| How to Get Away with Murder | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | |
| Created by | Peter Nowalk |
| Showrunner | Peter Nowalk |
| Starring | |
| Theme music composer | Photek |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 6 |
| No. of episodes | 90(list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producers |
|
| Cinematography |
|
| Editors |
|
| Camera setup | Single-camera |
| Running time | 43 minutes |
| Production companies | |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC |
| Release | September 25, 2014 (2014-09-25) – May 14, 2020 (2020-05-14) |
How to Get Away with Murder is an Americanlegal drama thriller television series that premiered on theAmerican Broadcasting Company (ABC) on September 25, 2014, and concluded on May 14, 2020.[1] The series was created byPeter Nowalk and produced byShonda Rhimes andABC Studios, airing as part of a night of programming under Rhimes'Shondaland production company.[2]
The show starsViola Davis asAnnalise Keating, a defense attorney and law professor at a prestigiousPhiladelphia university, who, along with five of her students, becomes involved in a complex murder plot.[3] The series features anensemble cast includingAlfred Enoch,Jack Falahee,Aja Naomi King,Matt McGorry, andKarla Souza as Annalise's students,Charlie Weber andLiza Weil as her employees, andBilly Brown as a detective with thePhiladelphia Police Department and Annalise's lover. Beginning with thethird season,Conrad Ricamora was promoted to the main cast after recurring in the first two seasons.[4]
Davis received widespread critical acclaim for her performance in the series: she became the first Black woman to win aPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, also winning twoScreen Actors Guild Award forOutstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series, and theImage Award forOutstanding Actress in a Drama Series. Davis also received nominations from theGolden Globe Awards forBest Actress in a Television Series, theCritics' Choice Awards forBest Actress in a Drama Series, and theTelevision Critics Association at theTCA Awards forIndividual Achievement in Drama.
Other cast members also received recognition for their performances, with Enoch and King receiving nominations from theNAACP Image Awards forOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series andOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series at the2014 NAACP Image Awards ceremony. The series also received aGLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Drama Series.
| Season | Episodes | Originally released | Rank | Viewers (in millions) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | |||||
| 1 | 15 | September 25, 2014 (2014-09-25) | February 26, 2015 (2015-02-26) | 30 | 11.40[5] | |
| 2 | 15 | September 24, 2015 (2015-09-24) | March 17, 2016 (2016-03-17) | 32 | 10.26[6] | |
| 3 | 15 | September 22, 2016 (2016-09-22) | February 23, 2017 (2017-02-23) | 44 | 7.91[7] | |
| 4 | 15 | September 28, 2017 (2017-09-28) | March 15, 2018 (2018-03-15) | 64 | 6.42[8] | |
| 5 | 15 | September 27, 2018 (2018-09-27) | February 28, 2019 (2019-02-28) | 85 | 5.15[9] | |
| 6 | 15 | September 26, 2019 (2019-09-26) | May 14, 2020 (2020-05-14) | 84 | 4.27[10] | |
 | This section's plot summariesmay betoo long or excessively detailed. Pleasehelp improve them by removing unnecessary details and making them more concise.(June 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Annalise Keating is a prominentcriminal defense attorney and law professor at Middleton University in Philadelphia. She selects five of her first year students to intern at her firm: Wes Gibbins,Connor Walsh, Michaela Pratt, Asher Millstone, andLaurel Castillo (The Keating 5). They work with Annalise's employees, Frank Delfino andBonnie Winterbottom, an associate lawyer. As the first season introduces occasional clients for Keating, it explores two related murders through bothflashback andflashforward sequences: Lila Stangard, mistress of Annalise's husband and a student at Middleton, and then Sam Keating, Annalise's husband, who was killed by Annalise's interns.
The first nine episodes alternate between the present-day timelinein medias res, depicting Wes, Connor, Michaela, and Laurel covering up Sam's murder by disposing of his body, and flashbacks detailing the course of eventsleading up to Sam's death, including Annalise's becoming involved in the Lila Stangard investigation, at Wes' urging, leading her to discover Sam's affair and creating suspicion that he killed Lila. The final six episodes explore Annalise's attempt to help her interns cover up Sam's murder and legally implicate Sam in Lila's death, and flashbacks to Lila's final moments before her murder.
