The Group

***The Group*** is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from March 18, 2009 to May 16, 2020. The series aired ten seasons and 200 episodes. Starring Kristen Bell, Melissa Fumero, William Jackson Harper, Jake Johnson, Annie Murphy, and Chris Pratt, *The Group* began as a mid-season replacement consisting only of six episodes. Then, as the show grew in viewership, it quickly became one of the highest-rated shows on ABC.

## Plot

Though the series is episodic in nature, each season does have its own storylines. Isabelle and Mike go from being engaged for the first two seasons, to pausing their engagement during the third, and breaking up during the fourth. At the end of the fourth season, Isabelle sleeps with both Kyle and Danny, seperately, leading to the question of whose child she is pregnant with during the fifth season. When Danny learns he is infertile, the child is confirmed to be Kyle's. Isabelle and Mike get back together before she gives birth, and they eventually marry in the seventh season finale. Isabelle becomes pregnant again, with Mike's child, in the ninth season.

## Cast

### **Principal cast**

* Kristen Bell as Isabelle Carter; Mike's longtime girlfriend who he proposes to at the start of the series. Isabelle and Kyle dated prior to the show.
* Melissa Fumero as Libby Ramirez; Isabelle's college roommate who has just broken up with Kyle.
* William Jackson Harper as Kyle Andrews; Libby and Isabelle's ex-boyfriend who has had trouble with keeping a girlfriend.
* Jake Johnson as Mike Newman; Isabelle's longtime boyfriend who proposes to her at the start of the series. Mike and Danny are childhood best friends.
* Annie Murphy as Nicole Black; the group's newest member who is known for dating around a lot.
* Chris Pratt as Danny McDaniel; Mike's childhood best friend who has harbored feelings for Isabelle for years.

### **Recurring cast**

* Randall Park as Jake Tanner; the group's "seventh wheel" who appears occassionally.
* Rene Rosado as Diego Sanchez; a Mexican-American immigrant who begins dating Libby in the seventh season. They get married in the ninth season finale.
* Emily VanCamp as Shauna Carter; Isabelle's younger sister who Kyle takes an interest in. They begin dating during season nine.

## Reception

### **Accolades**

The series did not begin as a critical darling, but as the show became more popular, critical reception warmed, as did awards buzz. All six members of the core cast have received at least two Emmy nominations, and have all won at least once.

#### **Primetime Emmy Awards**

**2009:**

* Outstanding Supporting Actor (Chris Pratt) - Nominated

**2010:**

* Outstanding Comedy Series - Nominated
* Outstanding Supporting Actor (Chris Pratt) - Nominated
* Outstanding Supporting Actress (Kristen Bell) - Nominated

**2011:**

* Outstanding Comedy Series - Nominated
* Outstanding Supporting Actor (Jake Johnson) - Nominated
* Outstanding Supporting Actor (Chris Pratt) - Nominated
* Outstanding Supporting Actress (Kristen Bell) - Won
* Outstanding Supporting Actress (Melissa Fumero) - Nominated

**2012:**

* Outstanding Supporting Actor (Jake Johnson) - Nominated
* Outstanding Supporting Actor (Chris Pratt) - Nominated
* Outstanding Supporting Actress (Kristen Bell) - Nominated
* Outstanding Supporting Actress (Melissa Fumero) - Nominated

**2013:**

* Outstanding Comedy Series - Nominated
* Outstanding Supporting Actor (Chris Pratt) - Nominated
* Outstanding Supporting Actress (Kristen Bell) - Nominated
* Outstanding Supporting Actress (Melissa Fumero) - Won

**2014:**

* Outstanding Supporting Actor (Jake Johnson) - Nominated
* Outstanding Supporting Actor (Chris Pratt) - Won
* Outstanding Supporting Actress (Kristen Bell) - Nominated

**2015:**

* Outstanding Supporting Actor (Jake Johnson) - Won
* Outstanding Supporting Actor (Chris Pratt) - Nominated
* Outstanding Supporting Actress (Kristen Bell) - Nominated
* Outstanding Supporting Actress (Melissa Fumero) - Won

**2016:**

* Outstanding Comedy Series - Nominated
* Outstanding Supporting Actor (Jake Johnson) - Won
* Outstanding Supporting Actor (Chris Pratt) - Nominated
* Outstanding Supporting Actress (Kristen Bell) - Nominated
* Outstanding Supporting Actress (Melissa Fumero) - Nominated

**2017:**

* Outstanding Comedy Series - Won
* Outstanding Supporting Actor (William Jackson Harper) - Nominated
* Outstanding Supporting Actor (Jake Johnson) - Nominated
* Outstanding Supporting Actor (Chris Pratt) - Nominated
* Outstanding Supporting Actress (Kristen Bell) - Nominated
* Outstanding Supporting Actress (Melissa Fumero) - Nominated
* Outstanding Supporting Actress (Annie Murphy) - Nominated

**2018:**

* Outstanding Comedy Series - Won
* Outstanding Supporting Actor (William Jackson Harper) - Won
* Outstanding Supporting Actor (Jake Johnson) - Nominated
* Outstanding Supporting Actor (Chris Pratt) - Nominated
* Outstanding Supporting Actress (Kristen Bell) - Nominated
* Outstanding Supporting Actress (Melissa Fumero) - Nominated
* Outstanding Supporting Actress (Annie Murphy) - Won