Best Foot Forward (TV series)
Best Foot Forward is an American family comedy series produced by Apple TV+, based on the memoir Just Don't Fall by Josh Sundquist.[1][2] The series premiered in 2022. The protagonist, Josh Dubin, is played by Logan Marmino, a congenital amputee.[3] Kyle was played by Peyton Jackson, and Gabriella by Trinity Jo-Li Bliss.
The series won awards, including the Children's & Family Emmy Award, and was nominated for several such as the Young Entertainer Award.[4]
Summary
The show follows a young amputee, Josh Dubin (Logan Marmino), as he transitions from homeschool to public school, eager to experience everything. Josh is shown to have two friends, Kyle (Peyton Jackson) and Gabriella (Trinity Jo-Li Bliss). During his time there, however, he faces challenges including how to get fellow students to see him for who he is rather than by his prosthetic leg.[4][5]
Critical reception
The series received a generally positive critical response. Writing in The New York Times, described the show as notable for involving people with disabilities both in front of and behind the camera.[1]
Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 92% based on three critic reviews for the first season, including reviews from The A.V. Club and Decider.[6] Common Sense Media gave the series 4 out of 5 stars, with reviewer Joly Herman praising its handling of disability and family dynamics.[7]
Cast
| Character | Actor |
|---|---|
| Josh Dubin | Logan Marmino |
| Gary | Stephen Schenieider |
| Maggie | Joy Suprano |
| Kyle | Peyton Jackson |
| Gabriella | Trinity Jo-Li Bliss |
| Matthew | Roger Dale Floyd |
| Luisa | Romy Fay |
| Eli | Liam Kyle |
| Kelly | Bridget Kallal |
| Meg | Isabella Meneses |
| Mikayla | Mia Davila |
| Amy Park | Waverly Corinne Meier |
| Principal Keifer | Brian Stepanek |
| Kyle H. | Tristan Riggs |
| Mr. Polk | Rizwan Manji |
| Mariana | Bella Blanding |
| Darren | Aariq Manji |
| Kyle S. | Nico David |
| Miss Kennedy | Diana Sanchez |
| Larry Sgroi | Josh Sundquist |
| Deirdre | Skylar Morgan Jones |
| Riley | Emma Vivien Garcia |
| DD | Janice LeAnn Brown |
| Coach Barth | Carly Jibson |
| Mrs. Alderman | Jill Basey |
| Mrs. Wrigley | Nicole Lynn Evans |
| Coach Morgan | Felice Heather Monteith |
| Luke | Yurt Yargrt |
| Chris Kibler | Van Brunelle |
| Devon | Dayne Jarrah |
| Ella | Ella Gross |
| Gabe | Landen Yu |
| Joel | Zach Justice |
| Imani | Pragnya Geddada |
| Moira | Morgan Lynn Weir |
| Alice | Anna Grace Philippe |
| Maria | Rachel Alana Handler |
| Hawk | Josiah Sameula |
| Young Maggie | Maryssa Hayden |
| Young Gary | Elliot Moss |
| Daphne | Caroline Haskins |
| Classmates (uncredited) | Reila Post |
| Middle School Kid (uncredited) | Ivan Fraser |
| Movie Goer (uncredited) | Alice Kina Diehl |
Episodes
The show consists of 10 episodes as of its release in 2022.
| Episode | Synopsis |
|---|---|
| 1) Public School | Josh begins public school after making a deal with his mom and dad, but an unlucky accident makes it harder to blend in.[9] |
| 2) Elevator | Principal Keifer gives access to a school resource; Josh gets a new nickname, and Kyle has a plan to gain popularity.[10] |
| 3) Clubs | Josh joins every club with enthusiasm, but falls short of his friend Gabriella, realizing there is only so much time in a day.[11] |
| 4) Soccer | A surprise at soccer tryouts impacts Josh's confidence, and upsets a fellow teammate.[12] |
| 5) Pop Quiz | Josh doubts his abilities, and struggles to open up about his feelings with Kyle and Gabriella after making mistakes on a math test.[13] |
| 6) Halloween | When the gang prepares for a costume showcase, Josh accepts an initially difficult alteration, and Gabriella faces pressure from her peers.[14] |
| 7) Movie Night | Josh attempts to sneak a treat in the hopes of having an epic movie night, but a security guard puts a halt to their plan.[15] |
| 8) Skateboard | Josh meets Matt's skate park friends and decides to try out his new prosthetic leg. Matt struggles with sharing the attention, and Gabriella deals with tough news.[16] |
| 9) Field Day | During the field day, Josh struggles to compromise when his peers discover that he can offer them a competitive advantage.[17] |
| 10) School Dance | Josh attempts to make his first dance meaningful; his parents rewatch an old video of their first dance.[18] |
Development
The series is loosely based on Just Don't Fall by Josh Sundquist. Sundquist lost his leg to a rare form of cancer when he was nine years old. The series Best Foot Forward is based on his life three years after his amputation when he left homeschool to join public school.
