Showrunner Nkechi Carroll is Making History on the CW Network and Beyond
Image via IMDb
Back when the network was still known as The WB, the shows that routinely aired on TV sets adhered to a linear formula. Titles like Dawson’s Creek (1998), Charmed (1998), Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997), and 7th Heaven (1996) were staples of ‘90s television, yet they lacked something crucial. Despite their popularity among teens and young adults across America, the diversity of the fanbase was rarely reflected in the episodes themselves. For viewers like Nkechi Carroll, who was in her twenties at the time, it took extra effort to envision herself in the stories unfolding on screen. Assuredly, she still enjoyed these shows, but it was hard to ignore that the few characters who looked like her were rarely the ones driving the narrative, leaving little room for stories parallel to the full breadth of human experience.
When the now-CW network greenlit All American in 2018, Carroll was brought on as a showrunner to help shape a series already moving toward production. Although the show is loosely based on the life of former NFL player Spencer Paysinger, Carroll recognized an opportunity to fill in the missing piece that had long been absent from mainstream television: representation. As redevelopment discussions began in the writers’ room, her leadership and unique contributions reigned. This marked the beginning of a shift in how stories of diverse backgrounds were told on network television. “We’re going to have aspirational, Black youth with seemingly impossible dreams; we’re going to go on authentic journeys while we’re also helping our youth in the real world understand how to overcome obstacles and keep dreaming,” Carroll declared.
Though she had never run a show before, when Greg Berlanti, showrunner and executive producer of Dawson’s Creek, invited Carroll to watch the pilot episode of All American, she agreed with the sole intention of meeting her hero. “I realized this was my one opportunity to meet my hero and give him his flowers in person. I wanted the chance to be in a room with Greg, to tell him how he changed my life and contributed to my becoming a TV writer, so I said yes.” It wasn’t long after watching the pilot episode when the predominantly Black cast and the magic they brought to the screen enchanted Carroll’s interest and spirit. Despite the challenge of joining a project already in progress, she knew she had to be part of it. This awakening led Carroll to put her own TV projects on hold and focus on All American. She later stepped up as showrunner when the series’ creator, April Blair, stepped down in 2018.
All American debuted on October 10, 2018, with Spencer James (played by British actor Daniel Ezra) as the lead driving the narrative. The sports drama authentically portrays the experience of being a Black student-athlete from South Central LA who must learn to adapt to a new life in Beverly Hills. Beyond its foundational story, the chemistry between Carroll and the writers has allowed the series to explore themes commonly found in minority communities. “We’ve all been Black teens. Some of my writers grew up in Oakland, some in Atlanta, and everyone sort of had a different experience, but it’s all authentically true to their Blackness… I’m also the mother of two Black sons; raising them in this country, I’m constantly surrounded by them and their friends, trying to help them achieve their dreams while also staying grounded and true to themselves.” Carroll stated. The emphasis on maintaining authenticity and warranting resonation with the audience, season after season, stems from a multicultural team and a deep understanding of diverse experiences. She wishes for young people “to be able to look at a TV screen, see themselves no matter who they are, no matter what their experience is… see some version of themselves on the screen and recognize that their life, in all their shades and all their glory, is worthy of being celebrated as the A story.” Carroll doesn’t only pour into the characters and writers but also the actors and their dreams. At the 2024 American Black Film Festival, the cast of All American expressed how their showrunner created room for them to evolve, whether that is allowing Daniel Ezra to direct a few episodes or otherwise.
Almost six years later, Nkechi Carroll’s methodical steps with both All American and its HBCU spin-off All American: Homecoming (2022) have trademarked what it means to carve a non-linear path in the entertainment industry. This is evident in the loyal fan base that consistently expresses their thoughts and feelings about the series and plot developments, whether via live-tweeting on X during Monday night premieres or through the Instagram fan page “@Speliviafan,” and more. “If a plot idea is so exciting that I feel I have to do it, but the idea of doing it also scares me and sends me under my desk for ten minutes, then that’s the one. That feeling of excitement and fear is usually my litmus test for ‘this is the moment you stored up your faith for, this is the moment that God is telling you to leap,’ and so I do,” Carroll explained.
Today, Carroll is a force in the industry, moving with purpose, excitement, and even a touch of fear—emotions fuel her work's authenticity, including the latest NBC series Found (2023). Television has come a long way in terms of representation and diversity—a stark contrast to the 90s, the era in which Nkechi Carroll’s genius has uniquely contributed to reshaping. Her leadership and the broader impact of her success in entertainment are an inspiration to the next generation of showrunners. “Do not be afraid to fight for the stories you want to tell because the audience will come. I don’t know that anyone expected All American to still be going, but I saw it,” Carroll states. Nkechi Carroll isn’t just a showrunner; she’s the mastermind behind the masterpiece.
