Ball in the Family

Ball in the Family
GenreReality
Starring
Opening theme"We Ballin (From Ball In The Family)"
by Eric Tucker, Jay Vincent B, Sean Donatello
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons6
No. of episodes116
Production
Executive producers
  • Gil Goldschien
  • Julie Pizzi
  • Farnaz Farjam
  • Steve Ezell
Producers
  • LaVar Ball
  • Tina Ball
Production locations
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time14–26 minutes
Production companyBunim/Murray Productions
Original release
NetworkFacebook Watch
ReleaseAugust 29, 2017 (2017-08-29) –
December 20, 2020 (2020-12-20)

Ball in the Family is an American reality television series that premiered on August 29, 2017 on Facebook Watch. The show documents the personal and professional lives of the Ball family. The sixth season premiered on October 18, 2020.[1]

Cast

Main

Recurring

  • Denise Garcia, Lonzo's ex girlfriend and mother of his daughter
  • Zoey Ball, Lonzo and Denise's baby daughter
  • Alan Foster (seasons 1–4), LaVar's former business partner
  • Darren "DMO" Moore, Lonzo's manager and family friend
  • Horace, family friend
  • Noni Slatinsky, Tina's mother
  • Robert Slatinsky, Tina's father
  • Anderson Ball, LaVar's father
  • Maria Ball, LaVar's mother
  • LaValle Ball, LaVar's brother
  • Ren Ball, LaVar's brother
  • 'Dre Ball, LaVar's brother
  • Jhaylen Ball, LaVar's niece
  • Andre Ball, LaVar's nephew

Episodes

Series overview

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
110August 29, 2017 (2017-08-29)October 29, 2017 (2017-10-29)
224November 26, 2017 (2017-11-26)May 6, 2018 (2018-05-06)
324June 10, 2018 (2018-06-10)November 18, 2018 (2018-11-18)
424December 9, 2018 (2018-12-09)June 16, 2019 (2019-06-16)
524August 18, 2019 (2019-08-18)February 23, 2020 (2020-02-23)
610October 18, 2020 (2020-10-18)December 20, 2020 (2020-12-20)

Season 1 (2017)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleOriginal release date
11"Bittersweet Victory"August 29, 2017 (2017-08-29)
22"Forging a Path"August 31, 2017 (2017-08-31)
33"Wild Boy"September 10, 2017 (2017-09-10)
44"All About the "W""September 17, 2017 (2017-09-17)
55"The Making of a Leader"September 24, 2017 (2017-09-24)
66"It Ain't Easy Being Zo"October 1, 2017 (2017-10-01)
77"Back on Track"October 8, 2017 (2017-10-08)
88"Big Ballin’ in Hawaii: Part 1"October 15, 2017 (2017-10-15)
99"Big Ballin’ in Hawaii: Part 2"October 22, 2017 (2017-10-22)
1010"Happy Birthday, Big Boy"October 29, 2017 (2017-10-29)

In the last episode, it is revealed that Lamelo Ball is dating Ashley Alvano (they later break up in January/February 2019).

Season 2 (2017–18)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleOriginal release date
111"School's Out"November 26, 2017 (2017-11-26)
122"The First 48 Hrs."December 3, 2017 (2017-12-03)
133"Mr. Sweet Tooth"December 10, 2017 (2017-12-10)
144"Happy Birthday, Lonzo!"December 17, 2017 (2017-12-17)
155"Gelo Has Been Detained"December 24, 2017 (2017-12-24)
166"A Mother's Love"December 31, 2017 (2017-12-31)
177"Gelo's Fate"January 7, 2018 (2018-01-07)
188"A Very Thankful Ballsgiving"January 14, 2018 (2018-01-14)
199"Gelo's Birthday Wish"January 21, 2018 (2018-01-21)
2010"The Future of the Ball Boys"January 28, 2018 (2018-01-28)
2111"Melo and Gelo Go Pro"February 4, 2018 (2018-02-04)
2212"Strong Moves"February 11, 2018 (2018-02-11)
2313"A Big Baller Christmas"February 18, 2018 (2018-02-18)
2414"Welcome to Lithuania!"February 25, 2018 (2018-02-25)
2515"Fully Committed"March 4, 2018 (2018-03-04)
2616"The Two-Year Plan"March 11, 2018 (2018-03-11)
2717"Meeting Halfway"March 18, 2018 (2018-03-18)
2818"Tina's Courage"March 25, 2018 (2018-03-25)
2919"Baby Baller Alert!"April 1, 2018 (2018-04-01)
3020"London Bound"April 8, 2018 (2018-04-08)
3121"Fatherly Advice"April 15, 2018 (2018-04-15)
3222"Naming The Next Generation"April 22, 2018 (2018-04-22)
3323"Working Vacation"April 29, 2018 (2018-04-29)
3424"Draft Eligible"May 6, 2018 (2018-05-06)

