Animal Control (TV series)

Animal Control is an American television sitcom created by Bob Fisher, Rob Greenberg and Dan Sterling that premiered on Fox on February 16, 2023, and produced by Roughhouse Productions, Middletown News, Wow a Fox, Fox Entertainment Studios.^[1] In May 2023, the series was renewed for a second season which premiered on March 6, 2024.^[2][3] In February 2024, ahead of the second season premiere, the series was renewed for a third season which premiered on January 2, 2025.^[4][5]

Animal Control
Genre	Sitcom
Created by	Bob Fisher & Rob Greenberg & Dan Sterling
Starring	Joel McHale Vella Lovell Michael Rowland Ravi V. Patel Grace Palmer
Music by	Nick Urata
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	3
No. of episodes	31
Production
Executive producers	Jake Fuller Tony Hernandez Brooke Posch Bob Fisher Rob Greenberg Tad Quill Dan Sterling Joel McHale
Producers	Clark Mathis Matthew Chipera Jen Jackson
Camera setup	Single-camera
Running time	22 minutes
Production companies	Roughhouse Productions Middletown News Wow a Fox Fox Entertainment Studios
Original release
Network	Fox
Release	February 16, 2023 (2023-02-16) – present

Premise

A group of animal control workers in Seattle begin to see their lives complicated by humans and not so much by animals.

Cast

Main

• Joel McHale as Frank Shaw, a bitter and cynical Senior Animal Control Officer. He was a cop who was fired from the force after discovering evidence of corruption in his precinct. He is sarcastic and quick-witted, prone to making satirical remarks about his co-workers. Later episodes reveal that much of his behavior is bravado and he is actually very depressed and self-conscious.
• Vella Lovell as Emily Price, the good-natured director at the A.C. Northwest precinct. She can be anxious and often awkward in social situations. She's chipper and spunky and surprisingly competitive, butting heads with Templeton when he makes comments about wanting her job. She also displays a creative side, such as when she dresses up the animals for photoshoots to post on social media.
• Michael Rowland as Fred "Shred" Taylor, Frank's partner. An idealistic amateur Animal Control officer and a former professional snowboarder. His idealism causes him to deflect the negativity that his precinct often dishes out.
• Ravi V. Patel as Amit Patel, one of the Animal Control officers of Frank's precinct and Victoria's partner. He is pessimistic and frequently overwhelmed by his large family. When he's away from his family he tends to become absorbed in reckless or childish activities.
• Grace Palmer as Victoria Sands, a street-smart Animal Control officer from New Zealand and Amit's partner. She has a laid-back personality, frequently indulging in various drugs and casual sex. She and Frank have an ongoing prank war that borders on flirtation.

Recurring

• Gerry Dee as Templeton Dudge, the mean-spirited Canadian Animal Control Officer from the Central Precinct.
• Kelli Ogmundson as Dolores Stubb (season 1), the self-righteous receptionist of Frank's precinct.
• Alvina August as Dr. Colette Summers (season 1), the attractive veterinarian in Frank's precinct. She is often targeted as a lust object by the officers, which is a recurring joke in the show.
• Amy Goodmurphy as AM Dispatch
• Kevin Bigley as Rick Doyle, the previous director of the A.C. precinct and Frank's former partner.
• Krystal Smith as Bettany (season 2–present), the new assistant to Emily.^[6]
• Chelsea Frei as Isabelle (season 2–present), a free-spirit and Shred's girlfriend.
• Lucy Punch as Fiona Holcomb (season 3), a philanthropist who helps Emily promote the precinct.