The first nine episodes focus on Annalise's defense of Caleb and Catherine Hapstall, who are accused of torturing and murdering their adoptive parents. Wes, in the meantime, teams up with Rebecca's foster brother to try and find Rebecca. Connor struggles with his relationship with Oliver, while Asher works with assistant district attorney Emily Sinclair, in order to protect his secrets. In the mid-season finale, Sinclair is murdered by Asher, and Annalise helps cover it up, at the expense of her being shot in the stomach by Wes.
The second part of the season focuses on Wes' investigation of his mother's suicide ten years prior; flashbacks reveal Annalise's involvement with Wes' mother's suicide. The season ends with Annalise's finding out that Frank was responsible for the car accident that killed her baby, and Annalise sending him away. Michaela and Asher hook up, and Wes meets with his biological father right before the latter is shot dead by an unknown shooter.
In the aftermath of Wallace Mahoney's death, all five of the students attempt to move on. A new mystery arises around the burning down of Annalise's house and who was found dead inside. The events leading up to it involve Annalise's starting a free legal clinic and struggling with alcoholism. Oliver starts working for Annalise, and he leaves Connor when becoming disgusted with himself for rejecting Connor'sStanford acceptance. Michaela and Asher's romantic relationship starts to progress, as does Wes and Laurel's, and Frank starts working to atone for the death of Annalise's child. Ultimately, it is revealed that it was Wes who died, and that he was killed before the fire. Annalise is arrested for Wes' death. Frank attempts to help Annalise by confessing to killing Wes. It is further revealed that Wes is killed by Dominic, an enforcer working for Laurel's father. It is hinted that her father disapproved of the relationship between his daughter and Wes.
In the fourth season, Annalise works with a therapist, Dr. Isaac Roa, to see through her recovery from alcoholism. She initially cuts ties with Bonnie (who moves to theDA's office as anassistant district attorney reporting to DA Todd Denver) and the interns, gets a woman with a long rap sheet freed from jail, and then commits to a majorclass action against the state formiscarriages of justice caused by an underfundedpublic defender's office. Laurel deduces that her father, Jorge Castillo, is responsible for Wes' murder and hatches a scheme to steal incriminating evidence from his law firm with the help of Michaela, Oliver, Frank, and Asher. During the data heist, their classmate Simon (Behzad Dabu) accidentally shoots himself with Laurel's gun, leading to Asher's arrest, and Laurel goes into premature labor after being accidentally struck by Frank. Annalise successfully saves the baby. However, Jorge claims custody of his grandchild by submitting evidence of Laurel's past addictions and history of mental illness to a judge. Laurel's mother arrives unexpectedly to "help" Laurel fight against her father, and Frank and Bonnie uncover a mysterious link between Laurel's mother and both Wes and his killer, Dominic. Meanwhile, Annalise searches for alternative ways to win her class action lawsuit. On January 3, 2018, a crossover withScandal was announced, which aired on March 1, 2018,[11] related with the presentation of the class action lawsuit by Annalise to the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., with the help of theScandal characters.
On May 11, 2018, ABC renewed the series for a fifth season, which premiered on September 27, 2018.[12]
After Annalise's class-action victory in the Supreme Court, she and her associates seek to start a new chapter in their lives. Annalise starts working at Caplan & Gold so she can use their resources for her class-action cases, while also working back at Middleton. Connor, Michaela, Asher and Laurel begin their third year at law school, and a new student, Gabriel Maddox joins the group in Annalise's class. Meanwhile, Frank tries to find out the real reason Maddox came to Middleton in the first place, and Asher joins Bonnie at the DA's office as he gets an internship there. At the same time, Connor and Oliver also start planning their wedding, which is seen through new flashforwards that reveal a new murder committed. Governor Birkhead is behind the witch-hunt against Annalise.
