The Orville - wikipedia The Orville This article is about the U.S. TV series. For other uses, see Orville ( disambiguation ). The Orville Genre Comedy - drama Science fiction Action Created by Seth MacFarlane Starring Seth MacFarlane Adrianne Palicki Penny Johnson Jerald Scott Grimes Peter Macon Mark Jackson J. Lee Halston Sage Chad L. Coleman Theme music composer Bruce Broughton Composer ( s ) Bruce Broughton Joel McNeely John Debney Andrew Cottee Country of origin United States Original language ( s ) English No. of seasons No. of episodes 1 ( list of episodes ) Production Executive producer ( s ) Seth MacFarlane Brannon Braga David A. Goodman Jason Clark Jon Favreau ( pilot ) Liz Heldens Lili Fuller Production company ( s ) Fuzzy Door Productions 20th Century Fox Television Distributor 20th Television Release Original network Fox Original release September 10, 2017 -- present External links Website www.fox.com/the-orville The Orville is a comedy - drama science fiction television series created by and starring Seth MacFarlane that premiered on September 10, 2017, with new episodes to air Thursdays on Fox during the 2017 -- 18 season. Contents 1 Premise 2 Cast and characters 2.1 Main 2.2 Recurring 2.3 Guest starring 3 Episodes 4 Production 4.1 Development 4.2 Casting 4.3 Filming 5 Reception 5.1 Critical response 5.2 Ratings 6 References 7 External links Premise The Orville is set on the titular U.S.S. Orville ( ECV - 197 ), a mid-level exploratory vessel 400 years in the future. Cast and characters Main Seth MacFarlane as Ed Mercer, the captain of the Orville was an up and coming officer until a year prior to the series. Since then, he was put on report at least six times for reporting to duty while hungover, but was informed that due to the size of the fleet and the retirement of the former captain, the Orville was in need of a new commanding officer. A generally amiable person, his command style is somewhat informal and he likes to get to know the officers under his command. He is not above listening to a good and / or creative idea and is willing to give it the chance it deserves if the situation calls for it. Adrianne Palicki as Kelly Grayson, the first officer of the Orville and Ed Mercer 's ex-wife. The two divorced when Ed caught Kelly in bed with an alien. Unbeknownst to Captain Mercer, Kelly personally went to Admiral Halsey, an old friend of her father 's, to plead her case to give her ex-husband a command, stating that despite some personal setbacks, he deserved his own command. She requested that this be kept from him when assigned the Orville. Penny Johnson Jerald as Dr. Claire Finn, one of the most accomplished physicians in the Planetary Union Scott Grimes as Gordon Malloy, the helmsman of the Orville and Mercer 's best friend Considered the best helmsman in the Fleet, he was relegated to desk duty after an incident of trying to impress a girl caused the loss of valuable foodstuffs, as well as a cavalier attitude and several instances implying he was not above crude pranks that would exasperate his superiors. He was specifically requested by Mercer despite some hesitation by Admiral Halsey. Peter Macon as Lt. Commander Bortus. He 's Moclan, a single - sexed species, and is the second officer aboard the U.S.S. Orville. Preferring a measure of formality on the bridge, he annoyingly scolds Malloy after Malloy repeatedly makes an inappropriate request to wear shorts. Much like Capt. Mercer, he is willing to listen to any idea that would give the ship and crew an advantage to complete their mission or in combat, such as when he allowed Malloy to perform a very non-standard maneuver in their fight with the Krill. Also, he is an honorable person, to such an extent that he feels he failed Captain Mercer due to the ship 's damage in the battle with the Krill. Mercer responded with praise and stating simply that he could n't have done a better job himself. Halston Sage as Alara Kitan, a young inexperienced security officer of the Xelayan race, from a high gravity planet which, despite her smaller frame compared to