"SHOTS FIRED" A Hit or Miss?

Valerie Pope
Aug 16, 2016
3 min read

“Shots Fired” a new series coming to “Fox”, starring Sanaa Lathan, Stephen James, Tristan Wilds, and Helen Hunt Directed by Reggie and Gina Bythewood, airing in winter of 2017.

If you've seen Reggie and Gina Bythewood's earlier work, you know it speaks authentic entertainment, from "Love & Basketball" to "Biker Boyz". Their collection of work has always shown mystery, love, and drama, with their latest series "Shots Fired" they're bringing their talent to Scripted TV.

Touching on subject matters such as police brutality and society's morality, "Shots Fired" is predicted to be a real eye opener. According to Director Reggie Rock Bythwood this show will "Have people at the edge of their seats, to hit them with the truth". He did just that for the private screening at "National Association of Black Journalist Convention", but will it be the same once it airs for the nation.

Will it be a Hit or Miss?

Private Screening at National Association of Black Journalist Convention, in Washington, DC, (starting from far left) Roland S. Martin, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Sanaa Lathan and Reggie Bythewood. Photo Credit: Valerie Pope

Factors That May Determine If It's a Hit or Miss:

1."Timing Is Everything" Timing is key to the series success. With "Shots Fired" airing winter 2017 after the presidential election, what state of mind will our nation be in? Will viewers be interested in political television, exhausted of law enforcement topics or seeking new perceptions on real life matters? Its unclear if the show will have good timing, all depend on where our country stands after such significant timing of events. 2. "Controversy Makes for Good TV" Using racial role reversal on police brutality for the story line creates a different perspective on such serious issue and intensity for viewers. "Shots Fired" steers up emotions on what's wrong, right and fair, really questioning our society's morality. With the extremist in our society, this series will definitely strike a nerve either having them loving it or hating it. Making the water cooler at work a little more awkward seeing how sides could be drawn on a subject matter like this. The controversy from the show definitely will cause heavy discussions, which will have people tuning in. 3. “Tune in or Tune out" "Shots Fired" opens with drama, the story line begins with an African American Officer killing a Caucasian teenager in broad daylight. It's not clear why he was killed or who actually witnessed the killing, making it mysterious and controversial. As the show goes on and introduces the characters and story lines, there're moments of suspense and disengagement. Those moments of disengagement may decrease viewer’s interest, but with the controversial story line, viewers will stay tuned in, to figure out what happens next. Having the time slot right before the star-studded series "Empire" on “Fox” sets the show up for success, seeing it's possible the new series will share viewers from "Empire". But the question still stands will "Shots Fired" be a Hit or Miss, despite the high probability we will just have to tune in, to really know.

Tune in for new series "Shots Fired" starring Sanaa Lathan, Stephen James, Tristan Wilds, and Helen Hunt, Directed by Reggie Rock Bythewoods and Gina Prince-Bythwoods Winter 2017 on “Fox”.