Happyish: Season 1

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 31 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 39 Ratings

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7.3

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7.3	Your Score
7.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 39 Ratings

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Season Details & Credits

SHOWTIME | Season Premiere Date: April 26, 2015

Summary: The dark comedy from Shalom Auslander originally set with Philip Seymour Hoffman before his death in 2014, sees Steve Coogan as Thom Payne, a 44-year old in advertising, who begins reevaluating what's important in his life after facing his new 25-year-old boss.

Creator: Shalom Auslander

Genre(s): Comedy

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E10. Starring Christopher Hitchens, Philip Larkin and Josef Stalin
Air Date: June 28, 2015
tbd
S1:E9. Starring Mr. Mike, Joseph McCarthy and Alfred Bernhard Nobel
Air Date: June 21, 2015
tbd
S1:E8. Starring Rene Descartes, Victor Frankenstein and HRH the Princess of Arendelle
Air Date: June 14, 2015

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

IndieWire Ben Travers

Apr 24, 2015

As rare as its humor can be, it bites with every appearance. Moreover, it's a show that challenges its viewer every step of the way and isn't afraid to make big, bold declarative statements. Read full review

Tirdad Derakhshani

Apr 23, 2015

It's an intelligent, surreal, mildly outrageous--and most certainly outraged--satire of life in post-industrial America. Read full review

Ken Tucker

Apr 24, 2015

If I’ve left the impression that Happyish isn’t a laugh-fest, I’ve done my job. But the show is not without its pleasures. As I said, Coogan and Hahn have good chemistry, and there are some genuinely funny moments (none of which I can recall now). Ellen Barkin is exceedingly welcome any time she pops up briefly as Thom’s profane pal. Read full review

Uncle Barky Ed Bark

Apr 22, 2015

Happyish has a few genuinely imaginative moments amid its many, many excesses. But in the end, it’s too much of a one-note Hell-On-Earth “Greatest Hits” album whose principal characters have the overall appeal of vinegar-drenched cotton candy. Read full review

Vicki Hyman

Apr 27, 2015

Hoffman was replaced by the talented British comic actor Steve Coogan, and I can't fault his performance. I can fault Auslander for writing Thom as a sanctimonious, pedantic, needling, incessantly outraged man of privilege and then expecting us to care about him. Read full review

Margaret Lyons

Apr 24, 2015

Happyish's failures are not Coogan's fault; he's fine, appealing, even, though the performance is a little superficial..... None of the show's emotions feel real at all. Read full review

Hank Stuever

Apr 24, 2015

Happyish has its head stuck so far up its rear end and is so filled with personal rage and rotten people that just a small dose of the show should easily dissuade half its viewers from sticking around. The other half will perhaps sense a melody beneath all the foul-mouthed diatribes and self-absorbed whining. Read full review

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User Score

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7.3

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User Reviews

msaluja

Sep 13, 2015

Bring this show back! This is one of the wittiest shows that hit at the heart of anyone. You can relate to the characters and the acting is suberb! Please bring this show back, I am shocked that is gone after one season when it blows most shows away.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Kaleeshi

Nov 6, 2015

Brilliant and beyond the Freshman attitude with sharp dialogue, laying bare the nothingness
of post post modernism and the loss of historic consciousness. Too bad the the overuse of
the F word. It does not need it moreover that overuse draws attention away. Pensive silence at times wouldBrilliant and beyond the Freshman attitude with sharp dialogue, laying bare the nothingness
of post post modernism and the loss of historic consciousness. Too bad the the overuse of
the F word. It does not need it moreover that overuse draws attention away. Pensive silence at
times would make a much stronger point. Yet, this show is the best out there in terms of helping
critical awareness.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

blazhennyi

May 4, 2015

This show is of a piece with Transparent and Togetherness & Married - Self-aware middle class/mid-life existential crises ricocheting through family/friendships. The fantasy-fulfilment sequences are surprisingly good and the inspired casting of Coogan - I can't help but imagine this was aThis show is of a piece with Transparent and Togetherness & Married - Self-aware middle class/mid-life existential crises ricocheting through family/friendships. The fantasy-fulfilment sequences are surprisingly good and the inspired casting of Coogan - I can't help but imagine this was a stroke of luck as Hoffman's presence would have overwhelmed- is a pleasant surprise. The 'profanity' may jar in the American ear, but from my view, the humor is savvy and does not resort to toilet humor as implied by other reviews.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

