<P> On September 27, 2016, NBC picked up the series for a full season of 18 episodes . In January 2017, NBC renewed the series for two additional seasons of 18 episodes each . The second season premiered on September 26, 2017 . The third season premiered on September 25, 2018 . </P> <P> The series follows the lives of siblings Kevin, Kate, and Randall (known as the "Big Three"), and their parents Jack and Rebecca Pearson . It takes place in the present and uses flashbacks to show the family during various moments in the past . Kevin and Kate are the two surviving members of a triplet pregnancy, born six weeks premature on Jack's 36th birthday in 1980; their brother is stillborn . Believing they were meant to have three children, Jack and Rebecca, who are white, decide to adopt Randall, an African American child born the same day and brought to the same hospital after his biological father abandoned him at a fire station . Jack dies when his children are 17 . </P> <P> Most episodes feature a storyline taking place in the present (2016--2018, contemporaneous with airing) and a storyline taking place at a set time in the past; but some episodes are set in one time period or use multiple flashback time periods . Flashbacks often focus on Jack and Rebecca c. 1980 both before and after their babies' birth, or on the family when the Big Three are children (at least ages 8--10) or adolescents; these scenes usually take place in Pittsburgh, where the Big Three are born and raised . Various other time periods and locations have also served as settings . Recently, the show has flashed back to follow the lives of newer characters, such as Randall's foster child, Deja . As adults, Kate lives in Los Angeles, Randall and his family are in New Jersey, and Kevin relocates from Los Angeles to New York City . </P> <Ul> <Li> Milo Ventimiglia as Jack Pearson: Rebecca's husband, and Kate, Kevin, and Randall's father . </Li> <Li> Mandy Moore as Rebecca Pearson: Jack's wife, and Kate, Kevin, and Randall's mother . </Li> <Li> Sterling K. Brown as Randall Pearson: Jack and Rebecca's adopted son, and Kate and Kevin's brother . Also played by Niles Fitch (ages 15--17) and Lonnie Chavis (ages 8--10). </Li> <Li> Chrissy Metz as Kate Pearson: Jack and Rebecca's daughter, and Kevin and Randall's sister . Also played by Hannah Zeile (ages 15--17) and Mackenzie Hancsicsak (ages 8--10). </Li> <Li> Justin Hartley as Kevin Pearson: Jack and Rebecca's son, and Kate and Randall's brother . Also played by Logan Shroyer (ages 15--17) and Parker Bates (ages 8--10). </Li> <Li> Susan Kelechi Watson as Beth Pearson: Randall's wife, and mother of Tess and Annie . </Li> <Li> Chris Sullivan as Toby Damon: Kate's husband . </Li> <Li> Ron Cephas Jones as William "Shakespeare" Hill: Randall's biological father . Also played by Jermel Nakia as a young adult . (main seasons 1--2, special guest season 3) </Li> <Li> Jon Huertas as Miguel Rivas: Jack's best friend and Rebecca's second husband . (recurring season 1; main season 2--present) </Li> <Li> Alexandra Breckenridge as Sophie: Kate's childhood best friend as well as Kevin's childhood love and ex-wife . Also played by Amanda Leighton (ages 15--17) and Sophia Coto (age 10). (recurring season 1; main season 2) </Li> <Li> Eris Baker as Tess Pearson: Randall and Beth's older daughter . (recurring season 1; main season 2--present) </Li> <Li> Faithe Herman as Annie Pearson: Randall and Beth's younger daughter . (recurring season 1; main season 2--present) </Li> <Li> Melanie Liburd as Zoe: Beth's cousin and Kevin's new girlfriend . (guest season 2; main season 3) </Li> <Li> Lyric Ross as Deja: Randall and Beth's foster child . (recurring season 2; main season 3) </Li> </Ul>

Where is this is us based out of
find me the text answering this question