# Animal Control (TV series)

Animal Control is an American television sitcom created by Bob Fisher, Rob Greenberg and Dan Sterling that premiered on Fox on February 16, 2023, and produced by Roughhouse Productions, Middletown News, Wow a Fox, Fox Entertainment Studios. In May 2023, the series was renewed for a second season which premiered on March 6, 2024. In February 2024, ahead of the second season premiere, the series was renewed for a third season which premiered on January 2, 2025.

## Premise

A group of animal control workers in Seattle begin to see their lives complicated by humans and not so much by animals.

## Cast
### Main

* Joel McHale as Frank Shaw, a bitter and cynical Senior Animal Control Officer. He was a cop who was fired from the force after discovering evidence of corruption in his precinct. He is sarcastic and quick-witted, prone to making satirical remarks about his co-workers. Later episodes reveal that much of his behavior is bravado and he is actually very depressed and self-conscious.
* Vella Lovell as Emily Price, the good-natured director at the A.C. Northwest precinct. She can be anxious and often awkward in social situations. She's chipper and spunky and surprisingly competitive, butting heads with Templeton when he makes comments about wanting her job. She also displays a creative side, such as when she dresses up the animals for photoshoots to post on social media.
* Michael Rowland as Fred "Shred" Taylor, Frank's partner. An idealistic amateur Animal Control officer and a former professional snowboarder. His idealism causes him to deflect the negativity that his precinct often dishes out.
* Ravi V. Patel as Amit Patel, one of the Animal Control officers of Frank's precinct and Victoria's partner. He is pessimistic and frequently overwhelmed by his large family. When he's away from his family he tends to become absorbed in reckless or childish activities.
* Grace Palmer as Victoria Sands, a street-smart Animal Control officer from New Zealand and Amit's partner. She has a laid-back personality, frequently indulging in various drugs and casual sex. She and Frank have an ongoing prank war that borders on flirtation.

### Recurring

* Gerry Dee as Templeton Dudge, the mean-spirited Canadian Animal Control Officer from the Central Precinct.
* Kelli Ogmundson as Dolores Stubb, the self-righteous receptionist of Frank's precinct.
* Alvina August as Dr. Colette Summers, the attractive veterinarian in Frank's precinct. She is often targeted as a lust object by the officers, which is a recurring joke in the show.
* Amy Goodmurphy as AM Dispatch
* Kevin Bigley as Rick Doyle, the previous director of the A.C. precinct and Frank's former partner.
* Krystal Smith as Bettany (season 2–present), the new assistant to Emily.
* Chelsea Frei as Isabelle (season 2–present), a free-spirit and Shred's girlfriend.
* Lucy Punch as Fiona Holcomb, a philanthropist who helps Emily promote the precinct.

### Guest

* María Gabriela de Faría as Camila (season 1), Shred's long-distance girlfriend who lives in Austria.
* Kalyn Miles as Maya Patel, Amit's wife.
* Dayah Brar as Addy Patel, Amit's daughter. She is very sassy and he finds her difficult to control.
* Tristan D. Lalla as Jack, a vet tech working with Dr. Summers. He has a very no-nonsense personality and seems exhausted by how self-centered the patrol officers are.
* John Procaccino as Jimmy Shaw, Frank's cantankerous father with whom he has a contentious relationship.
* Ken Jeong as Lee Park (season 2), a well-respected dog whisperer
* Sarah Chalke as Yazmin (season 2), Frank's ex-girlfriend.
* Thomas Lennon as Patrick Shaw (season 2), Frank's older brother. He is a police officer.
* Maz Jobrani as Lucas (season 2)
* Larry Joe Campbell as Carl (season 2)

## Episodes
### Series overview

| Season | Episodes | Episodes | Originally released | Originally released |
| Season | Episodes | Episodes | First released | Last released |
| 1 | 12 | 12 | February 16, 2023 (2023-2-16) | May 4, 2023 (2023-5-4) |
| 2 | 9 | 9 | March 6, 2024 (2024-3-6) | May 8, 2024 (2024-5-8) |
| 3 | 10 | 10 | January 2, 2025 (2025-1-2) | March 13, 2025 (2025-3-13) |