others, makes her stronger than humans in environments with earth - like gravity J. Lee as John LaMarr, the navigator of the Orville with a casual sense of humor, and a love of soda. He and Malloy strike up an immediate friendship and appear to be on the same wavelength. LaMarr is almost in awe of Malloy 's abilities at the helm. Mark Jackson as Isaac, an artificial life - form from Kaylon, a machine society that thinks biological lifeforms are inferior His grasp of some aspects of Earth cultural norms, such as humor and sarcasm, is somewhat lacking until it is explained to him. The character is based very loosely on Lt. Cmdr Data from Star Trek : The Next Generation. Recurring Chad L. Coleman as Klyden, Bortus ' mate Norm Macdonald as the voice of Yaphit, a gelatinous creature Larry Joe Campbell as Steve Newton Victor Garber as Admiral Halsey Brian George as Dr. Aronov Rachael MacFarlane as the voice of the Orville computer. Guest starring Charlize Theron as Pria Lavesque Holland Taylor as Jeannie Mercer Jeffrey Tambor as Ben Mercer Robert Knepper as Hamelac Episodes No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date Prod. code U.S. viewers ( millions ) `` Old Wounds '' Jon Favreau Seth MacFarlane September 10, 2017 ( 2017 - 09 - 10 ) 1LAB01 8.56 The 25th century. Space pilot Ed Mercer divorces his wife Kelly Grayson after he catches her cheating on him. A year later, he accepts a position as Captain of the U.S.S. Orville and finds to his dismay that his ex-wife Kelly will serve as his First Officer. On its first mission, the Orville finds the hostile alien Krill have designs to steal a device that can accelerate time. `` Command Performance '' Robert Duncan McNeill TBA September 17, 2017 ( 2017 - 09 - 17 ) 1LAB03 TBD `` About a Girl '' Brannon Braga TBA September 21, 2017 ( 2017 - 09 - 21 ) 1LAB04 TBD `` If the Stars Should Appear '' James L. Conway TBA September 28, 2017 ( 2017 - 09 - 28 ) 1LAB02 TBD 5 `` Pria '' Jonathan Frakes TBA October 5, 2017 ( 2017 - 10 - 05 ) 1LAB05 TBD 6 TBA Jon Cassar TBA TBA 1LAB06 TBD 7 TBA Tucker Gates TBA TBA 1LAB07 TBD 8 TBA Seth MacFarlane TBA TBA 1LAB08 TBD 9 TBA Jamie Babbit TBA TBA 1LAB09 TBD 10 TBA Jon Cassar TBA TBA 1LAB10 TBD 11 TBA Kelly Cronin TBA TBA 1LAB11 TBD 12 TBA Kevin Hooks TBA TBA 1LAB12 TBD 13 TBA Seth MacFarlane Mark Jackson TBA 1LAB13 TBD Production Development MacFarlane originally wrote The Orville as a spec script, which was given a 13 - episode order by Fox on May 4, 2016, making it the first live - action television series created by MacFarlane, as well as his first live - action starring role on television. Following the project 's greenlight, MacFarlane stated, `` I 've wanted to do something like this show ever since I was a kid, and the timing finally feels right. (... ) I think this is gon na be something special. '' According to MacFarlane, The Orville was inspired by The Twilight Zone and Star Trek. He was also encouraged to sell the series due to the success of Guardians of the Galaxy and Deadpool. Casting On July 29, 2016, MacFarlane 's role was revealed to be Ed Mercer, the captain of the Orville, while Adrianne Palicki had been cast as Kelly Grayson, Ed 's ex-wife and the newly appointed first officer of the Orville, and Scott Grimes, who voices Steve Smith on American Dad ! ( another show created by MacFarlane ), was cast as Gordon Malloy, Ed 's best friend whom he hires to pilot the Orville. On August 19, Peter Macon and J Lee were cast as series regulars. On October 31, Halston Sage and Penny Johnson Jerald joined the cast. On December 8, Mark Jackson was cast. On April 3, 2017, Chad L. Coleman was added as a series regular and Larry Joe Campbell was cast in a recurring role. At San Diego Comic Con, MacFarlane confirmed that Charlize Theron would guest star in an upcoming episode. The two had previously co-starred in A Million Ways to Die in the West. Filming On August 24, 2016, Jon Favreau signed on to direct the pilot. Production on the pilot episode began in late 2016, and the rest of the episodes began filming on March 27, 2017. Production