In May 2019, ABC ordered a sixth season ofHow to Get Away with Murder.[13] In July, it was announced the sixth season would be the last.[14] Season 6 premiered on September 26, 2019.
Following Laurel and Christopher's disappearances and the death of Emmett Crawford at the previous season's end, Annalise goes on a bender and disappears into rehab out of guilt. After coming to terms with her past misdeeds, she returns just in time to help her remaining star students push through their final semester of law school and try and find Laurel and Christopher. Meanwhile, Michaela, Connor, and Asher continue to search for their friend and her son while preparing for graduation and the real world. However, everyone comes on high alert when the FBI, at behest of Governor Birkhead, open an investigation into Annalise, her students, and her associates, and every murder and misdeed over the last six seasons is put out in the open, forcing them to make drastic choices for survival that will change their lives, relationships, and futures forever.
On August 19, 2013, ABC bought from Shondaland Productions the original concept, produced byShonda Rhimes andBetsy Beers. The script for the pilot episode was written byGrey's Anatomy supervising producerPeter Nowalk.[15] ABC ordered the pilot on December 19, 2013.[16] On May 8, 2014, ABC picked up the pilot to series[17] for the 2014–15 television season.[18] At theTelevision Critics Association Press Tour in July 2014, it was announced thatHow to Get Away with Murder would be a limited series with only 15 or 16 episodes per season.[19] The smaller size of episode count stems from the deal for the series star Viola Davis.[20] On October 9, 2014, ABC picked up the series for a full season of 15 episodes.[21]
The series was renewed for a second season on May 7, 2015, by ABC.[22] The series was effectively confirmed as earning a second-season renewal for the 2015–16 season via a promo succeeding the first-season finale and an earlier statement by Viola Davis also confirming the renewal at the close of shooting for the first season.[23][24] It would contain 15 episodes, like the previous season.[25] Production began on May 21, 2015, withShonda Rhimes announcing onTwitter thatPeter Nowalk and his writers were in full swing mapping the second season.[26] The table read for the premiere occurred on July 14, 2015,[27] with the title of the episode being revealed at the same time.[28]Entertainment Weekly reported on July 23, 2015, that the identity of Rebecca's killer would be revealed in the season premiere.[29] A promotional poster was released over a month before the season premiere, on August 17, 2015.
The series was renewed for a third season on March 3, 2016, along with several other series by ABC.[30] It was announced that the third season would premiere on September 22, 2016.[31] Production began on May 27, 2016, when showrunnerPeter Nowalk announced on Twitter that the writer staff were in full swing mapping and writing the third season.[32] The table read for the premiere happened on July 6, 2016,[33] with filming starting a week later.[34] A promotional poster showcasing Viola Davis as Annalise Keating, was released on August 9, 2016.[35] ABC released a promo for the third season on August 29, 2016.[36]
The series was renewed for a fourth season on February 10, 2017, by ABC.[37]
The series was renewed for a fifth season on May 11, 2018, by ABC,[12] which premiered on September 27, 2018.[38]
On May 10, 2019, the series was renewed for a sixth season which premiered on September 26, 2019.[13][39] On July 11, 2019, it was reported that the sixth season would be the final season.[14]
In an interview withEntertainment Weekly, showrunnerPeter Nowalk talked about what would happen in the third season regarding Frank's disappearance; he commented: "Yes, I can see the three-piece suits and the hair product all falling apart. It's more what Frank feels about himself". When talking about the trust between Annalise and Frank, Nowalk said: "...Frank has two choices: To run away and hope she never catches him, just to cut bait; or he can try to win his way back. That's a long road".[40]Charlie Weber commented on Frank's whereabouts as he said toEntertainment Weekly "I think he's hiding, and I think he's alone. If he does have a lifeline, I don't think it's Laurel".[41]
