Imagine working in an environment similar to that of “The Office,” a chaotic place where something ridiculous happens every single day. What would you do, how would you react? Would you enjoy shenanigans, or would it drive you crazy? These questions are explored in the hit television show “Jury Duty.”
The Amazon Prime series is a hidden-camera reality show in which one unknowing person is placed in a fully staged environment. In the first season Ronald Gladden, a solar contractor, was called to serve on a fake court trial. All other members of the court, the judge, the plaintiff, dependent, and representatives were all actors. Essentially, it’s a real life “Truman Show.”
The actors are supposed to behave in odd, eccentric ways, creating absurd situations meant to see how Gladden reacts. The show could have gone in a number of ways, depending on Gladden’s responses which left producers wary of its success. However, despite all the oddities Gladden was faced with, he continuously demonstrated kindness, empathy, and thoughtfulness, leading it to spike in popularity.
Of course, with this success came the opportunity for a second season. The first three episodes of “Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat” were released on March 20 and they follow Anthony Norman as he begins to work for the made-up hot sauce company, “Rockin’ Grandma’s” as a temp. The small business is going on a company retreat and Norman has been hired to provide support and assistance during the retreat.
The other employees, who are actors, include CEO of the company Doug, his son Dougie Jr. who is taking over the company, but does not understand how to run the company. There is PJ, the front desk receptionist who is trying to start a social media following for his food reviews. Claire, the employee who works in web design and IT, is a reclusive, remote worker that clearly despises interacting with others. Those are just a few, with the rest of the cast having their own quirks. When all the workers come together, they are dysfunctional at best, yet somehow keep the company afloat. Despite the chaos, there’s a sense of family at “Rockin Grandma’s.” The workers genuinely care about and look out for each other despite their differences.
While on the retreat, a variety of comedic, scripted events happen including a proposal, a disastrous company event, an employee running away, and more. The events were meant to test Norman and so to speak, “push him over the edge.” Although, that never happened. Norman never lost his temper, and always acted in support of the other employees of Rockin Grandma’s despite the consistent madness.
A third season of “Jury Duty” has not yet been officially announced, though producers are weighing potential ideas, noting the sheer amount of stress and planning that goes into the show. They must come up with a storyline, cast the actors, and then find one person who would not suspect a thing. Where they set the story must also be a confined location, and no one can have their phones. These two aspects made the courtroom from season one and the retreat from season two so perfect.
When making the show, there’s also such a high level of uncertainty. At any point, something could go wrong and the whole show can derail. Producer David Bernad noted, “the deeper you get into the production, the more the stakes rise.” Unlike scripted television, there’s no guarantee how the story will unfold and if it will be entertaining. There’s also no way to know how that one unknowing person, such as Gladden or Norman, might react. Despite this, there’s still hope for a third season. After all, the second season was announced three years after the release of the first season.
While viewers await news of a new season, they still have something to look forward to. The signature “Rockin’ Grandma’s” hot sauce is available for purchase on Amazon. The company collaborated with Dave’s Gourmet to create the sauce. Marketed as a pepper blend with habanero, honey, and spices, it’s a perfect add on for any dish and a fun way for fans to stay connected with the show.