### Season 1 (2023)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | U.S. viewers (millions) |
| 1 | 1 | "Weasels and Ostriches" | Bob Fisher & Rob Greenberg | Bob Fisher & Rob Greenberg & Dan Sterling | February 16, 2023 (2023-2-16) | 2.09 |
| 2 | 2 | "Rabbits and Pythons" | Bob Fisher & Rob Greenberg | Bob Fisher & Rob Greenberg & Dan Sterling | February 23, 2023 (2023-2-23) | 1.60 |
| 3 | 3 | "Cougars and Kangaroos" | Bob Fisher & Rob Greenberg | Bob Fisher & Rob Greenberg & Dan Sterling | March 2, 2023 (2023-3-2) | 1.48 |
| 4 | 4 | "Dogs and Bears and Minks" | Jay Chandrasekhar | Emily Towers | March 9, 2023 (2023-3-9) | 1.30 |
| 5 | 5 | "Cows and Raccoons" | Jay Chandrasekhar | Jen Jackson | March 16, 2023 (2023-3-16) | 1.48 |
| 6 | 6 | "Skunks and Llamas" | Chris Koch | Jim Brandon & Brian Singleton | March 23, 2023 (2023-3-23) | 1.31 |
| 7 | 7 | "Peacocks and Pumas" | Jay Chandrasekhar | Tad Quill & Dan Sterling | March 30, 2023 (2023-3-30) | 1.19 |
| 8 | 8 | "Hellhounds and Sturgeons" | Chris Koch | Sam Shanker | April 6, 2023 (2023-4-6) | 1.25 |
| 9 | 9 | "Dogs and Geese" | Chris Koch | Emily Towers & Jen Jackson & Sam Shanker | April 13, 2023 (2023-4-13) | 1.03 |
| 10 | 10 | "Pigs and Minks" | Robert Cohen | Tad Quill & Dan Sterling | April 20, 2023 (2023-4-20) | 1.02 |
| 11 | 11 | "Birds and Foxes" | Robert Cohen | Tad Quill & Dan Sterling | April 27, 2023 (2023-4-27) | 0.99 |
| 12 | 12 | "Unicorns and Mountain Lions" | Robert Cohen | Tad Quill & Dan Sterling | May 4, 2023 (2023-5-4) | 0.99 |

### Season 2 (2024)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | U.S. viewers (millions) |
| 13 | 1 | "Raccoons and Mutts" | Bob Fisher & Rob Greenberg | Bob Fisher & Rob Greenberg & Tad Quill | March 6, 2024 (2024-3-6) | 1.62 |
| 14 | 2 | "Cats and Monkeys" | Bob Fisher & Rob Greenberg | Bob Fisher & Rob Greenberg & Tad Quill | March 13, 2024 (2024-3-13) | 1.54 |
| 15 | 3 | "Tortoises and Labradors" | Natalia Anderson | Bob Fisher & Rob Greenberg & Tad Quill | March 20, 2024 (2024-3-20) | 1.29 |
| 16 | 4 | "Big Dogs and Mini Horses" | Natalia Anderson | David Feeney | March 27, 2024 (2024-3-27) | 1.51 |
| 17 | 5 | "Dogs and Chickens" | Jay Chandrasekhar | Sam Shanker | April 10, 2024 (2024-4-10) | 1.48 |
| 18 | 6 | "Bunnies and Veggies" | Molly McGlynn | Jim Brandon & Brian Singleton | April 17, 2024 (2024-4-17) | 1.47 |
| 19 | 7 | "Skunks and Swans" | Molly McGlynn | Emily Towers | April 24, 2024 (2024-4-24) | 1.44 |
| 20 | 8 | "Bulls and Potbellies" | Clark Mathis | Jen Jackson | May 1, 2024 (2024-5-1) | 1.21 |
| 21 | 9 | "Beagles and Lemurs" | Clark Mathis | Natasha Williams | May 8, 2024 (2024-5-8) | 1.26 |