Guest

• María Gabriela de Faría as Camila (season 1), Shred's long-distance girlfriend who lives in Austria.
• Kalyn Miles as Maya Patel, Amit's wife.
• Dayah Brar as Addy Patel, Amit's daughter. She is very sassy and he finds her difficult to control.
• Tristan D. Lalla as Jack, a vet tech working with Dr. Summers. He has a very no-nonsense personality and seems exhausted by how self-centered the patrol officers are.
• John Procaccino as Jimmy Shaw, Frank's cantankerous father with whom he has a contentious relationship.
• Ken Jeong as Lee Park (season 2), a well-respected dog whisperer
• Sarah Chalke as Yazmin (season 2), Frank's ex-girlfriend.^[6]
• Thomas Lennon as Patrick Shaw (season 2-present), Frank's older brother. He is a police officer.
• Maz Jobrani as Lucas (season 2)
• Larry Joe Campbell as Carl (season 2-present)^[7]

Episodes

Series overview

Season	Episodes		Originally released
			First released	Last released
1	12		February 16, 2023 (2023-02-16)	May 4, 2023 (2023-05-04)
2	9		March 6, 2024 (2024-03-06)	May 8, 2024 (2024-05-08)
3	10		January 2, 2025 (2025-01-02)	March 13, 2025 (2025-03-13)

Season 1 (2023)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original release date	U.S. viewers (millions)
1	1	"Weasels and Ostriches"	Bob Fisher & Rob Greenberg	Bob Fisher & Rob Greenberg & Dan Sterling	February 16, 2023 (2023-02-16)	2.09[8]
2	2	"Rabbits and Pythons"	Bob Fisher & Rob Greenberg	Bob Fisher & Rob Greenberg & Dan Sterling	February 23, 2023 (2023-02-23)	1.60[9]
3	3	"Cougars and Kangaroos"	Bob Fisher & Rob Greenberg	Bob Fisher & Rob Greenberg & Dan Sterling	March 2, 2023 (2023-03-02)	1.48[10]
4	4	"Dogs and Bears and Minks"	Jay Chandrasekhar	Emily Towers	March 9, 2023 (2023-03-09)	1.30[11]
5	5	"Cows and Raccoons"	Jay Chandrasekhar	Jen Jackson	March 16, 2023 (2023-03-16)	1.48[12]
6	6	"Skunks and Llamas"	Chris Koch	Jim Brandon & Brian Singleton	March 23, 2023 (2023-03-23)	1.31[13]
7	7	"Peacocks and Pumas"	Jay Chandrasekhar	Tad Quill & Dan Sterling	March 30, 2023 (2023-03-30)	1.19[14]
8	8	"Hellhounds and Sturgeons"	Chris Koch	Sam Shanker	April 6, 2023 (2023-04-06)	1.25[15]
9	9	"Dogs and Geese"	Chris Koch	Emily Towers & Jen Jackson & Sam Shanker	April 13, 2023 (2023-04-13)	1.03[16]
10	10	"Pigs and Minks"	Robert Cohen	Tad Quill & Dan Sterling	April 20, 2023 (2023-04-20)	1.02[17]
11	11	"Birds and Foxes"	Robert Cohen	Tad Quill & Dan Sterling	April 27, 2023 (2023-04-27)	0.99[18]
12	12	"Unicorns and Mountain Lions"	Robert Cohen	Tad Quill & Dan Sterling	May 4, 2023 (2023-05-04)	0.99[19]

Season 2 (2024)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original release date	U.S. viewers (millions)
13	1	"Raccoons and Mutts"	Bob Fisher & Rob Greenberg	Bob Fisher & Rob Greenberg & Tad Quill	March 6, 2024 (2024-03-06)	1.62[20]
14	2	"Cats and Monkeys"	Bob Fisher & Rob Greenberg	Bob Fisher & Rob Greenberg & Tad Quill	March 13, 2024 (2024-03-13)	1.54[21]
15	3	"Tortoises and Labradors"	Natalia Anderson	Bob Fisher & Rob Greenberg & Tad Quill	March 20, 2024 (2024-03-20)	1.29[22]
16	4	"Big Dogs and Mini Horses"	Natalia Anderson	David Feeney	March 27, 2024 (2024-03-27)	1.51[23]
17	5	"Dogs and Chickens"	Jay Chandrasekhar	Sam Shanker	April 10, 2024 (2024-04-10)	1.48[24]
18	6	"Bunnies and Veggies"	Molly McGlynn	Jim Brandon & Brian Singleton	April 17, 2024 (2024-04-17)	1.47[25]
19	7	"Skunks and Swans"	Molly McGlynn	Emily Towers	April 24, 2024 (2024-04-24)	1.44[26]
20	8	"Bulls and Potbellies"	Clark Mathis	Jen Jackson	May 1, 2024 (2024-05-01)	1.21[27]
21	9	"Beagles and Lemurs"	Clark Mathis	Natasha Williams	May 8, 2024 (2024-05-08)	1.26[28]

