Bordertown (American TV series)

Bordertown is an American adult animated sitcom that aired on Fox from January 3 to May 22, 2016. The series follows two families living in a Southwest desert town on the United States–Mexico border.[1] Bordertown is a joint production by Bento Box Entertainment,[lower-alpha 1] Fuzzy Door Productions, 20th Century Fox Television, Hentemann Films and syndicated by 20th Television. On May 12, 2016, the series was canceled after one season.[2]

For other uses, see Bordertown.
Bordertown
GenreAnimated sitcom
Created byMark Hentemann
Voices ofHank Azaria
Nicholas Gonzalez
Alex Borstein
Judah Friedlander
Missi Pyle
Jacqueline Piñol
Efren Ramirez
Carlos Alazraqui
ComposerMark Mothersbaugh
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes13
Production
Executive producersMark Hentemann
Seth MacFarlane
Co-executive producers:
Alex Carter
Dan Vebber
Producers----Supervising producers:
Valentina L. Garza
B.J. Porter
EditorDonnell Ebarrete
Running time20–22 minutes
Production companies
Release
Original networkFox
Original releaseJanuary 3 (2016-01-03) –
May 22, 2016 (2016-05-22)
Related
3-South
Family Guy
The Cleveland Show
American Dad

Plot

Bordertown takes place in the fictitious town of Mexifornia (which is on the border of California and Mexico).[3] Mexifornia is based on the town of Calexico, California, sharing a similar location and dynamic as Mexifornia. The two main characters are Bud Buckwald and Ernesto Gonzalez. Bud is a border agent living at 25200 Cedar Road with his wife, Janice Buckwald, and their three children, Sanford, Becky and Gert. Living next door to him is Ernesto Gonzalez, an ambitious immigrant and family man, who has been in the country less than 10 years and is happy to be with his family in the United States of America.[4]

Voice cast
  • Hank Azaria as Bud Buckwald, a Border Patrol agent.[5]
  • Nicholas Gonzalez as
    • Ernesto Gonzalez, Bud's Mexican neighbor who's been living in Mexifornia for 20 years.
    • J.C. Gonzalez (Juan Carlos), Ernesto and Maria's 21-year-old college graduate nephew and Becky's fiancé.
    • Pablo Barracuda, the biggest drug lord in Mexifornia.[6][7]
  • Alex Borstein as
    • Janice Buckwald, Bud's wife and Becky, Sanford and Gert's mother.
    • Becky Buckwald, Bud's 18-year-old daughter and J.C.'s fiancée.[6]
  • Judah Friedlander as Sanford Buckwald, Janice and Bud's 24-year-old rebellious son.[6] In the episode "American Doll", it's revealed that Sanford was born on a skip day; February 32, which is why he's never had any birthdays. In the same episode, it is hinted that Sanford is just a cover name and that his real name is Vince though this was previously hinted in the episode "Groundhog Day" .
  • Missi Pyle as Gert Buckwald, Bud and Janice's 5-year-old daughter who is a beauty pageant contestant.[6]
  • Jacqueline Piñol as Pepito Gonzalez, Ernesto and Maria's youngest son who pranks Bud regularly.[8]
  • Efren Ramirez as Ruiz Gonzalez, Maria and Ernesto's eldest son.[6]
  • Carlos Alazraqui as
    • Placido Gonzalez, Ernesto's undocumented father who is cranky.
    • El Coyote, a Mexican trickster and people smuggler who always tries to cross the border and regularly taunts Bud in the cold openings.

