I have watched the first five episodes of Playing House and this is my review. Bravo to USA for such a funny, well-made sitcom. This show is hilarious - as I knew it would be since Lennon Parham and Jessica St. Clair are writing as well as starring in it. The acting is great - Lennon and Jessica really work well off each other. The supporting cast is a treat, from Keegan Michael Key to the always superb Jane Kczmarek are pretty much perfect. The writing is clever and sharp and although the "returning to small town" trope is not new, Playing House somehow makes it fresh. The guest stars have been great too (Andy Daly, Jason Mantzoukas!) Can't wait to see what else these funny ladies have up their sleeves!
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asd-561-6112887 June 2014I really didn't think I would like, much less, love this show. Over the years, I've found sitcoms not to be my cup of tea. But I giggle many times during these episodes. Even if I can't totally relate to these two female characters, some of it is so right on for me. Also, I love the small town, pull together atmosphere. The supporting characters have so much detail and depth.
You can't help but laugh at some of the dialogue. Really, the first sitcom in a long time I would recommend. And nice to see Key in a good supporting role. Although I liked his turn in Fargo, too.
Every week when I see this show has recorded a new ep, I'm thrilled and can't wait to giggle with Maggie and her friend. I could probably do without the bitter mother that Jane Kazmaryk plays, but that would be my only complaint. -
It's hard to tell which one is crazier, but who cares... Since their previous show, "Best Friends Forever," was canceled they are back again. These two are just too funny to get rid of. The creators, writers and stars, Jessica & Lennon, use a mix of script and improv to bring you a LOL funny couple of best friends. Which is what they are in real life. I thought "Best Friends Forever" was a great show, but with Keenen Micheal Keyes as a co-star, this one is even better!!!
The banter between these characters will have you rolling on the floor! Just wait 'til you see Lennon's alter-ego "Beaucephus!" You will laugh so hard you won't be able to breathe. Be sure to DVR the show so you can go back and watch the bits you miss because you were laughing so hard. -
Oneinamillionx321 May 2014I spent the first few weeks scoffing at the commercial promos for this show with no intention of ever watching it. However I was already watching a program on USA and didn't feel like changing the channel when the show premiered. I decided to give it a glance and couldn't be happier. It made me actually laugh out loud whilst in my room with nothing but my laptop and a half-eaten turkey & cheese sandwich in front of me, causing my sleeping mother some agitation. But this show couldn't have been more worth. I've already given amazing words to all of my friends, converting some of them with me. I now know at least 7 friends who have watched this show like clockwork every week and I'm sure it will continue. This upbeat and quick comedy is fresh and new, something we haven't seen in a while and I'm very excited for more!!!
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cbwilson677 July 2014I happened upon episode five by accident and was hooked. Started on episode one and watched them all in one night. I sure hope it is renewed for 2015. Catchy, smart and believable premise, great writing and lovable characters. They way these two best friends bounce off each other is real and funny at the same time...... Everyone has had a friend like one of them. I especially like there is no soundtrack. I like to decide when something is funny and find myself laughing constantly at this. The supporting characters are all a hoot as well. Crazy every day life at its' finest....... and you can never go wrong with Keegan Michael Key! USA delivered a winner here. Definitely 10 stars and a big Thumbs up!
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ovowels14 July 2018With all the reality shows that portray women stabbing each other in the back, I am So grateful for a show that gives us an example of a selfless friendship. They are great role models for how we should treat our best friends! Love love love this show!
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janet444221 June 2014The two leads are also the writers, which didn't surprise me. They're very funny and every episode kept me interested and laughing. They have such great chemistry that I wondered if they were best friends in real life, so I Googled it, and yes, they are. Keegan-Michael Key and Jane Kaczmarek are very good in supporting roles. In fact, the whole cast is quite funny, with familiar faces popping up here and there. I like Key's role, and he does a nice job as straight man who gets to be funny here and there, but it is weird that he is Emma's married old boyfriend. Seems unclear what his purpose is - I almost want him and Emma to get together, but not at the expense of his marriage, which is not bad. The show can be a little edgy and Emma (Jessica St. Clair) can be a little prickly (as can her mom, played by Kaczmarek). But it's all balanced with a sweetness (not the syrupy kind) as the two best friends take care of each other. Now that nothing new is on TV, and all that's left is so formulaic (esp. since Community was canceled), it's really nice to find a truly funny show. So many sitcoms are formulaic and forced. This is definitely NOT one of those. Probably not everyone's cup of tea, but definitely worth a watch to find out.