Regarding Laurel, Nowalk said that Laurel's backstory with her family would be explored in the upcoming season, "I feel like it's very present. The promise of our show is that we won't dangle things out too long. The likelihood is yes. We've raised that question too many times not to answer it sooner than later". Michaela's backstory would also be explored as Nowalk said "We have so much to explore with her. Aja is so talented. I'm just excited to really delve into her personal life next year".[40] Talking toThe Hollywood Reporter, Nowalk stated that the series would explore bothAnnalise and Nate's relationship and both their families.[42]
On January 21, 2014,Matt McGorry was the first to be announced as a regular cast member, playing a law student.[43] Throughout February and March 2014, other roles were announced as cast:Aja Naomi King,[44]Jack Falahee,[45][46]Alfred Enoch[45] andKarla Souza[45] as law students;Katie Findlay as a drug-dealing student;[47]Charlie Weber as a law associate to Professor Keating;[48]Billy Brown as Professor Keating's extra-marital love interest;[49] veteran actor and producerTom Verica as Professor Keating's husband;[50] andLiza Weil as one of the professor's two associates.[51]
On February 25, 2014, it was announced that Shonda Rhimes had castViola Davis in the series' leading role of Professor Annalise Keating.[52] On August 11, 2014, it was announced thatOrange Is the New Black alumAlysia Reiner had joined the cast as a prosecutor who would be going up against Annalise.[53] On November 4, 2014, it was announced that Oscar winnerMarcia Gay Harden had joined the cast in the second half of the first season for a recurring role.[54] On December 15, 2014, it was announced that Oscar nominee and Emmy winnerCicely Tyson would appear in an episode in the second half of the season.[55]
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It was announced on July 14, 2015, that the second season would introduce several new characters, including a family consisting of Caleb, Catherine and Helena Hapstall.[56]Katie Findlay would return to play the character Rebecca Sutter, who was killed in the first-season finale.[57] On July 22, 2015, it was announced that Kendrick Sampson, known fromThe Vampire Diaries would join the cast in the second season and be introduced in the season premiere.[58] On July 31, 2015, it was announced thatFamke Janssen had joined the cast as a brilliant, revered defense attorney for a multi-episode arc and would first appear in the season premiere.[59]
Matt Cohen was announced on August 11, 2015, to recur in the second season as Levi Wescott, who is described as a sexy, edgy working class guy.[60] On August 31, 2015,Variety reported thatAmy Okuda would play a recurring role, but details on Okuda's part were being kept under wraps.[61]Sherri Saum was announced to have been cast as a guest star on September 30, 2015.[62] On January 14, 2016, it was announced thatWilson Bethel,Adam Arkin, andRoxanne Hart would be joining the series to play the Mahoney family. Bethel would play Charles Mahoney, the Ivy League-educated son, with Arkin playing his father Wallace and Hart playing his mother Sylvia.[63]
After the second-season finale, it was announced thatDexter alumLauren Vélez had joined the cast in a recurring role as the President of Middleton University. The role was described as "self-assured, friendly, warm and diplomatic".[64] On August 6, 2016, it was announced thatEsai Morales andAmy Madigan had joined the cast as guest stars for the third season.[65]Deadline announced on August 31, 2016, thatMary J. Blige had landed a guest role in the third season.[66]
On June 7, 2018, it was announced thatRome Flynn, who made a cameo appearance as Gabriel Maddox at the end of the fourth-season finale, was promoted to regular status for the upcoming fifth season.[67] On July 18, it was reported thatAmirah Vann, who recurred as Tegan Price during the fourth season, would also join the regular cast for the fifth season.[68] On July 30, 2018, it was announced thatTimothy Hutton had joined the main cast for the fifth season.[69]
The pilot episode was filmed inLos Angeles,California, at theUniversity of Southern California; inPhiladelphia,Pennsylvania; inBryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, atBryn Mawr College; and inCollegeville, Pennsylvania, atUrsinus College.[70] It was directed byMichael Offer.[71] Production began on May 21, 2015, withShonda Rhimes announcing onTwitter thatPeter Nowalk and his writers were in full swing mapping the second season.[26] The table read for the premiere occurred on July 14, 2015,[27] with the title of the episode being revealed at the same time.[28]
| Season | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 84% (56 reviews)[72] | 68 (30 reviews)[73] |
| 2 | 93% (87 reviews)[74] | — |
| 3 | 90% (30 reviews)[75] | — |
| 4 | 100% (8 reviews)[76] | — |
| 5 | 86% (7 reviews)[77] | — |
| 6 | 80% (5 reviews) | — |
The first season ofHow to Get Away with Murder received positive reviews, with most praising Viola Davis' performance. OnRotten Tomatoes, it has an approval rating of 85% based on 56 reviews, with an average rating of 7.11/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "How to Get Away with Murder isn't conceptually original, but it delivers thrills with melodramatic twists and a captivating lead".[78]Metacritic gave the first season a score of 68 out of 100, based on 30 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[79]
Mary McNamara fromLos Angeles Times wrote about Viola Davis' performance: "...all eyes are on Davis, Tony winner and Oscar nominee. Magnetic and intimidating, Davis creates an implacable surface beneath which shimmers all manner of fleet and startled emotions. Desire and fear, certainty, self-doubt and resolve are conjured in an instant with the angle of a glance, the lowering of an eyelid and then released as if they were never there".[80]Entertainment Weekly's Melissa Maerz described Davis' performance as "powerfully layered".[81] David Hinckle, fromNew York Daily News, said that the series serves up enough fun just like Rhimes' other series,Grey's Anatomy andScandal.[82] Frazier Moore,Associated Press, wrote that the series "promises to be twisty, wicked, dark and fun. And it stars Viola Davis, who brings life to a character of endless calculations and mystery".[83]
The second season also received positive reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has an approval rating of 93% based on 87 reviews, with an average rating of 8.19/10. The site's critical consensus reads: "Developing a stronger narrative this season,How to Get Away with Murder throws more improbable shocks and higher stakes into the mix, adding preposterous fuel to an addictive fire".[84] Lesley Brock,Paste Magazine, praised the second season writing: "I would not put it pastHow to Get Away with Murder, which has turned all other ABC show plot lines upside down on their heads and shown that nothing is impossible, to throw incest into an already haphazard mix". Brock gave the season a score of 9 out of 10.[85] Kyle Anderson,Entertainment Weekly, wrote that with Davis at the front the series can get away with anything.[86]
The third season, once again, also received positive reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a rating of 90% based on 30 reviews, with an average rating of 7.52/10. The site's critical consensus reads: "Tense and taut,How to Get Away with Murder continues to step-up its game."[87]
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The series pilot on September 25 set a record for DVR playback viewers with 6 million, surpassing the January 27, 2014, record of 5.6 million set by the pilot ofThe Blacklist.[90] The series premiere had more than 14 million viewers on live broadcast, and over 20 million with DVR.[91]
| Season | Timeslot (ET) | Number of Episodes | Premiere | Finale | TV Season | Overall rank | 18–49 rank | Overall viewership | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Viewers (millions) | Date | Viewers (millions) | |||||||
| 1 | Thursdays 10:00 pm | 15 | September 25, 2014 (2014-09-25) | 14.12[92] | February 26, 2015 (2015-02-26) | 8.99[93] | 2014–15 | #30[5] | #12[5] | 11.40[5] |
| 2 | 15 | September 24, 2015 (2015-09-24) | 8.38[94] | March 17, 2016 (2016-03-17) | 5.29[95] | 2015–16 | #32[6] | #9[6] | 10.26[6] | |
| 3 | 15 | September 22, 2016 (2016-09-22) | 5.11[96] | February 23, 2017 (2017-02-23) | 4.92[97] | 2016–17 | #44[7] | #15[7] | 7.91[7] | |
| 4 | 15 | September 28, 2017 (2017-09-28) | 3.96[98] | March 15, 2018 (2018-03-15) | 3.83[99] | 2017–18 | #64[100] | #26[100] | 6.42[100] | |
| 5 | 15 | September 27, 2018 (2018-09-27) | 2.93[101] | February 28, 2019 (2019-02-28) | 2.76[102] | 2018–19 | #85[9] | #40[9] | 5.15[9] | |
| 6 | 15 | September 26, 2019 (2019-09-26) | 2.43[103] | May 14, 2020 (2020-05-14) | 3.20[104] | 2019–20 | #79[105] | #49[105] | 4.27[105] | |
The first season of the series was awardedTelevision Program of the Year by theAmerican Film Institute and wonOutstanding Drama Series at the46th NAACP Image Awards and26th GLAAD Media Awards. The series was also nominated for Favorite New TV Drama at the41st People's Choice Awards and TV Drama of the Year at theGALECA awards. In 2016 the second season was nominated for Outstanding Drama Series at the 47th NAACP Image Awards, Favorite Network TV Drama at the42nd People's Choice Awards and Outstanding Drama Series at the27th GLAAD Media Awards.