Season 3 (2025)

No. overall	No. in season	Title [29][30]	Directed by	Written by	Original release date [29][30]	U.S. viewers (millions)
22	1	"Giraffes, Gorillas, and Penguins"	Bob Fisher & Rob Greenberg	Jim Brandon & Brian Singleton	January 2, 2025 (2025-01-02)	1.33[31]
23	2	"Rattlers and Gators"	Bob Fisher & Rob Greenberg	David Feeney	January 9, 2025 (2025-01-09)	1.11[32]
24	3	"Goats, Snakes, and Dogs"	Jay Chandrasekhar	Brad Stevens & Boyd Vico	January 16, 2025 (2025-01-16)	1.25[33]
25	4	"Baby Kangaroos and Chickens"	Jay Chandrasekhar	Sam Shanker	January 23, 2025 (2025-01-23)	1.06[34]
26	5	"Hot Dogs and Lobsters"	Natalia Anderson	Jen Jackson	January 30, 2025 (2025-01-30)	1.17[35]
27	6	"Buffalo and Beavers"	Natalia Anderson	Emily Towers	February 13, 2025 (2025-02-13)	1.29[36]
28	7	"Ducks and Penguins"	Clark Mathis	Dan Sterling	February 20, 2025 (2025-02-20)	1.13[37]
29	8	"Party Animals"	Clark Mathis	Annie C. Wright	February 27, 2025 (2025-02-27)	1.04[38]
30	9	"Retrievers and Fruit Bats"	Natalia Anderson	Brad Stevens & Boyd Vico	March 6, 2025 (2025-03-06)	0.97[39]
31	10	"Strays and Lovebirds"	Natalia Anderson	Tad Quill	March 13, 2025 (2025-03-13)	0.94[40]

Production

In July 2022, it was announced Fox had given a straight-to-series order to Animal Control from Bob Fisher, Rob Greenberg, Dan Sterling and Fox Entertainment, marking Fox Entertainment Studios' first fully owned live-action comedy.^[41] In October of that year, Joel McHale joined the series as the lead and executive producer.^[42] Vella Lovell and Ravi Patel joined the cast later that same month.^[43][44] Most portions of Animal Control are filmed in and around Vancouver, the most populous city in British Columbia, and were filmed in the Vancouver area from October 31, 2022 to January 25, 2023.^[45] In May 2023, the series was renewed for a second season which premiered on March 6, 2024.^[2][3] In February 2024, ahead the second season premiere, Fox renewed the series for a third season.^[4] Filming for the third season began on June 17, 2024 and concluded on August 20, 2024.^[46] The third season premiered on Fox on January 2, 2025.^[5]

Reception

Critical response

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 60% approval rating with an average rating of 6/10, based on ten critic reviews.^[47] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 68 out of 100 based on seven critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".^[48]

Ratings

Overall

Viewership and ratings per season of Animal Control

Season	Timeslot (ET)	Episodes	First aired		Last aired		TV season	Viewership rank	Avg. viewers (millions)	18–49 rank	Avg. 18–49 rating
			Date	Viewers (millions)	Date	Viewers (millions)
1	Thursday 9:00 p.m.	12	February 16, 2023 (2023-02-16)	2.09[8]	May 4, 2023 (2023-05-04)	0.99[19]	2022–23	97	2.16	84	0.42[49]
2	Wednesday 9:00 p.m.	9	March 6, 2024 (2024-03-06)	1.62[20]	May 8, 2024 (2024-05-08)	1.21[28]	2023–24	100	2.12	97	0.30[50]
3	Thursday 9:00 p.m.	10	January 2, 2025 (2025-01-02)	1.33[31]	March 13, 2025 (2025-03-13)	0.94[40]	2024–25	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD

