Jury Duty quickly became an unexpected hit– expanding upon the “reality show” craze by creating a mockumentary-style hidden camera series where everyone was an actor…except the star of the show.
Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreatfollows Anthony Norman from Nashville, a father who has been working temp jobs for a while. At his latest gig, Rockin’ Grandma’s, he’s surrounded by eclectic employees– from part-time snack lover and full-time receptionist, PJ, to endearingly awkward head of HR, Kevin– every member of the team is larger-than-life. Anthony is tasked with assisting the group as they embark on their annual company retreat. At Rockin’ Grandma’s, they truly are a family, and this trip allows them a moment to reflect and grow together as a team, and just enjoy time together. This year is a little different, as the CEO of the hot sauce company, Doug, will be stepping down. His son, Dougie, is coming back from living in Jamaica to take on the responsibilities of running the company.
Part of the first season’s success came from what felt like capturing lightning in a bottle. Something of this scale hasn’t really been done before in this way (it’s very distinct from the 2000s-era The Joe Schmo Show). Although there are rich personalities for each of the actors’ characters and plotlines for them to follow, they had to rely on Ronald Gladden to roll with the punches and forge his own narrative. Lucky for them, his personality worked seamlessly for the concept. Placing a normal person in that mundane backdrop (getting called for jury duty is never accompanied by the most exciting tone) somehow managed to become some of the most heartfelt television moments I can remember. Through the hijinks, “genuine” bonds were formed, “outsiders” were treated with kindness, and it made for probably the most memorable civic obligation anyone has ever done.
This season, they took it to the next level. They prepared for months to seamlessly build the fake world from the ground up. It was already no easy feat to constantly stay in character on Jury Duty, as the actors are playing strangers, but in Company Retreat, they have to create years to decades of faux camaraderie to sell the authenticity to Anthony. Rehearsals consist of precise, tight blocking, while also allowing for flexibility for whatever movement Anthony brings to the table. One cast member said it was more like doing a stage production than an improv show. This precise planning is needed because the show’s success requires little to no room for error. They created a set in Agoura Hills, expanding it to 10 times the size of last season’s set, taking into account places where the larger crew and extra hidden cameras can go unnoticed. Camera operators, stunt coordinators, makeup artists, etc., worked stealthily to make movie magic happen in real time.
All of this culminates in a television season that balances ridiculously zany moments with heartfelt charm. It is genuinely hilarious, with all of his colleagues having rich backgrounds that are perfectly crafted to interweave into the story. Two of my favourite comedic moments have to be the seminar and the unveiling of a new hot sauce flavour. The joke of the villains and their acquisition company all being redheads is also insane. They had too many good bits to name! Anthony beat out over 10,000 applicants for his new role, and it’s very clear why he stood out. He did a stellar job at Rockin’ Grandma’s and, unknowingly, Company Retreat. His naturally warm presence allowed him to connect with his temporary colleagues on a deeper level. He didn’t stop at just what his job description would entail; he went above and beyond.
This series is a social experiment on how a stranger reacts to these screwball scenarios, but the most important piece that resonates is how that stranger cares for others. It doesn’t matter if you’re meeting someone today or you have years of experience with each other, from joining his new friends as they make TikTok-style snack reviews, hit embarrassing moments in their lives, and struggle through imminent change, he makes his upstanding character clear every step of the way. He could have easily treated his time at Rockin’ Grandma’s as just a temp job, with the repercussions of the conflict not affecting his livelihood, but that’s just not the kind of man that Anthony is. It’s very telling at the end, as the actors are brought to tears reflecting on Anthony’s care for all of them, but one standout was Helen, who spoke candidly about what Anthony’s kindness meant for her beyond her character.
If you enjoyed the ride of season one, you’re in for another treat with Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat. It is such an entertaining, yet thoughtful journey of navigating situations, from hilarious to difficult, while staying true to your principles through friendship and community. Pulling something like this off is a testament to the producers, writers, actors, and everyone in between – but most of all, Anthony Norman.