Superior Donuts (TV series)

Superior Donuts is an American sitcom television series created by Neil Goldman, Garrett Donovan, and Bob Daily, inspired by the play of the same name by Tracy Letts. The series aired on CBS from February 2, 2017, to May 14, 2018, for a total of 34 episodes over two seasons.

The show starred Judd Hirsch as Arthur Przybyszewski, the stubborn owner of a small, old-fashioned donut shop in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago. Jermaine Fowler co-starred as Franco Wicks, a young, enthusiastic man who convinces Arthur to hire him and introduces fresh ideas to the struggling business.

The series centered on the evolving relationship between Arthur and Franco, highlighting their generational and cultural differences. It also featured a supporting cast of recurring characters who frequented the donut shop, each bringing their own unique perspectives and comedic situations. These included police officer Randy DeLuca (Katey Sagal), who had a soft spot for the donuts and a possible romantic interest in Arthur; her partner, Officer James Jordan (Maz Jobrani); aspiring entrepreneur Maya (Diane Guerrero); and loyal customer Sweatpants (Rell Battle).

Superior Donuts explored themes of community, gentrification, cultural clashes, and the challenges faced by small businesses in a rapidly changing urban environment. Despite positive critical reception for its ensemble cast and attempts at addressing social issues, the series was ultimately cancelled after two seasons due to low ratings.