Season 3 (2018)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleOriginal release date
351"Izzy's Arrival"June 10, 2018 (2018-06-10)
362"The Decision"June 17, 2018 (2018-06-17)
373"Denise's Birthday Getaway"June 24, 2018 (2018-06-24)
384"The Home Stretch"July 1, 2018 (2018-07-01)
395"Farewell, Lithuania"July 8, 2018 (2018-07-08)
406"Home Sweet Home"July 15, 2018 (2018-07-15)
417"Welcome To The Family"July 22, 2018 (2018-07-22)
428"Feelin' The Pressure"July 29, 2018 (2018-07-29)
439"National Spotlight"August 5, 2018 (2018-08-05)
4410"Last Straw"August 12, 2018 (2018-08-12)
4511"Making History"August 19, 2018 (2018-08-19)
4612"Turn It Up"August 26, 2018 (2018-08-26)
4713"The Big Day"September 2, 2018 (2018-09-02)
4814"Growing Pains"September 9, 2018 (2018-09-09)
4915"Blow It Up"September 16, 2018 (2018-09-16)
5016"Reversal of Fortune"September 23, 2018 (2018-09-23)
5117"The Birth of Baby Zoey"September 30, 2018 (2018-09-30)
5218"Baby Phobia"October 7, 2018 (2018-10-07)
5319"Hopes and Dreams"October 14, 2018 (2018-10-14)
5420"Championship On The Line"October 21, 2018 (2018-10-21)
5521"Melo's Acting Out"October 28, 2018 (2018-10-28)
5622"Bora Bora Bound"November 4, 2018 (2018-11-04)
5723"Last Days in Paradise"November 11, 2018 (2018-11-11)
5824"The Break-up"November 18, 2018 (2018-11-18)

Season 4 (2018–19)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleOriginal release date
591"Relationship Status"December 9, 2018 (2018-12-09)
602"Collision Course"December 16, 2018 (2018-12-16)
613"The Slap Heard Around the World"December 23, 2018 (2018-12-23)
624"Baby Momma Drama"December 30, 2018 (2018-12-30)
635"Denise is Moving to LA"January 6, 2019 (2019-01-06)
646"Second Chances"January 13, 2019 (2019-01-13)
657"Kanye West Is In The House"January 20, 2019 (2019-01-20)
668"Melo Bomb"January 27, 2019 (2019-01-27)
679"Hello Goodbye"February 3, 2019 (2019-02-03)
6810"Fresh Start"February 10, 2019 (2019-02-10)
6911"Little Big Head"February 17, 2019 (2019-02-17)
7012"Gelo's Big Decision"February 24, 2019 (2019-02-24)
7113"Lonzo and Denise Back Together"March 3, 2019 (2019-03-03)
7214"Long Distance Christmas"March 10, 2019 (2019-03-10)
7315"Home Away From Home"April 14, 2019 (2019-04-14)
7416"Meet The Parents"April 21, 2019 (2019-04-21)
7517"Talk To Me"April 28, 2019 (2019-04-28)
7618"Team Tina"May 5, 2019 (2019-05-05)
7719"A Storm Is Coming"May 12, 2019 (2019-05-12)
7820"Two's Company, Three's A Crowd"May 19, 2019 (2019-05-19)
7921"Road Blocks"May 26, 2019 (2019-05-26)
8022"End of an Era"June 2, 2019 (2019-06-02)
8123"The Three Amigos"June 9, 2019 (2019-06-09)
8224"An Enemy Within"June 16, 2019 (2019-06-16)

Season 5 (2019–20)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleOriginal release date
831"The Great Divide"August 18, 2019 (2019-08-18)
842"Housewarming Jitters"August 25, 2019 (2019-08-25)
853"Striking a Balance"September 1, 2019 (2019-09-01)
864"Tripped Up"September 8, 2019 (2019-09-08)
875"In or Out?"September 15, 2019 (2019-09-15)
886"Traded"September 22, 2019 (2019-09-22)
897"Zo's Big News, Melo's Surprise Move"September 29, 2019 (2019-09-29)
908"Hooked on a Feeling"October 6, 2019 (2019-10-06)
919"Ready, Set, Pro!"October 13, 2019 (2019-10-13)
9210"Do I Stay Or Do I Go?"October 20, 2019 (2019-10-20)
9311"Ball Men vs The Wild"October 27, 2019 (2019-10-27)
9412"Hard Times In The Big Easy"November 3, 2019 (2019-11-03)
9513"Pro Mind-Set"November 10, 2019 (2019-11-10)
9614"Goodbye Boys"November 17, 2019 (2019-11-17)
9715"Stay Melo"November 24, 2019 (2019-11-24)
9816"Growing Pains"December 1, 2019 (2019-12-01)
9917"Hot Date"January 5, 2020 (2020-01-05)
10018"Keep It G3 Baby!"January 12, 2020 (2020-01-12)
10119"Ghosted"January 19, 2020 (2020-01-19)
10220"Talk to Me"January 26, 2020 (2020-01-26)
10321"Ballin' in the Big Easy"February 2, 2020 (2020-02-02)
10422"Mr. Big Mouth"February 9, 2020 (2020-02-09)
10523"All About Zoey"February 16, 2020 (2020-02-16)
10624"The Main Event"February 23, 2020 (2020-02-23)