Episodes
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code		US viewers
(millions)
1"The Engagement"Jacob HairMark Hentemann & Lalo AlcarazJanuary 3, 2016 (2016-01-03)1AXH012.34[9]
Border patrol officer Bud Buckwald is furious when he learns that his daughter, Becky, is engaged to Ernesto Gonzalez's college-educated activist nephew, J.C., whom she has been dating for four years. He is soon delighted when an anti-immigration law is passed that leads to J.C.'s deportation. Realizing that he wants Becky to be happy, Bud enlists Ernesto's help to bring J.C. back.
2"Borderwall"Albert CallerosMark Hentemann & Lalo AlcarazJanuary 10, 2016 (2016-01-10)1AXH063.58[10]
Bud uses confiscated drug money to build a border wall, but when it destroys the economy and costs him his job, he starts smuggling aliens under the wall.
3"Megachurch"Gavin DellValentina L. GarzaJanuary 17, 2016 (2016-01-17)1AXH082.57[11]
Reverend Fantastic, the corrupt, yet happy-go-lucky preacher of Bud's megachurch, wants Bud to recruit Ernesto in hopes of collecting more money from the growing Mexican population. While Ernesto is initially enchanted by the megachurch's beauty, Maria finds it very annoying. Meanwhile, Becky tries to find out why J.C. doesn't like church, and is convinced that J.C. was molested when Maria tells Becky that J.C. went on a religious camping trip and came back the next day, declaring that there is no God.
4"High School Football"Jack PerkinsDan VebberFebruary 14, 2016 (2016-02-14)1AXH031.70[12]
When Bud is hired as the new high school football coach, he's so desperate to win that he doesn't realize that the illegal immigrant he recruits is Pablo Barracuda's #1 drug mule.
5"Groundhog Day"Oreste CanestrelliKenny ByerlyFebruary 21, 2016 (2016-02-21)1AXH051.72[13]
The Mexifornia population tips from white majority to Latino majority when Maria's sister has a baby, so Bud tries to get romantic so he can have sex with Janice. However, when Janice reveals that a trampoline accident has made her infertile and J.C. suffers from racial guilt over being a majority (and, in his eyes, an oppressor), the Buckwalds move to a whites-only reservation.
6"J.C. Strikes"Gavin DellMichael Kennedy & Nathaniel SteinMarch 13, 2016 (2016-03-13)1AXH112.16[14]
Frustrated that J.C. still hasn't gotten a job, Ernesto hires him as part of his landscaping crew. When the job turns out too difficult, J.C. unionizes Ernesto's workers and begins a strike. Meanwhile, an ostrich stalks Bud and becomes his spirit animal, which Gert doesn't like.
7"Drug Lord"Albert CallerosMark HentemannApril 3, 2016 (2016-04-03)1AXH021.00[15]
Bud competes to be more successful than Ernesto, and ends up as the inside man for drug kingpin Pablo Barracuda at the Border Station.
8"Santa Ana Winds"Jacob HairJason ReichApril 10, 2016 (2016-04-10)1AXH131.19[16]
The Santa Ana winds lead to a series of strange events in Mexifornia, such as Sanford and Ernesto's son Ruiz traveling to Mexico to find a new explosive energy drink that Sanford becomes a scriptwriter extraordinaire from, Ernesto battling a satanic leaf refusing to leave the ground, and Bud meeting a Mexican version of him who steals his life, all of which J.C. is determined to find the meaning for.
9"Heart Attack"Oreste CanestrelliAlex CarterApril 17, 2016 (2016-04-17)1AXH121.19[17]
Gert has a heart attack during a pageant when Bud makes her binge on junk food. Unable to get help for her in Mexifornia, he only has one resort left: Mexico.
10"Wildfire"Jacob HairBJ PorterApril 24, 2016 (2016-04-24)1AXH071.16[18]
Bud refuses to evacuate when a wildfire threatens Mexifornia, so Ernesto comes to the rescue once the Buckwald house starts to burn. Meanwhile, J.C. and Becky see what it's like to date other people before committing to one another.
11"La Fiesta Noche Show"Ray ClaffeyVanessa RamosMay 8, 2016 (2016-05-08)1AXH101.08[19]
Bud becomes a celebrity in the Mexican community, thanks to his anger at a taping for the long-running Spanish variety show La Fiesta Noche.
12"American Doll"Jack PerkinsSusan Hurwitz ArnesonMay 15, 2016 (2016-05-15)1AXH091.30[20]

Janice is forced to get a job as Ernesto's housekeeper after Bud secretly spends $800 on an American Doll for Gert and maxes out the credit card on accessories. Meanwhile, Gert plots revenge against the American Doll company while Bud plans to get Janice fired, and Mario Lopez is chosen to be the first Mexican-American in space.

Note: Peter Griffin from Family Guy makes a cameo appearance at the start of this episode. Additionally, the Buckwalds' house is said to be built over the set of The Cleveland Show, placing Bordertown in the same universe as Family Guy, The Cleveland Show and American Dad!
13"Viva Coyote"Ray ClaffeyGustavo ArellanoMay 22, 2016 (2016-05-22)1AXH041.16[21]
Bud and Pablo Barracuda each try to catch El Coyote for different reasons.

Production

Producers

Seth MacFarlane and Mark Hentemann were announced as executive producers. Shortly afterwards, Alex Carter and Dan Vebber were announced as co-executive producers.[22] Lalo Alcaraz and Gustavo Arellano are consulting producers, and Valentina L. Garza is a supervising producer.

Writing

There were thirteen writers who worked on Bordertown.[23] Mark Hentemann wrote or co-wrote three episodes. Lalo Alcaraz co-wrote the first two episodes.[23]

Broadcast

In the United States, the series premiered midseason on January 3, 2016, on Fox.[24] The series was picked up by ITV2 in the United Kingdom on March 23, 2015, to premiere on February 29, 2016 - immediately after the new season of Family Guy on the same channel.[25]

The series was also picked up by Network Ten in Australia and started airing on February 3, 2016 on its sister channel, Eleven.[26] In Canada, it was broadcast on City.[27]

Reception

The first and only season of Bordertown received mixed to negative reviews from critics. On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 46 out of 100 based on 15 reviews, which indicates "mixed or average reviews".[28] On Rotten Tomatoes, the series' first season has an approval rating of 39% based on 18 reviews, with an average rating of 5.28/10. The critics' consensus reads: "Bordertown's controversy-rich premise is an idea disappointingly ill-served by its execution, which repeatedly mistakes crass, desperate gags for topical humor."[29]

Notes
    1. Animation outsourced to Hanho Heung-Up Co., Ltd. and Yearim Productions Co., Ltd..