According to Sundquist, finding an actor who has one leg was a challenge. In an interview, he said "Our main character presented a challenge. How do you find a 12-year-old boy who’s a great actor and has one leg?" Logan Marmino was following Sundquist on social media, and when he was tagged on the casting call on Sundquist's Instagram, he submitted an audition. Sundquist said that "from his first audition, we saw how special he was."[19]
Logan Marmino won the role, and spent four months in Los Angeles filming the series.[3]
Awards
| Award | Year | Category | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seal of Authentic Representation[20] | 2022 | Authentic representaion | Best Foot Forward |
| Emmy[20] | 2023 | Outstanding Casting for a Live Action program | Danielle Aufiero • Amber Horn • Steven Tylor O'Connor |
| Young Artlist Award[20] | 2023 | Best Performance in a Streaming Series: Supporting Young Actor | Tristan Riggs |
| DGA Award[20] | 2023 | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children's programs | Anne Renton |
| Young Artlist Award[20] | 2024 | Best Performance in a Streaming Series: Supporting Young Actor | Tristan Riggs |
| Nominee | Year | Category | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emmy[20] | 2023 | Outstanding Children's or Family Viewing Series | Matt Fleckenstein • Meghan Mathes • Joel S. Rice • Josh Sundquist • Eric Goldberg • Peter Tibbals • Bernadette Luckett • Zach Anner • Gillian Grassie • Deb Spindell |
| Young Entertainer Award[20] | 2023 | Best Recurring Actor - Telivision Series | Tristan Riggs |
| Young Artlist Award[20] | 2023 | Best Performance in a Streaming Series: Supporting Teen Actress | Trinity Jo-Li Bliss |
| Artios Award[20] | 2024 | Outstanding Achievement in Casting - Children and Family Pilot and Series - Live Action | Danielle Aufiero • Amber Horn • Steven Tylor O'Connor |
References
- 1 2 "'Best Foot Forward' Is a Story About, and by, People With Disabilities". The New York Times. July 21, 2022. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
- ↑ "Josh Sundquist Puts Best Foot Forward on Apple TV+". Amplitude. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
- 1 2 "South Jersey 7th grader born without leg defies odds as athlete, actor and advocate". 6abc Philadelphia. May 5, 2023. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
- 1 2 Best Foot Forward (TV Series 2022) ⭐ 7.2 | Comedy, drama, family. (2022, July 22). IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20414738/?ref_=ttawd_ov_bk
- ↑ "Best Foot Forward | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
- ↑ "Best Foot Forward: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
- ↑ Herman, Joly. "Best Foot Forward - Parents' Guide & TV Review". Common Sense Media. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
- ↑ Best Foot Forward (TV Series 2022) - Full cast & crew - IMDb. (n.d.). IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20414738/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_cst_sm
- ↑ "Best Foot Forward: Season 1, Episode 1 | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
- ↑ "Best Foot Forward: Season 1, Episode 2 | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
- ↑ "Best Foot Forward: Season 1, Episode 3 | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
- ↑ "Best Foot Forward: Season 1, Episode 4 | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
- ↑ "Best Foot Forward: Season 1, Episode 5 | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
- ↑ "Best Foot Forward: Season 1, Episode 6 | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
- ↑ "Best Foot Forward: Season 1, Episode 7 | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
- ↑ "Best Foot Forward: Season 1, Episode 8 | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
- ↑ "Best Foot Forward: Season 1, Episode 9 | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
- ↑ "Best Foot Forward: Season 1, Episode 10 | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
- ↑ "Apple TV's Family Comedy 'Best Foot Forward' Teaches Us the Importance of Acceptance". Parade: Entertainment, Recipes, Health, Life, Holidays. Archived from the original on July 31, 2022. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Best Foot Forward at IMDb