Donald Glover, aka Childish Gambino, recently launched a brand new TV show titled Atlanta on FX. It’s his first major acting project since wrapping up his role as Troy in Community back in 2014. The show offers a no-holds-barred look at life in Atlanta, and the violence, drugs and hip-hop that comes with it. It’s absolutely hilarious at times, with spitfire one-liners and clever jokes, and gritty, dark and deeply harrowing at others.
I’ve only watched the first two episodes but I can safely say that it’s already got me hooked. Turns out I’m not the only one, as the show received the highest debut for any basic cable comedy program in more than three years. Reaching 1.2 million viewers on its opening episode, the last show to premiere with those numbers was Inside Amy Schumer back in April 2013. It’s also the highest FX premiere since Wilfred in June 2011, according to The Wrap.
What’s more, the opening episode was immediately followed up by the second episode, and a whopping 90% of viewers stayed on to catch both. More than three million viewers in total tuned in to watch the premiere as it happened, and encores later that week.
I couldn’t recommend the show highly enough. Hip-hop is really getting a lot of theatrical attention these days, what with musicals (Hamilton), films (Straight Outta Compton) and shows (The Get Down, Empire) all borrowing and adopting hip-hop culture and music in their own ways. Atlanta is a very welcome addition to fore.
Glover is an incredibly active and busy guy both with his music and acting. As well as Atlanta, he’s been finishing up his new album Pharos, which recently received a live premiere at a multi-day event in Joshua Tree, California.
As Childish Gambino, Donald Glover will be touching down in Australia at the end of the year to play at Falls Festival and Field Day in Sydney.
Read more: Here’s everything we know about PHAROS
What Went Down at Childish Gambino’s PHAROS Concerts
Image: FX