The series follows the friendship between Riley, a combat veteran, and Awalmir (Al), an interpreter from Afghanistan who helped the former while he served in the Marines. In May 2021, the series was renewed for a second season of 13 episodes which premiered on October 7, 2021. At the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards, the show's pilot received a nomination for Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Program. However, the show was praised by some for its attempts to diversify television, and for the cultural representation of its main character. Released to mixed reviews, United States of Al was criticized for its humor, use of antiquated tropes, and casting of an Indian actor to play an Afghan lead with an inauthentic accent. In November 2020, CBS gave the project a series order, scheduling it to premiere on April 1, 2021. Television Studios.Ī television pilot for the series was announced in October 2019, with production beginning the following year.
Executive produced by Chuck Lorre, it is produced and distributed by Warner Bros. The series follows Al (Kalyan), an interpreter from Afghanistan who moves to Columbus, Ohio, with his friend Riley (Young), a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. It stars Adhir Kalyan and Parker Young, with Elizabeth Alderfer, Kelli Goss, Dean Norris, and Farrah Mackenzie in supporting roles. United States of Al is an American television sitcom created by David Goetsch and Maria Ferrari.