### Season 3 (2025)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | U.S. viewers (millions) |
| 22 | 1 | "Giraffes, Gorillas, and Penguins" | Bob Fisher & Rob Greenberg | Jim Brandon & Brian Singleton | January 2, 2025 (2025-1-2) | 1.33 |
| 23 | 2 | "Rattlers and Gators" | Bob Fisher & Rob Greenberg | David Feeney | January 9, 2025 (2025-1-9) | 1.11 |
| 24 | 3 | "Goats, Snakes, and Dogs" | Jay Chandrasekhar | Brad Stevens & Boyd Vico | January 16, 2025 (2025-1-16) | 1.25 |
| 25 | 4 | "Baby Kangaroos and Chickens" | Jay Chandrasekhar | Sam Shanker | January 23, 2025 (2025-1-23) | 1.06 |
| 26 | 5 | "Hot Dogs and Lobsters" | Natalia Anderson | Jen Jackson | January 30, 2025 (2025-1-30) | 1.17 |
| 27 | 6 | "Buffalo and Beavers" | Natalia Anderson | Emily Towers | February 13, 2025 (2025-2-13) | 1.29 |
| 28 | 7 | "Ducks and Penguins" | Clark Mathis | Dan Sterling | February 20, 2025 (2025-2-20) | 1.13 |
| 29 | 8 | "Party Animals" | Clark Mathis | Annie C. Wright | February 27, 2025 (2025-2-27) | 1.04 |
| 30 | 9 | "Retrievers and Fruit Bats" | Natalia Anderson | Brad Stevens & Boyd Vico | March 6, 2025 (2025-3-6) | 0.97 |
| 31 | 10 | "Strays and Lovebirds" | Natalia Anderson | Tad Quill | March 13, 2025 (2025-3-13) | 0.94 |

## Production

In July 2022, it was announced Fox had given a straight-to-series order to Animal Control from Bob Fisher, Rob Greenberg, Dan Sterling and Fox Entertainment, marking Fox Entertainment Studios' first fully owned live-action comedy. In October of that year, Joel McHale joined the series as the lead and executive producer. Vella Lovell and Ravi Patel joined the cast later that same month. Most portions of Animal Control are filmed in and around Vancouver, the most populous city in British Columbia, and were filmed in the Vancouver area from October 31, 2022 to January 25, 2023. In May 2023, the series was renewed for a second season which premiered on March 6, 2024. In February 2024, ahead the second season premiere, Fox renewed the series for a third season. Filming for the third season began on June 17, 2024 and concluded on August 20, 2024. The third season premiered on Fox on January 2, 2025.

## Reception
### Critical response

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 60% approval rating with an average rating of 6/10, based on ten critic reviews. Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 68 out of 100 based on seven critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

### Ratings
#### Overall

Viewership and ratings per season of Animal Control :
| Season | Timeslot (ET) | Episodes | First aired | First aired | Last aired | Last aired | TV season |
| Season | Timeslot (ET) | Episodes | Date | Viewers (millions) | Date | Viewers (millions) | TV season |
| 1 | Thursday 9:00 p.m. | 12 | February 16, 2023 (2023-2-16) | 2.09 | May 4, 2023 (2023-5-4) | 0.99 | 2022–23 |
| 2 | Wednesday 9:00 p.m. | 9 | March 6, 2024 (2024-3-6) | 1.62 | May 8, 2024 (2024-5-8) | 1.21 | 2023–24 |
| 3 | Thursday 9:00 p.m. | TBA | January 2, 2025 (2025-1-2) | 1.33 | TBA | TBD | 2024–25 |

