B Positive

B Positive (aka B+) is an American sitcom television series created by Marco Pennette and co-produced, co-written, and co-executive produced by Chuck Lorre. The series premiered on CBS on November 5, 2020. In May 2021, the series was renewed for a second season and was premiered on October 14, 2021.

Premise
B Positive is about a therapist and newly divorced dad who is faced with finding a kidney donor when he runs into a rough-around-the-edges woman from his past who volunteers her own. Together they form an unlikely bond and begin a journey that will change both of their lives.

Main

 * Thomas Middleditch as Drew Dunbar
 * Annaleigh Ashford as Gina Dabrowski
 * Kether Donohue as Gabby
 * Sara Rue as Julia Dunbar
 * Izzy G as Maddie Dunbar
 * Terrence Terrell as Eli Russell
 * Linda Lavin as Norma (season 2–, recurring season 1)
 * Darryl Stephens as Gideon (season 2–, recurring season 1)
 * David Anthony Higgins as Jerry Platt (season 2–, recurring season 1)

Recurring

 * Bernie Kopell as Mr. Knudsen (season 1)
 * Briga Heelan as Samantha Turner (season 1)
 * Jason Kravits as Dr. Baskin
 * Adam Chambers as Paul
 * Rosa Salazar (season 1) and Michelle Ortiz (season 2) as Adriana
 * Hector Elizondo as Harry (season 2)
 * Jane Seymour as Bette (season 2)
 * Ben Vereen as Peter (season 2)
 * Priscilla Lopez as Meredith (season 2)
 * Jim Beaver as Spencer (season 2)
 * Anna Maria Horsford as Althea Ludlum (season 2)

Development
The series was among the 14 pilots ordered by CBS in February 2020 and was fast tracked to series the following March, as the pilot had already been completed before production at Warner Bros. Television was suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic. The pilot was the only pilot completed for the 2020–21 television season for any of the broadcast networks in advance of the upfronts. On May 8, 2020, CBS picked up the series. On October 26, 2020, Jim Patterson joined the series as an executive producer and co-showrunner. The series premiered on November 5, 2020. On December 21, 2020, CBS gave the series a five-episode back order, making the total number of episodes ordered to 18 episodes. On May 15, 2021, CBS renewed the series for a second season which was premiered on October 14, 2021. On October 15, 2021, it was reported that creator and co-showrunner Marco Pennette had left the series at the end of the first season and Patterson would continue to serve as showrunner for the second season.

Casting
On February 19, 2020, it was announced that Annaleigh Ashford had been cast in the pilot. On March 2, 2020, it was announced that Kether Donohue and Sara Rue had joined the cast. The following day, it was announced that Thomas Middleditch had joined the cast. Alongside the series picked up announcement, it was reported that Kamryn Kunody was cast in a starring role. On August 11, 2020, Maggie Elizabeth Jones joined the cast in a recasting, replacing Kunody. On September 25, 2020, Terrence Terrell was cast as a series regular. On October 12, 2020, Izzy G was cast to replace Jones in a second recasting while Linda Lavin, Briga Heelan, Darryl Stephens, Bernie Kopell, and David Anthony Higgins were cast in recurring roles and Darien Sills-Evans was cast to guest star. On September 1, 2021, Lavin, Higgins, and Stephens were promoted to series regulars while Hector Elizondo, Jane Seymour, Ben Vereen, Celia Weston, Jim Beaver, and Anna Maria Horsford joined cast in recurring roles for the second season.

Filming
Production for the first season concluded on April 16, 2021.

Release
B Positive began airing weekly episodes on CBS from November 5, 2020, after Young Sheldon.

Streaming
The series would stream on the WarnerMedia-owned HBO Max service; no release date was announced at that time. The first season was added in September 2021.

Critical response
On Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 87% with an average rating of 6.12/10, based on 15 reviews. The website's critical consensus states, "B Positive 's familiar sitcom trappings are elevated by its charming cast—especially the weird and winsome comedic stylings of Tony winner Annaleigh Ashford." On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 63 out of 100, based on 13 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

Nielsen Ratings
Based on average total viewers per episode of B Positive on CBS:

Trivia

 * The series is inspired by Pennette's personal experience as a transplant recipient.