wrapped on August 23, 2017. Jonathan Frakes and Robert Duncan McNeill also direct episodes of the show. Reception Critical response The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 21 % approval rating, with an average rating of 4.61 / 10 based on 33 reviews. The website 's consensus reads, `` An odd jumble of campiness and sincerity, homage and satire, The Orville never quite achieves liftoff. '' Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 36 out of 100, based on 20 reviews, indicating `` generally unfavorable reviews ''. Liz Miller writing for IndieWire compared the series to Star Trek, calling it a rip off and `` Creatively, Morally, and Ethically Bankrupt ''. She criticized the lack of creativity, the blatant imitation, and was surprised that the show is `` uninterested in being a comedy ''. Erik Kain of Forbes, gave a positive review of the show with the observation that `` All the optimism and sincerity and lightheartedness of Star Trek is here, and in many ways it 's kind of wonderful. I 'm honestly surprised something like this exists. '' He says the critics were wrong and suggests their opinions are based on disliking MacFarlane and his whole brand of humor. Ratings No. Title Air date Rating / share ( 18 -- 49 ) Viewers ( millions ) DVR ( 18 -- 49 ) DVR viewers ( millions ) Total ( 18 -- 49 ) Total viewers ( millions ) `` Old Wounds '' September 10, 2017 2.7 / 9 8.56 TBD TBD TBD TBD `` Command Performance '' September 17, 2017 TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD `` About a Girl '' September 21, 2017 TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD `` If the Stars Should Appear '' September 28, 2017 TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD 5 `` Pria '' October 5, 2017 TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD References ^ Jump up to : `` Seth MacFarlane to Create, Executive - Produce and Star in New Series ''. FOX.com. Retrieved August 18, 2016. Jump up ^ Surette, Tim ( June 22, 2017 ). `` Here 's When The Gifted, The Orville and Other Fox Shows Premiere ''. TVGuide.com. Retrieved June 22, 2017. ^ Jump up to : Andreeva, Nellie ( July 29, 2016 ). `` Adrianne Palicki Stars In Seth MacFarlane Fox Series, Scott Grimes Co-Stars ''. Deadline.com. United States : Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved August 18, 2016. ^ Jump up to : `` The Orville on FOX ''. Retrieved May 15, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Inside Look In 360 ° ''. YouTube. September 1, 2017. Retrieved September 4, 2017. ^ Jump up to : `` Mark Jackson Joins Seth MacFarlane 's Fox Series ' Orville ' ' ''. Deadline. December 8, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Rachael MacFarlane ( @ GirlMacFarlane ) ''. Twitter. August 21, 2017. Retrieved September 4, 2017. ^ Jump up to : Porter, Rick ( September 13, 2017 ). `` ' The Orville ' and ' SNF ' adjust up, Miss America and ' 20 / 20 ′ adjust down : Sunday final ratings ''. TV by the Numbers.com. Retrieved September 13, 2017. Jump up ^ `` ( ORV - 103 ) `` Command Performance '' ``. The Futon Critic. Retrieved August 23, 2017. Jump up ^ Seth MacFarlane ( @ SethMacFarlane ) ( April 14, 2017 ). `` The awesomely talented Robert Duncan McNeill directing on # Orville this week -- In other words, Tom Paris back at the helm. '' ( Tweet ). Retrieved July 27, 2017 -- via Twitter. Jump up ^ `` ( ORV - 104 ) `` About a Girl '' ``. The Futon Critic. Retrieved September 12, 2017. Jump up ^ Seth MacFarlane ( @ SethMacFarlane ) ( April 22, 2017 ). `` @ BrannonBraga directing on Orville this week -- this guy knows his way around a spaceship '' ( Tweet ). Retrieved July 27, 2017 -- via Twitter. Jump up ^ `` ( ORV - 102 ) `` About a Girl '' ``. The Futon Critic. Retrieved September 7, 2017. Jump up ^ Seth MacFarlane ( @ SethMacFarlane ) ( April 7, 2017 ). `` A million thanks to the brilliant @ jameslconway for his epic direction of # Orville episode 2 ! '' ( Tweet ). Retrieved July 27, 2017 -- via Twitter. Jump up ^ `` ( ORV - 105 ) `` Pria '' ``. The Futon Critic. Retrieved September 13, 2017. Jump up ^ Seth