefler (talk) 18:10, 6 December 2017 (UTC)

Alexandra Breckenridge

@Brojam: When I found the article about Alexandra Breckenridge being pregnant, I wanted to include that because that could explain why "Sophie" was only written in until episode 7 of season 2. So I think it is relevant. Thanks for reading. -- Bwefler (talk) 22:26, 16 January 2018 (UTC)

That's original research. You need reliable sources stating that her pregnancy was the reason she is absent after episode 7 and not simply because the writers choose not to have her in the storyline. - Brojam (talk) 22:32, 16 January 2018 (UTC)

Acknowledged. - Bwefler (talk) 22:35, 16 January 2018 (UTC)

@Brojam: In case you're interested, it turns out she gave birth already, in early December, to a baby girl.

References

Guest vs. Recurring

In This Is Us (season 1), the guideline for Guest cast was: "Notable celebrities who have appeared in one-time roles. May be moved to 'Recurring' if the character appears more than once." So why is it that in this season, a guest has to appear 4 times to be moved to "Recurring"? Thanks. -- Bwefler (talk) 03:21, 21 January 2018 (UTC)

Super Bowl Sunday episode

I know people don't often read this talk page, but I just feel like saying a lot of us have worked very hard to get the Super Bowl Sunday episode turned around very quickly, getting a plot summary within the MOS:TVPLOT word limit, and getting the ratings numbers as they have changed so quickly, etc.—so I just wanted to say: good job people. -- Bwefler (talk) 18:01, 6 February 2018 (UTC)

Episode 18 ("The Wedding") Summary

Bwefler, there are a few points in the summary that are a little too complex to hash out in edit summaries. First, I think "Deja is surly after Shauna legally forfeited her parental rights" was better than "Deja is surly since Shauna is legally forfeiting parental rights," because Beth says that Shauna already made that declaration to the judge; although not explicitly stated, I believe this means that Shauna's parental rights have in fact been severed by a court proceeding. If there's concern that this is an interpretation of the plot, an alternative that quotes directly from the episode dialogue could be, "Deja is surly after Shauna requested termination of parental rights." Second, I had concerns over the spelling of Beth's cousin's name; some recaps have written it as "Zoey," others as "Zoe." I finally thought to check Melanie Liburd's official Twitter, and it's "Zoe" after all, so now we know in case anyone else changes it. Third, I think "Randall and adult Deja feel unprepared to see an unidentified "her."" was better than "Randall and adult Tess visit an unidentified female in an institution." There was no mention of an institution in the episode, and the second version inaccurately states that a visit occurs and omits Randall and Tess's discussion of not being "ready" to "see" "her."; also, "unidentified female" could be misconstrued as meaning that this female appears in the episode, while "unidentified "her"" I believe clarifies that a female is discussed without being present. --DavidK93 (talk) 21:07, 15 March 2018 (UTC)

DavidK93The location where Randall and Tess were appears to be an institution. Also, I thought the court proceedings were still in progress over Shauna's termination of parental rights (I thought that was mentioned in the episode). But "Deja is surly after Shauna requested termination of parental rights" could work as long as we don't end up with too many words. And I changed "Zoey" to "Zoe" after someone listed "Zoe" as a guest-cast character, with the citation to back it up. -- Bwefler (talk) 21:42, 15 March 2018 (UTC)

I believe the setting for Randall and Tess's conversation was Tess's office, which we know is the social services facility. You are correct that they say the court hasn't ruled. I'll fiddle with some things. --DavidK93 (talk) 21:51, 15 March 2018 (UTC)

I already made a few changes, including ""Deja is surly after Shauna requested termination of parental rights." -- Bwefler (talk) 21:55, 15 March 2018 (UTC)

I see that. I made the change to the far future scene, keeping your "unshown." I tweaked a few other things we didn't discuss; let me know if you have concerns. --DavidK93 (talk) 21:59, 15 March 2018 (UTC)

Looks OK to me. (I looked up "unshown" in merriam-webster.com before using it.) (Too bad we couldn't include the ice cream place under new ownership... but that would require too many words...) -- Bwefler (talk) 22:15, 15 March 2018 (UTC)

-- I decided that Kevin allowing himself to grieve over Jack was more important than the ice cream place, so I worked that in. -- Bwefler (talk) 22:49, 15 March 2018 (UTC)

-- I also remembered Madison taking it upon herself to be the "maid of honor" and try to find Kate, but there are just too many details to include in a summary with a 200 word maximum... Hopefully what we have now will work. Thanks DavidK93 for your cooperation. -- Bwefler (talk) 23:01, 15 March 2018 (UTC)

Does the episode clearly show they are flying to Vietnam or is that info from future episodes? Gevorg89 (talk) 16:08, 23 November 2023 (UTC)