Viola Davis became the first black woman to win aPrimetime Emmy Award forOutstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, also winning two trophies each at theScreen Actors Guild Awards forOutstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series and the NAACP Image Awards forOutstanding Actress in a Drama Series. Davis also received nominations from theGolden Globe Awards forBest Actress in a Television Series, theCritics' Choice Awards forBest Actress in a Drama Series, and theTelevision Critics Association at theTCA Awards forIndividual Achievement in Drama. Other cast members have also received recognition for their performances, with Alfred Enoch and Aja Naomi King being nominated by theNAACP asOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series andOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series at the NAACP Image Awards.Cicely Tyson was nominated five times forOutstanding Guest Actress at the Primetime Emmy Awards for her work on the series.Glynn Turman was nominated forOutstanding Guest Actor at the71st Primetime Emmy Awards.
| Year | Association | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | American Film Institute Awards | Television Program of the Year | How to Get Away with Murder | Won | [106] |
| 2015 | BET Awards | Best Actress | Viola Davis | Nominated | [107] |
| Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Actress in a Drama Series | Viola Davis | Nominated | [108] | |
| Best Guest Performer in a Drama Series | Cicely Tyson | Nominated | |||
| GALECA Award | TV Drama of the Year | How to Get Away with Murder | Nominated | [109] | |
| TV Performance of the Year – Actress | Viola Davis | Nominated | |||
| GLAAD Media Awards | Outstanding Drama Series | How to Get Away with Murder | Won | [110] | |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama | Viola Davis | Nominated | [111] | |
| NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Drama Series | How to Get Away with Murder | Won | [112] | |
| Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Viola Davis | Won | |||
| Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | Alfred Enoch | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Aja Naomi King | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Writing in a Dramatic Series | Erika Green Swafford(Episode: "Let's Get to Scooping") | Won | |||
| OFTA Television Award | Best Actress in a Drama Series | Viola Davis | Nominated | [113] | |
| People's Choice Awards | Favorite Actress In A New TV Series | Viola Davis | Won | [114] | |
| Favorite New TV Drama | How to Get Away with Murder | Nominated | |||
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | Viola Davis | Won | [115] | |
| Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series | Cicely Tyson | Nominated | |||
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series | Viola Davis | Won | [116] | |
| TCA Awards | Individual Achievement in Drama | Viola Davis | Nominated | [117] | |
| 2016 | Artios Awards | Casting, Television Pilot: Drama | Linda Lowy, Diane Heery, Jason Loftus, Jamie Castro | Nominated | [118] |
| Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Actress in a Drama Series | Viola Davis | Nominated | [119] | |
| BET Awards | Best Actress | Viola Davis | Nominated | ||
| GLAAD Media Awards | Outstanding Drama Series | How to Get Away with Murder | Nominated | [120] | |
| Gold Derby Awards | Best Drama Actress | Viola Davis | Nominated | [121] | |
| Best Drama Guest Actress | Famke Janssen | Nominated | |||
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama | Viola Davis | Nominated | [122] | |
| NAACP Image Awards | Entertainer of the Year | Viola Davis | Nominated | [123] | |
| Outstanding Drama Series | How to Get Away with Murder | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Viola Davis | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | Alfred Enoch | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Cicely Tyson | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Writer for a Drama Series | Erika Green Swafford, Doug Stockstill(Episode: "Mama's Here Now") | Nominated | |||
| People's Choice Awards | Favorite Dramatic TV Actress | Viola Davis | Nominated | [124] | |
| Favorite Network TV Drama | How to Get Away with Murder | Nominated | |||
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | Viola Davis | Nominated | [115] | |
