''Chillin Island'' is an unscripted HBO reality series that aired six episodes between December 17, 2021 and January 28, 2022. It was executive-produced by DreamCrew, a production company owned by

Drake Drake may refer to: Animals and creatures * A male duck * Drake (mythology), a term related to and often synonymous with dragon People and fictional characters * Drake (surname), a list of people and fictional characters with the family ...

. The series based on the radio show of the same name. It is hosted by Alec "Despot" Reinstein, Ashok "Dap" Kondabalu, and Aleksey "Lakutis" Weintraub, all from New York City. It features guests like

Young Thug Jeffery Lamar Williams II (born August 16, 1991), known professionally as Young Thug, is an American rapper. Known for his eccentric vocal style and fashion, he is considered an influential figure in modern hip hop music, hip hop and trap music ...

and

Lil Yachty Miles Parks McCollum (born August 23, 1997), known professionally as Lil Yachty, is an American rapper. He first gained recognition in August 2015 for his viral hit "One Night (Lil Yachty song), One Night", the lead single from his debut extend ...

. Together, the stars visit natural sites, like deserts and swamps, with the goal of having profound realizations. It is

slow television Slow television, or slow TV (), is a genre of "marathon" television coverage of an ordinary event in its complete length. Its name is derived both from the long endurance of the broadcast as well as from the natural slow pace of the television pro ...

Format

Each unscripted episode follows Despot, Dap, and Lakutis on an outdoor excursion with a celebrity guest from

hip hop Hip-hop or hip hop (originally disco rap) is a popular music genre that emerged in the early 1970s from the African-American community of New York City. The style is characterized by its synthesis of a wide range of musical techniques. Hip- ...

culture. It is narrated by

Steven Wright Steven Alexander Wright (born December 6, 1955) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and film producer. He is known for his distinctive lethargic voice and slow, deadpan delivery of ironic, philosophical and sometimes nonsensical j ...

. Each episode gives an end credit to

John Lurie John Lurie (born December 14, 1952) is an American musician, painter, actor, director, and producer. He co-founded the Lounge Lizards jazz ensemble; has acted in 19 films, including ''Stranger than Paradise'' and '' Down by Law''; has composed ...

, creator of 1991 show Fishing with John.

Episodes

Season 1 (2021)

Reception

Chillin Island received mixed reviews. ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' wrote that the show gives "the boring feeling of being trapped with a conversationalist who’s both ill-informed and, worse, uninterestingly so," specifically referencing Lil Yachty's ranting that modern medicine is a mistake and that overpopulation is the root of the world's problems. However, The Ringer wrote that Chillin Island "feels like a perfectly pitched Cosmos-type show run through the prism of a National Geographic nature program." and Collider called it "the Perfect Hangout Show of the Season", while The New Yorker called the show "a woozy, exploratory stoner’s delight".

References

HBO original programming {{US-reality-tv-stub

Format

Episodes

Season 1 (2021)

Reception

See also

References