#### Season 1

Viewership and ratings per episode of Animal Control :
| No. | Title | Air date | Rating (18–49) | Viewers (millions) |
| 1 | "Weasels and Ostriches" | February 16, 2023 | 0.3 | 2.09 |
| 2 | "Rabbits and Pythons" | February 23, 2023 | 0.3 | 1.60 |
| 3 | "Cougars and Kangaroos" | March 2, 2023 | 0.3 | 1.48 |
| 4 | "Dogs and Bears and Minks" | March 9, 2023 | 0.2 | 1.30 |
| 5 | "Cows and Raccoons" | March 16, 2023 | 0.3 | 1.48 |
| 6 | "Skunks and Llamas" | March 23, 2023 | 0.2 | 1.31 |
| 7 | "Peacocks and Pumas" | March 30, 2023 | 0.3 | 1.19 |
| 8 | "Hellhounds and Sturgeons" | April 6, 2023 | 0.3 | 1.25 |
| 9 | "Dogs and Geese" | April 13, 2023 | 0.2 | 1.03 |
| 10 | "Pigs and Minks" | April 20, 2023 | 0.2 | 1.02 |
| 11 | "Birds and Foxes" | April 27, 2023 | 0.2 | 0.99 |
| 12 | "Unicorns and Mountain Lions" | May 4, 2023 | 0.2 | 0.99 |

#### Season 2

Viewership and ratings per episode of Animal Control :
| No. | Title | Air date | Rating (18–49) | Viewers (millions) |
| 1 | "Raccoons and Mutts" | March 6, 2024 | 0.2 | 1.62 |
| 2 | "Cats and Monkeys" | March 13, 2024 | 0.2 | 1.54 |
| 3 | "Tortoises and Labradors" | March 20, 2024 | 0.2 | 1.29 |
| 4 | "Big Dogs and Mini Horses" | March 27, 2024 | 0.2 | 1.51 |
| 5 | "Dogs and Chickens" | April 10, 2024 | 0.2 | 1.48 |
| 6 | "Bunnies and Veggies" | April 17, 2024 | 0.2 | 1.47 |
| 7 | "Skunks and Swans" | April 24, 2024 | 0.2 | 1.44 |
| 8 | "Bulls and Potbellies" | May 1, 2024 | 0.2 | 1.21 |
| 9 | "Beagles and Lemurs" | May 8, 2024 | 0.2 | 1.26 |

#### Season 3

Viewership and ratings per episode of Animal Control :
| No. | Title | Air date | Rating (18–49) | Viewers (millions) | DVR (18–49) | DVR viewers (millions) | Total (18–49) | Total viewers (millions) |
| 1 | "Giraffes, Gorillas, and Penguins" | January 2, 2025 | 0.2 | 1.33 | 0.1 | 0.66 | 0.3 | 1.99 |
| 2 | "Rattlers and Gators" | January 9, 2025 | 0.2 | 1.11 | 0.1 | 0.66 | 0.3 | 1.77 |
| 3 | "Goats, Snakes, and Dogs" | January 16, 2025 | 0.2 | 1.25 | 0.1 | 0.62 | 0.3 | 1.87 |
| 4 | "Baby Kangaroos and Chickens" | January 23, 2025 | 0.2 | 1.06 | 0.1 | 0.70 | 0.3 | 1.76 |
| 5 | "Hotdogs and Lobsters" | January 30, 2025 | 0.2 | 1.17 | 0.1 | 0.64 | 0.3 | 1.81 |
| 6 | "Buffalo and Beavers" | February 13, 2025 | 0.3 | 1.29 | 0.1 | 0.70 | 0.3 | 1.98 |
| 7 | "Ducks and Penguins" | February 20, 2025 | 0.2 | 1.13 | 0.1 | 0.61 | 0.3 | 1.74 |
| 8 | "Party Animals" | February 27, 2025 | 0.2 | 1.04 | 0.1 | 0.65 | 0.3 | 1.70 |
| 9 | "Retrievers and Fruit Bats" | March 6, 2025 | 0.1 | 0.97 | 0.1 | 0.56 | 0.2 | 1.53 |
| 10 | "Strays and Lovebirds" | March 13, 2025 | 0.1 | 0.94 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |