Good Luck America is a documentary-style original series from Snapchat about U.S. politics. It is produced by Snapchat and hosted by Snap's head of news Peter Hamby, a former political reporter at CNN. The first episode of the series was published in January 2016, and is in its eighth season, reportedly reaching roughly 6 million viewers per episode.[1][2] The show won an Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Innovation in 2017.[3]
Good Luck America was the first "show" created by Snapchat, which has since developed similar programming with ESPN, NBCUniversal, Turner, the NFL, ABC and other major networks.
Availability
The show is made available to users in the United States, Canada, the UK and Australia.[4]
Each episode is available for 48 hours on Snapchat and past episodes are searchable in the app as well.
Season One of Good Luck America had 22 million unique viewers on Snapchat. In Seasons 2 and 3, the show was receiving roughly 6 million views per episode.[5] Roughly 75% of the show's viewers are under the age of 25.[6]
After Snapchat hired longtime CNN journalist Peter Hamby to be head of news, it was speculated that the company would work on their own election coverage.[7] During the election Snapchat offered many live stories and the separate show "Good Luck America", hosted by Hamby, in the Discover-section of the app. Hamby's snaps were also featured in several of the live stories, adding context and explanation to various snaps submitted by users.
After the election Snapchat announced the return of the series, now focusing on U.S. politics under President Donald Trump.[8]
The show is aimed at young people who are increasingly not watching TV news but are instead spending time on mobile platforms like Snapchat.[5] On any given day, Snapchat reaches 41 percent of U.S. 18- to 34-year-olds.[9] An average individual TV network only reaches 9 percent of the same demographic.[citation needed]
According to a report from the Knight Foundation, "More than any political effort on Snapchat, 'Good Luck America' took a bold point of view. While it can’t be described as partisan, it often offered an unabashed critique of traditional media and establishment politics — taking a playfully snarky tone that syncs with Millennials’ well-documented growing mistrust of institutions. The tagline 'Let me show you the people and places that really matter' also acts as a dig on other media outlets, implying that 'Good Luck America' pulls back the curtain for an unvarnished view you can't find elsewhere."[10]
Season 1 consists of election coverage with a range of well-known guests. The last episode of the season is devoted to an interview with President Barack Obama, who Hamby follows on the campaign trail.
No. overall
No. in season
Title
Duration
Original air date
1
1
"(Iowa Caucuses)"
TBA
January 28, 2016 (2016-01-28)
2
2
"(Republican Party unraveling)"
6 min
March 23, 2016 (2016-03-23)
3
3
"Feeling The Bern"
6 min
June 8, 2016 (2016-06-08)
4
4
"Are We Doomed?"
6 min
August 12, 2016 (2016-08-12)
Hamby looks at two of the most unpopular frontrunners in a presidential election.
5
5
"The Media's Strange Turn"
6 min
September 1, 2016 (2016-09-01)
Focusing on the media coverage of Donald Trump, and how "sensationalism over substance" gives high ratings that earn big TV-networks advertising money.
Season 2
The second season changes from focusing on the election to focusing on US politics. Description of the show in the app reads: "This United States is in a pretty weird place right now. Good Luck America has you covered."
Midway through the season, poll questions were added. Typically at a clip featuring Hamby talking to the camera, the viewer is encouraged to "swipe up to vote" and is asked to answer questions about their opinions of political topics related to the episode.
No. overall
No. in season
Title
Duration
Original air date
6
1
"Which Trump is The Real Trump?"
TBA
March 4, 2017 (2017-03-04)
Hamby speaks with commentators from both sides of the aisle, as well as senators Cory Booker and Steve Daines. Also featured are GOP strategist Tim Miller, George W. Bush speechwriter David Frum and strategist for the Democrats Symone Sanders.
Peter looks at gerrymandering and the outlook for ending political partisanship in the US. Interviewees: Former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, South Carolina Republican Chairman Matt Moore, South Carolina Democratic Chairman Jaime Harrison and Republican politician Chad Connelly.
Hamby's intro: "Trump energized his base to build the wall, and the crackdown has already begun. What does it mean for the people who live there?". Interviews with locals living near the border and in Austin, Austin City Councilman Greg Cascar, Texas governor Greg Abbott.
15
10
"Are There Any Good Jobs Anymore?" "Can He Bring The Jobs Back?"
4:37 min
July 11, 2017 (2017-07-11)
Hamby discusses the state of manufacturing jobs in the country. He visited Galesburg, Illinois and interviewed residents of the town, where a Maytag plant once located.
The causes and impacts of climate change are discussed. Hamby visited the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where rising sea levels are starting to flood the islands.
17
12
"🌎 + Pollution = 💀 ?" "Is This Guy Destroying The EPA?"
"Is This the Next Charlottesville?" "Should We Tear Them Down?"
TBA
September 26, 2017 (2017-09-26)
Hamby discusses the issue of removing Confederate statues in light of the Charlottesville attack. He focuses on Richmond, Virginia, where many statues remain. Residents and local government officials of the city were interviewed, where there is debate on spending money towards statues being torn down or on public schools.