Biology1

Sep 27, 2020

Refreshing to watch a sitcom without canned laughter or predicatable puns. This isn't trying to make every other second a rib tickler, rather it is the kind of comedy that allows for reflection not just escapism.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

BogKid

Apr 27, 2015

I'm as liberal as the next guy. I'm certainly not a prude, but whoever wrote this show must have kept by his side the American Dictionary of Curses and Profanities. Sure everybody throws one into the conversation now and then. I sure do, but the profane (can't think of a better word)I'm as liberal as the next guy. I'm certainly not a prude, but whoever wrote this show must have kept by his side the American Dictionary of Curses and Profanities. Sure everybody throws one into the conversation now and then. I sure do, but the profane (can't think of a better word) comments came so thick and fast in the opening kitchen scene that it became ridiculous and, oh yes, damned annoying.

The writer is trying to surprise you by telling you that life under the white collar is not so great. In fact the best you can probably hope for is "Happy-ish". Creativity only exists under age 25. After age 40 your brain is dead anyway. The show is negative, negative, negative. It is also a good argument (if it were really true) to never cross the Hudson River into that urban asylum of hopelessness. I really did not like this show. I told my DVR to f--- "Happy-ness".… Expand

1 of 6 users found this helpful15

rachiebabie

Jul 11, 2016

In Happyish we follow protagonist Thomas Pain who is a depressing character that is mildly interesting. I know that Philip Seymour Hoffman was supposed to star in this series and I think he would have executed this character differently. He has a nuance about him or maybe it was justIn Happyish we follow protagonist Thomas Pain who is a depressing character that is mildly interesting. I know that Philip Seymour Hoffman was supposed to star in this series and I think he would have executed this character differently. He has a nuance about him or maybe it was just Hoffman's face that made him likeable and I think that likeability factor is important when you're playing a depressed/hopeless character because it makes the audience root for you instead of being indifferent, which is sadly how I felt about Thomas Pain. This show was trying too hard to be funny. I really did not enjoy the voice over as it seemed overly written and contrived. Although, I didn't find the pilot entertaining or redeeming in anyway to continue watching the series, I was left with one thought that is worth contemplating...can happyness be attained by applying the "fake it till you make it" attitude? The optimist in me wants to scream "yes."… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

cindysandiego

Jun 1, 2015

I didn't even get through the first episode. One guy referred to another guy's young kid as an **** which the father agreed with. Then two couples were graphically describing and critiquing another woman's (not present) vagina. Hilarity ensued. This scene was arguably misogynistic andI didn't even get through the first episode. One guy referred to another guy's young kid as an **** which the father agreed with. Then two couples were graphically describing and critiquing another woman's (not present) vagina. Hilarity ensued. This scene was arguably misogynistic and definitely rude. I'm guessing the writers think they're being modern and edgy? Yuck.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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Seasons & Episodes

49

Series Overview
Season 1

49
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: April 26, 2015
- tbd
  S1:E10. Starring Christopher Hitchens, Philip Larkin and Josef St...
  Air Date: June 28, 2015
- tbd
  S1:E9. Starring Mr. Mike, Joseph McCarthy and Alfred Bernhard Nobel
  Air Date: June 21, 2015
- tbd
  S1:E8. Starring Rene Descartes, Victor Frankenstein and HRH the ...
  Air Date: June 14, 2015
- tbd
  S1:E7. Starring David Ogilvy, Anton Chekov and Lady Liberty
  Air Date: June 7, 2015
- tbd
  S1:E6. Starring Helen Keller, Moses and Lenny Bruce
  Air Date: May 31, 2015
- tbd
  S1:E5. Starring Josey Wales, Jesus Christ and the New York Times
  Air Date: May 24, 2015
- tbd
  S1:E4. Starring Sigmund Freud, Charles Bukowski and Seven Billio...
  Air Date: May 17, 2015
- tbd
  S1:E3. Starring Vladimir Nabokov, Hippocrates and God
  Air Date: May 10, 2015
- tbd
  S1:E2. Starring Marc Chagall, Abuela and Adolf Hitler
  Air Date: May 3, 2015
- tbd
  S1:E1. Pilot
  Air Date: April 26, 2015
- tbd
  S1:E1. Starring Samuel Beckett, Albert Camus and Alois Alzheimer
  Air Date: April 26, 2015