<P> The first season of the American television series This Is Us follows the family lives and connections of several people who all share the same birthday and the ways in which they are similar and different . The season is produced by Rhode Island Ave . Productions, Zaftig Films, and 20th Century Fox Television, with Fogelman and Don Todd serving as showrunners . </P> <P> The season stars an ensemble cast featuring Milo Ventimiglia, Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown, Chrissy Metz, Justin Hartley, Susan Kelechi Watson, Chris Sullivan, and Ron Cephas Jones . </P> <P> The season, which premiered on NBC on September 20, 2016, and ran until March 14, 2017, over 18 episodes, received generally positive reviews from critics . It was chosen by the American Film Institute as one of the top ten television programs of 2016, and received ten nominations for the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Drama Series with Brown winning for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, as well as receiving nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series--Drama and the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Drama Series . The series was renewed for a second and third season on January 18, 2017 . </P> <Ul> <Li> Milo Ventimiglia as Jack Pearson </Li> <Li> Mandy Moore as Rebecca Pearson </Li> <Li> Sterling K. Brown as Randall Pearson </Li> <Li> Chrissy Metz as Kate Pearson </Li> <Li> Justin Hartley as Kevin Pearson </Li> <Li> Susan Kelechi Watson as Beth Pearson </Li> <Li> Chris Sullivan as Toby Damon </Li> <Li> Ron Cephas Jones as William H. "Shakespeare" Hill </Li> </Ul>

How many episodes is season 1 of this is us