Season 6 (2020)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleOriginal release date
1071"The Ball Family Bounces Back"October 18, 2020 (2020-10-18)
1082"Are Zo & Denise Getting Back Together?"October 25, 2020 (2020-10-25)
1093"BBB and BLM"November 1, 2020 (2020-11-01)
1104"Lonzo On Lockdown"November 8, 2020 (2020-11-08)
1115"New House, New Rules"November 15, 2020 (2020-11-15)
1126"Crossroads"November 22, 2020 (2020-11-22)
1137"Brand Nu Hope"November 29, 2020 (2020-11-29)
1148"PopUpProblems"December 6, 2020 (2020-12-06)
1159"A Birthday To Remember"December 13, 2020 (2020-12-13)
11610"The Big Day"December 20, 2020 (2020-12-20)

Production

Development

On July 5, 2017, it was announced that Facebook had greenlit a then-untitled reality show starring the Ball family. The number and length of episodes had yet to be determined at the time.[3][4] On October 17, 2017, it was announced that Facebook had renewed the show for a second season.[5] On May 14, 2018, it was reported that the show had been renewed for a third season.[6]

The show is referred to internally by Facebook as one of their "hero shows" alongside other programs such as Strangers and Returning the Favor.[7]

Music

The series' theme song was "Big Bag" by Wes Period. A friend of Period's was working with the Ball family to find music for the show and told him about it. Period came to them with his song and they told him that they would use in the end credits of an episode. Instead, the producers of the series ended up making it the show's official theme.[8]

Reception

Critical response

The first season was met with a generally positive reception from critics. Haley O'Shaughnessy of The Ringer wrote that the show "combines everything you'd expect with a touch of nuance and sympathy."[9] Myron Medcalf of ESPN compared the show favorably to other Bunim/Murray production Keeping Up with the Kardashians saying that "unlike the Kardashians, who never really care about authenticity, Ball in the Family tries to be sympathetic to the Ball patriarch while showing his brashness isn't just there to generate social media buzz."[10]

Viewership

The show premiered on Facebook Watch on August 29, 2017 and the first episode was viewed by more than 26 million people.[11]

Awards and nominations

Year Ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
2018 22nd Annual Webby Awards Film & Video: Reality Ball in the Family People's Voice Winner [12]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Get ready for the start of the new season Sunday, October 18th, only on Facebook Watch". Facebook. October 16, 2020. Archived from the original on October 25, 2020. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  2. ^ "Bulls acquire Lonzo Ball" (Press release). Chicago Bulls. August 8, 2021. Archived from the original on August 9, 2021. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  3. ^ Petski, Denise (July 3, 2017). "Facebook Greenlights Two New Original Series As Part Of Expanded Push Into Video". Deadline. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  4. ^ Dator, James (July 5, 2017). "The LaVar Ball family reality show is actually happening". SBNation.com. Archived from the original on October 11, 2017. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
  5. ^ Martin, Josh (October 17, 2017). "'Ball in the Family' will be back on Facebook Watch for Season 2". Lonzo Wire. USA Today. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  6. ^ Martin, Josh (May 14, 2018). "'Ball in the Family' to return for Season 3 on Facebook". Lonzo Wire. USA Today. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
  7. ^ Jarvey, Natalie (November 16, 2017). "Facebook to Shift Funding Strategy for Watch Shows". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  8. ^ Kamier, Rawiya (October 25, 2017). "Wes Period made Ball In The Family's theme song and it's legitimately a banger". The Fader. Archived from the original on May 14, 2018. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  9. ^ O'Shaughnessy, Haley (August 31, 2017). "'Ball in the Family' Is an On-Brand Look at LaVar's Family". The Ringer. Archived from the original on September 12, 2017. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
  10. ^ Medcalf, Myron (August 31, 2017). "Review: LaVar, reality TV perfect match in 'Ball in the Family'". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on December 11, 2017. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
  11. ^ Goldberg, Rob (November 22, 2017). "LaVar Ball's 'Ball in the Family' Reality Show Announced for Season 2". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on November 23, 2017. Retrieved November 24, 2017.
  12. ^ "Ball in the Family | The Webby Awards". Webby Awards. Archived from the original on May 24, 2018. Retrieved May 23, 2018.