Getty Akili McDowell stars as the titular David in OWN's "David Makes Man."
David Makes Man centers on a 14-year-old prodigy from the projects who is haunted by the death of his closest friend and relied on by his hardworking mother to find a way out of poverty.
The new series premieres Wednesday, August 14, at 10 p.m. ET/PT. If you don’t have cable or can’t get to a TV, you can watch the show live or on-demand on your computer, phone or streaming device via one of the following cable-free, live-TV streaming services:
OWN is one of 95-plus live TV channels included in the main FuboTV bundle.
You can start a free 7-day trial of FuboTV right here, and you can then watch a live stream of David Makes Man on your computer via the FuboTV website, or on your phone (Android and iPhone supported), tablet, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast or other supported device via the FuboTV app.
If you can’t watch live, FuboTV comes with 30 hours of Cloud DVR (with the ability to upgrade to 500 hours), as well as a “72-Hour Lookback” feature, which allows you to watch shows or events up to three days after they air even if you forgot to record them.
OWN is included in Philo’s main 58-channel bundle, which is the cheapest among all streaming services if you plan on keeping it long-term.
You can start a free 7-day trial of Philo TV right here, and you can then watch David Makes Man live on your computer via the Philo website, or on your phone (iPhone supported), tablet, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV or or other supported device via the Philo app.
If you can’t watch live, Philo also allows you to DVR programs and watch them up to 30 days later. And even if you forget to DVR something, Philo comes with a 72-hour rewind feature, which allows you to replay any show or event that has aired within the last three days.
PlayStation Vue–which doesn’t require an actual PlayStation console to sign up or watch–offers four different live-TV channel packages, all of which include OWN.
You can start a free 5-day trial of PS Vue right here, and you can then watch a live stream of David Makes Man on your computer via the PS Vue website, or on your phone (Android and iPhone supported), tablet, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, PlayStation (3 or 4), or other supported device via the PS Vue app.
If you can’t watch live, PlayStation Vue comes included with cloud DVR.
‘David Makes Man’ Preview
After his best friend dies, 14-year-old prodigy David is haunted by the loss and continued pressure from his hardworking mom to help find them a way out of poverty. He must choose between the streets that raised him or the higher education that may offer him a way out. The series is helmed by Academy Award winner Tarell Alvin McCraney (co-writer of Moonlight). Set in South Florida, the story is inspired by events in McCraney’s own life and explores childhood trauma and the power of imagination to survive.
The series stars Akili McDowell as the titular David, a passionate young teen who reverts back and forth between two personas that reflect his surroundings. He employs a vivid imagination to help him escape the inherent trauma caused by poverty. The series-regular ensemble cast also includes three-time Emmy nominee Phylicia Rashad, Nathaniel Logan McIntyre, Isaiah Johnson, Ade Chike Torbert, Jordan Bolger, Cayden K. Williams, Travis Coles, and Alana Arenas.
Also co-starring are Lela Rochon (Training Day), Trace Lysette (Transparent), Liza Colon-Zayas (Proven Innocent), Juanita Jennings (Star), Lindsey Blackwell (Step Sisters), Solomon Valdez ([Bi]Polar), Teshi Thomas (The Good Place, Harry & Meghan: A Royal Romance), Nick Creegan, Kimaya Naomi, and Logan Rozos.
“When we looked at the spectrum of life, we wanted to show it as true as it is today, as it was then. There’s a lexicon of things in our [African American community] that need to be seen and talked about,” said McCraney.
“I’ve got Michael B. Jordan and Oprah producing,” McCraney told IndieWire earlier this year. “My showrunner, Dee Harris-Lawrence, is a black woman; then there are our writers and cast members, so it’s a village. And I know my experience of being a gifted student or having to be used to schools that are far outside your neighborhood, and the psychological weight of all that, is not just my experience alone. So I think the story will resonate with others.”
“[In this series], we offer a view of humanity. The characters in this show, they’re not all like me…but, I [still] see myself in all of them because that’s what it means to be human,” said Rashad.
McCraney serves as executive producer of the series alongside showrunner Harris-Lawrence (Shots Fired, Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G.).