Season 1

Viewership and ratings per episode of Animal Control

No.	Title	Air date	Rating (18–49)	Viewers (millions)
1	"Weasels and Ostriches"	February 16, 2023	0.3	2.09[8]
2	"Rabbits and Pythons"	February 23, 2023	0.3	1.60[9]
3	"Cougars and Kangaroos"	March 2, 2023	0.3	1.48[10]
4	"Dogs and Bears and Minks"	March 9, 2023	0.2	1.30[11]
5	"Cows and Raccoons"	March 16, 2023	0.3	1.48[12]
6	"Skunks and Llamas"	March 23, 2023	0.2	1.31[13]
7	"Peacocks and Pumas"	March 30, 2023	0.3	1.19[14]
8	"Hellhounds and Sturgeons"	April 6, 2023	0.3	1.25[15]
9	"Dogs and Geese"	April 13, 2023	0.2	1.03[16]
10	"Pigs and Minks"	April 20, 2023	0.2	1.02[17]
11	"Birds and Foxes"	April 27, 2023	0.2	0.99[18]
12	"Unicorns and Mountain Lions"	May 4, 2023	0.2	0.99[19]

Season 2

Viewership and ratings per episode of Animal Control

No.	Title	Air date	Rating (18–49)	Viewers (millions)
1	"Raccoons and Mutts"	March 6, 2024	0.2	1.62[20]
2	"Cats and Monkeys"	March 13, 2024	0.2	1.54[21]
3	"Tortoises and Labradors"	March 20, 2024	0.2	1.29[22]
4	"Big Dogs and Mini Horses"	March 27, 2024	0.2	1.51[23]
5	"Dogs and Chickens"	April 10, 2024	0.2	1.48[24]
6	"Bunnies and Veggies"	April 17, 2024	0.2	1.47[25]
7	"Skunks and Swans"	April 24, 2024	0.2	1.44[26]
8	"Bulls and Potbellies"	May 1, 2024	0.2	1.21[27]
9	"Beagles and Lemurs"	May 8, 2024	0.2	1.26[28]

Season 3

Viewership and ratings per episode of Animal Control

No.	Title	Air date	Rating (18–49)	Viewers (millions)	DVR (18–49)	DVR viewers (millions)	Total (18–49)	Total viewers (millions)	Ref.
1	"Giraffes, Gorillas, and Penguins"	January 2, 2025	0.2	1.33	0.1	0.66	0.3	1.99	[31]
2	"Rattlers and Gators"	January 9, 2025	0.2	1.11	0.1	0.66	0.3	1.77	[32]
3	"Goats, Snakes, and Dogs"	January 16, 2025	0.2	1.25	0.1	0.62	0.3	1.87	[33]
4	"Baby Kangaroos and Chickens"	January 23, 2025	0.2	1.06	0.1	0.70	0.3	1.76	[34]
5	"Hotdogs and Lobsters"	January 30, 2025	0.2	1.17	0.1	0.64	0.3	1.81	[35]
6	"Buffalo and Beavers"	February 13, 2025	0.3	1.29	0.1	0.70	0.3	1.98	[36]
7	"Ducks and Penguins"	February 20, 2025	0.2	1.13	0.1	0.61	0.3	1.74	[37]
8	"Party Animals"	February 27, 2025	0.2	1.04	0.1	0.65	0.3	1.70	[38]
9	"Retrievers and Fruit Bats"	March 6, 2025	0.1	0.97	0.1	0.56	0.2	1.53	[39]
10	"Strays and Lovebirds"	March 13, 2025	0.1	0.94	0.1	0.54	0.2	1.49	[40]

Season		Episode number												Average
		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
	1	2.09	1.60	1.48	1.30	1.48	1.31	1.19	1.25	1.03	1.02	0.99	0.99	1.31
	2	1.62	1.54	1.29	1.51	1.48	1.47	1.44	1.21	1.26	–			1.42
	3	1.33	1.11	1.25	1.06	1.17	1.29	1.13	1.04	0.97	0.94	–		1.13

Animal Control : U.S. viewers per episode (millions)

Audience measurement performed by Nielsen Media Research^[a]

Notes

1. The viewership statistics in the graph and table are sourced from the citations in the season-specific tables above.