Kenya Barris had originally cast an actor for the lead actor, a fictionalized version of himself. But the more he thought about it, the more he realized how personal the project was, so ended up casting himself in the role.
In June 2020, the series was renewed for a second season. A year later, the renewal decision was reversed and the series was canceled after one season. According to The Hollywood Reporter, there is some hope that it may return as a standalone film franchise similar to National Lampoon's Vacation. Brazil and Mexico-set installments are reportedly in early development (as of June 2021).
Was originally titled Black Excellence, while in development.