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series | Viola Davis | Won | [125] | |
| 2017 | Black Reel Television Awards | Outstanding Actress, Drama Series | Viola Davis | Nominated | [126] |
| Outstanding Guest Actress, Drama Series | Angela Robinson(Episode: "There Are Worse Things Than Murder") | Nominated | |||
| NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Viola Davis | Nominated | [127] | |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | Viola Davis | Nominated | [115] | |
| Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series | Cicely Tyson | Nominated | |||
| 2018 | Black Reel Television Awards | Outstanding Guest Actress, Drama Series | Cicely Tyson | Nominated | [126] |
| NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Viola Davis | Nominated | [128] | |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series | Cicely Tyson | Nominated | [115] | |
| 2019 | BET Awards | Best Actress | Viola Davis | Nominated | |
| NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Viola Davis | Nominated | [129] | |
| Outstanding Drama Series | How to Get Away with Murder | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Guest Actor or Actress in a Television Series | Kerry Washington | Won | |||
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | Viola Davis | Nominated | [115] | |
| Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series | Glynn Turman | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series | Cicely Tyson | Nominated | |||
| 2020 | Black Reel Television Awards | Outstanding Actress, Drama Series | Viola Davis | Nominated | [126] |
| Outstanding Guest Actress, Drama Series | Cicely Tyson | Won | |||
| NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Viola Davis | Nominated | [130] | |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series | Cicely Tyson | Nominated | [115] | |
| 2021 | BET Awards | Best Actress | Viola Davis | Nominated | [131] |
| NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Viola Davis | Won | [132] |
How to Get Away with Murder aired on Thursdays at 10:00 p.m., Eastern Time. ABC pushedGrey's Anatomy andScandal to 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., creating an all-night block of Shonda Rhimes–produced dramas airing on Thursdays, a rarity in American television.[133] It was announced on July 14, 2014, that the series would debut September 25, 2014.[1] In Canada, the series airs withsim-subbing of advertising in same timeslot onCTV, though it airs three hours earlier before the original ABC timeslot in theAtlantic Time Zone onCTV Atlantic in theMaritime Provinces.[134][135]
The UK premiere of the series aired onUniversal Channel on October 17, 2014.
The series also began airing onTV2 in New Zealand,13th Street in Denmark, and theSeven Network in Australia on February 10, 2015.[136][137] In Australia, the series moved to7flix from the second half of the second season onwards and like in the US, airs in a programming block dedicated to Shonda Rhimes-produced dramas includingGrey's Anatomy andScandal.[138]
In Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand and Indonesia, the series aired onSony Channel Asia within 12 hours of its original broadcast.[139] In India, it airs onStar World Premiere.[140]
Seasons 1 and 2 have been released onDVD, andNetflix currently streams all six seasons where available (each season is added a month after its finale under their agreement with ABC Studios). The last five episodes aired on ABC are carried onHulu the day after their premiere. Additionally, seasons, episodes and the entire series are purchasable from most online video retailers.
The first season DVD was first released in Region 1 on August 4, 2015.[141]
| The Complete First Season | |||||
| Set Details | Special Features | ||||
|
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| Release Dates | |||||
| Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 4 | |||
| August 4, 2015 | November 16, 2015 | November 11, 2015 | |||
The second season DVD was first released in Region 1 on June 21, 2016.[142]
| The Complete Second Season | |||||
| Set Details | Special Features | ||||
|
| ||||
| Release Dates | |||||
| Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 4 | |||
| June 21, 2016 | November 14, 2016 | TBA | |||
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