    References
    1. Perlmutter, David (2018). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 90. ISBN 978-1538103739.
    2. "'Grinder', 'Grandfathered', 'Bordertown' & 'Cooper Barrett' Canceled By Fox After One Season". Deadline. 13 May 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-05-13. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
    3. "Bento Box Entertainment". Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
    4. "Fox Orders Seth MacFarlane Animated Series 'Bordertown'". Screenrant.com. 11 November 2013. Archived from the original on 2014-02-27. Retrieved 2014-06-22.
    5. "'Simpsons' Vet Hank Azaria to Voice Fox's 'Bordertown'". TheWrap. 20 July 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-07-29. Retrieved 2014-07-20.
    6. "BORDERTOWN" (PDF). Fox. 2013-11-11. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2014-07-20. Retrieved 2014-06-22.
    7. "Instagram". Instagram. Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2014-07-20.
    8. "Twitter / JacquiPinol: Loving this gig! #Bordertown". Twitter.com. 2014-07-02. Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2014-07-20.
    9. Porter, Rick (January 6, 2016). "Sunday final ratings: 'Undercover Boss' adjusts up, premieres stay low". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 6, 2016. Retrieved January 6, 2016.
    10. Porter, Rick (January 12, 2016). "Sunday final ratings: 'Simpsons' still at a season high after downward adjustment". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 14, 2016. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
    11. Porter, Rick (January 20, 2016). "Sunday final ratings: 'The Good Wife' and 'Family Guy' adjust up". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 22, 2016. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
    12. Porter, Rick (February 17, 2016). "Sunday final ratings: 'Bachelor' special and 'Cooper Barrett' adjust up". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 18, 2016. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
    13. Porter, Rick (February 23, 2016). "Sunday final ratings: 'Shark Tank' adjusts down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 24, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
    14. Porter, Rick (March 15, 2016). "Sunday final ratings: '60 Minutes' adjusts up, 'Carmichael Show' and 'Hollywood Game Night' adjust down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 16, 2016. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
    15. Porter, Rick (April 5, 2016). "Sunday final ratings: ACM Awards and all scripted shows hold". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 6, 2016. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
    16. Porter, Rick (April 12, 2016). "Sunday final ratings: 'Once Upon a Time,' 'Simpsons,' 'Quantico' adjust up; 'Carmichael' and 'Crowded' adjust down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 13, 2016. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
    17. Porter, Rick (April 19, 2016). "Sunday final ratings: 'Once Upon a Time,' 'The Good Wife' adjust up; 'Little Big Shots' and 'Crowded' adjust down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 19, 2016. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
    18. Porter, Rick (April 26, 2016). "Sunday final ratings: 'Once Upon a Time,' 'Simpsons' and all others hold". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 26, 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
    19. Porter, Rick (May 10, 2016). "Sunday final ratings: 'Good Wife' finale adjusts up, 'Once Upon a Time' and 'Carmichael Show' adjust down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 11, 2016. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
    20. Porter, Rick (May 17, 2016). "Sunday final ratings: 'Once Upon a Time' finale, everything else hold". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 18, 2016. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
    21. Porter, Rick (May 24, 2016). "Sunday final ratings: Billboard Awards, 'Simpsons' finale, 'Undercover Boss' adjust up; 'AFV' and 'Bordertown' finales adjust down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 25, 2016. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
    22. Amidi, Amid (2013-11-11). "Fox Picks Up Seth MacFarlane-Produced Series "Bordertown"". Cartoon Brew. Archived from the original on 2014-08-21. Retrieved 2014-06-22.
    23. Cavna, Michael (2013-11-14). "'BORDERTOWN': Lalo Alcaraz on joining Seth MacFarlane's new Fox immigration comedy". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2018-02-02. Retrieved 2017-08-24.
    24. Hibberd, James (November 10, 2015). "Fox midseason schedule: Sleepy Hollow moves to Fridays". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 2015-11-12. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
    25. "Bordertown; ITV2". February 18, 2016. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
    26. Knox, David (19 November 2015). "Ten Upfronts 2016: Survivor, Jessica Marais, Anh Do and Nigella!". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 2015-11-23. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
    27. "Watch Bordertown Online - See New TV Episodes Online Free | City vancouver Vancouver". Citytv.com. Archived from the original on 2016-02-16. Retrieved 2016-02-10.
    28. Bordertown at Metacritic
    29. Bordertown at Rotten Tomatoes
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