MacFarlane ( @ SethMacFarlane ) ( May 2, 2017 ). `` @ jonathansfrakes directing on Orville this week -- Number One at the helm '' ( Tweet ). Retrieved July 27, 2017 -- via Twitter. Jump up ^ Seth MacFarlane ( @ SethMacFarlane ) ( May 17, 2017 ). `` The fantastically talented @ joncassar directing on @ TheOrville this week '' ( Tweet ). Retrieved July 27, 2017 -- via Twitter. Jump up ^ Seth MacFarlane ( @ SethMacFarlane ) ( June 5, 2017 ). `` Thanks to Tucker Gates for masterfully directing a movie - sized episode of @ TheOrville this week '' ( Tweet ). Retrieved July 27, 2017 -- via Twitter. Jump up ^ Kai Wener ( @ KaiWener ) ( June 15, 2017 ). `` ✨ Our Director of the Day 🎬 @ SethMacFarlane ✨ Meet us this Fall @ TheOrville on # FoxTV 🙌 🏽 🌎 🚀 👽 # SethMacFarlane # TheOrville @ KaiWener @ Tannerboys1 '' ( Tweet ). Retrieved July 27, 2017 -- via Twitter. Jump up ^ Seth MacFarlane ( @ SethMacFarlane ) ( June 21, 2017 ). `` The awesomely talented @ BabbitJamie directing on @ TheOrville this week -- fun days '' ( Tweet ). Retrieved July 27, 2017 -- via Twitter. Jump up ^ Seth MacFarlane ( @ SethMacFarlane ) ( July 12, 2017 ). `` Ca n't wait to have the genius of @ joncassar back for more ! '' ( Tweet ). Retrieved July 27, 2017 -- via Twitter. Jump up ^ Seth MacFarlane ( @ SethMacFarlane ) ( July 21, 2017 ). `` Thanks to our awesome @ TheOrville episode 11 director Kelly Cronin for a great show ! '' ( Tweet ). Retrieved July 27, 2017 -- via Twitter. Jump up ^ Seth MacFarlane ( @ SethMacFarlane ) ( July 25, 2017 ). `` @ KevHooks bringing his brilliance to @ TheOrville this week '' ( Tweet ). Retrieved July 27, 2017 -- via Twitter. ^ Jump up to : Seth MacFarlane ( @ SethMacFarlane ) ( August 23, 2017 ). `` That is a wrap on season 1 of @ TheOrville -- Thanks to our incomparable cast and crew for everything ! '' ( Tweet ). Retrieved August 24, 2017 -- via Twitter. Jump up ^ Mark Jackson ( @ MarkJackson ) ( August 4, 2017 ). `` Ca n't believe I 'm working on the ep13 script of @ TheOrville already. Seems like only yesterday I was pulling on that fresh silver spandex... '' ( Tweet ). Retrieved August 4, 2017 -- via Twitter. ^ Jump up to : Andreeva, Nellie ( May 4, 2016 ). `` Seth MacFarlane To Create & Star In Fox Sci - Fi Dramedy Series For 2017 - 18 Season ''. Hh Deadline.com. United States : Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved August 18, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Seth MacFarlane Talks New Comedy ' Orville ' ''. Access Hollywood YouTube Page. May 17, 2017. Retrieved June 23, 2017. Jump up ^ `` How Seth MacFarlane Got Charlize Theron To Be On ' The Orville ' ''. Entertainment Weekly YouTube Page. July 26, 2017. Retrieved August 6, 2017. Jump up ^ Petski, Denise ( August 19, 2016 ). `` Peter Macon & J Lee Join Seth MacFarlane 's Fox Series ' Orville ' ''. Deadline.com. United States : Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved August 19, 2016. Jump up ^ McLennan, Cindy ( August 23, 2016 ). `` Orville : Peter Macon and J Lee Join Seth MacFarlane 's New FOX Comedy ''. TV Series Finale. United States : DreamHost. Retrieved November 9, 2016. Jump up ^ Pedersen, Erik ( October 31, 2016 ). `` Halston Sage & Penny Johnson Jerald Join Seth MacFarlane 's Sci - Fi Dramedy At Fox ''. Deadline.com. United States : Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved October 31, 2016. Jump up ^ Petski, Denise ( April 3, 2017 ). `` Chad L. Coleman & Larry Joe Campbell Join Seth MacFarlane 's Fox Series ' Orville ' ''. Deadline. Retrieved April 3, 2017. Jump up ^ Snierson, Dan ( July 21, 2017 ). `` Charlize Theron to guest on Seth MacFarlane 's space - set series The Orville ''. EW.com. United States : Time Inc. Retrieved July 21, 2017. Jump up ^ Andreeva, Nellie ( August 24, 2016 ). `` Jon Favreau To Direct Seth MacFarlane 's Space Comedic Drama Series For Fox ''. Deadline.com. United States : Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved August 24, 2016. ^ Jump up to : Shannon Miller, Liz ( September 8, 2017 ). `` ' The Orville ' Review : Seth MacFarlane 's ' Star Trek ' Rip - Off is Creatively, Morally, and Ethically Bankrupt ''. IndieWire. Retrieved September 8, 2017. Jump up ^ `` The Orville : Season 1 ( 2017 ) ''. Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved September 14, 2017. Jump up ^ `` The Orville - Season 1 Reviews ''. Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved September 12, 2017. Jump up ^ Kain, Erik ( September 10, 2017 ). `` ' The Critics Must Be Crazy : Seth MacFarlane 's ' The Orville ' Captures The Spirit Of ' Star Trek ' ''. Forbes. Retrieved September 10, 2017. External links Official website The Orville on IMDb The Orville on Facebook Seth MacFarlane Filmography Awards Series created Family Guy American Dad ! Seth MacFarlane 's Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy The Cleveland Show The Orville Films directed Ted A Million Ways to Die in the West Ted 2 Studio albums Music Is Better Than Words Holiday for Swing No One Ever Tells You Novels A Million Ways to Die in the West Characters Peter Griffin Brian Griffin Stewie Griffin Glenn Quagmire Stan Smith Roger See also Fuzzy Door Productions The Life of Larry and Larry & Steve Rachael MacFarlane `` Everybody Needs a Best Friend '' Night of the Hurricane Fuzzy Door Productions Seth MacFarlane Television series Animated Family Guy ( 1999 -- 2003 ; since 2005 ) American Dad ! ( since 2005 ) The Cleveland Show ( 2009 -- 13 ) Bordertown ( 2016 ) Live - action The Winner ( 2007 ) Dads ( 2013 -- 14 ) Blunt Talk ( 2015 -- 16 ) The Orville ( since 2017 ) Documentary Cosmos : A Spacetime Odyssey ( 2014 ) Films Straight - to - DVD Stewie Griffin : The Untold Story ( 2005 ) Theatrical Ted ( 2012 ) A Million Ways to Die in the West ( 2014 ) Ted 2 ( 2015 ) Web series Seth MacFarlane 's Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy ( 2008 -- 09 ) Night of the Hurricane Fox programming ( current and upcoming ) Primetime American Grit ( since 2016 ) Bob 's Burgers ( since 2011 ) Beat Shazam ( since 2017 ) Brooklyn Nine - Nine ( since 2013 ) Empire ( since 2015 ) The Exorcist ( since 2016 ) The F Word ( since 2017 ) Family Guy ( 1999 -- 2002 ; since 2005 ) Gotham ( since 2014 ) Hell 's Kitchen ( since 2005 ) Home Free ( since 2015 ) Hotel Hell ( since 2012 ) The Last Man on Earth ( since 2015 ) Lethal Weapon ( since 2016 ) Love Connection ( since 2017 ) Lucifer ( since 2016 ) MasterChef ( since 2010 ) MasterChef Junior ( since 2013 ) The Mick ( since 2017 ) Miss Universe ( since 2015 ) Miss USA ( since 2016 ) New Girl ( since 2011 ) The Orville ( since 2017 ) The Simpsons ( since 1989 ) So You Think You Can Dance ( since 2005 ) Star ( since 2016 ) Wayward Pines ( since 2015 ) The X-Files ( 1993 -- 2002 ; since 2016 ) News Fox News Sunday ( since 1996 ) Sports Fox College Football ( since 1999 ) MLB on Fox ( since 1996 ) Fox NASCAR ( since 2001 ) Fox NFL / Fox NFL Sunday ( since 1994 ) The OT ( since 2005 ) Fox USGA ( since 2014 ) Fox UFC ( since 2011 ) Upcoming 9 - 1 - 1 ( TBA ) Famous ( TBA ) Ghosted ( 2017 ) The Gifted ( 2017 ) L.A. to Vegas ( TBA ) The Resident ( TBA ) See also 4Kids TV Fox Kids Speed on Fox Weekend Marketplace Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Orville&oldid=800758343 '' Categories : 2017 American television series debuts 2010s American comedy television series 2010s American drama television series Comic science fiction English - language television programs Fox network shows Television series by 20th Century Fox Television Television series by Fuzzy Door Productions American comedy - drama television series American science fiction television series Television series set in the future Television series created by Seth MacFarlane Parodies of Star Trek Hidden categories : Episode lists with non-compliant line colors Articles using Template : Episode table with invalid colour combination Talk Contents About Wikipedia Čeština Deutsch Italiano עברית Українська 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 15 September 2017, at 13 : 51. 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Question: when does the tv show the orville start
Answer: September 10, 2017