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SnoopyStyle24 November 2018Emma Crawford (Jessica St. Clair) returns to her hometown of Pinebrook, Connecticut to attend her best friend Maggie Caruso (Lennon Parham)'s baby shower. When Maggie discovers her husband Bruce had been cheating with an online cam girl, Emma decides to quit her high power job to care for Maggie and her pending baby. Emma's first love Mark Rodriguez (Keegan-Michael Key) is married to "Bird Bones" Tina. Zach Harper (Zach Woods) is Maggie's weird younger brother.
Jessica and Lennon have a simple best friends chemistry from their real life relationship. They are also good comedy creators. They do have to be careful not to make it inside jokes. That's not the case here. Keegan-Michael Key adds another great character. He's both funny and a great boyfriend material. Sadly, it got cancelled after three short seasons. It has more room to grow. I thought the cancer story was going to turn into something deeper and darker although maybe it's not the gals' style. They are more lighter and quirkier. -
mgeorge-0367628 November 2019I saw these two on a reunion of sorts on Bless this Mess. I loved their short-lived sitcom Best Friends Forever and had no idea this existed. I'd seen the show on streaming sites, but the title really turned me off. Watched the first episode and I was hooked! The chemistry between the two is electric and Keegan Michael Key is the perfect compliment. I love all the UCB cast cameos as well. You won't regret watching!
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sanjin_96321 July 2017This is a nice show (for women). Usually I'm not overly enthusiastic about female comedians. In fact, there are only a few I like or am able to tolerate, but Parham and St. Clair have an interesting dynamic. Most of the material isn't new and anyone who expects this to be something special will be disappointed.
One thing I really like are the cameos and accompanying cast playing a lot of interesting (or strange) characters and giving this show a fuller feel. 5.5/10 -
cherold14 July 2021Much of the appeal of this show lies in the chemistry between the leads, who co-created it and have worked together for years. They're portrayal of best friends is very real and also very funny. The show manages to touch at the underlying emotions of the characters in a way that never seems saccharine or that even stops the comedy; even the most emotional scenes have humor.
I don't love the premise of a woman who gives up her high-powered job to raise a friend's baby. It's a strange scenario, and presumably the ex executive is living on savings now and at some point will need to get a job. I would like to see that, since raising babies and flirting with your married ex doesn't seem like enough for someone who has spent years in a job she appears to have loved and been good at. But even if the show is a little shy of sense, it is very funny and charming.
ADDENDUM: I wrote this after watching the first season, and had nothing new to say after the second. But the third season is genuinely bad. The writing just fell off a cliff. It's embarrassingly bad sitcom stuff. I don't know what happened! -
gringoperdido-100-7371827 September 2014Reasonably entertaining. Not a lot of good comedy shows out there - so this one is worth watching. But I am reluctant to watch it now because they had an unannounced spoiler for Homeland. I won't tell you what it was. Suffice to say it was an intentional, unannounced spoiler that was supposed to be funny, but really wasn't. Hard to believe that would do something that mean-spirited. Even if the joke was funny, it's still irresponsible. I am disappointed that I let a marginally funny show ruin a really good show like Homeland. USA Network has feedback option on its website. I hope that other people complain also and maybe that will keep it from happening again.
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cretiahutton17 July 2017Hi. I love this show!! Let's make sure we have another season!! :) And can we have more than eight (8) episodes each season? The seasons are very short. Everyone on the show is so funny! Emma and Maggie are hilarious. Little Charlotte is so cute! Oh, and both Emma and Maggie have boyfriends now! MmmmHmmm...!! Cannot wait to see where this goes! Please take it someplace good.
Thanks, La -
tsemmelroth15 March 2020I didn't know about this show when it was actually airing. I can't remember how I even learned about it. I was able to watch it On Demand but it also airs on Amazon Prime. Trust me, it's one of those gems nobody knows about, but that many would love.
It is so FUNNY. This show cracks me up. The writing is witty. There are tons of hilarious one-liners. Like The Office or Parks and Recreation (Different because they're mockumentaries yet similar in their type of humor) Playing House does not feature laugh tracks. To me the way the actors play their lines makes it ten times funnier. Even minor characters, like Bruce's mom Mary Pat (the "Make Yourself a Gol Darn Quesadilla" g-ma from Napoleon) pop into a scene and give me a chuckle: Emma: "Mary Pat, I love that new hairstyle." Mary Pat: "Thank you. I just tell them to give me the Dean Martin." Emma: "Well you got the head shape for it, I'll tell you that much." Mary Pat: "Well Bruce keeps tellin' me to grow it out." (Funniest part because of how she says it).
The actors are super talented. Lennon Parham (Upright Citizen's Brigade) is one of my faves. Her delivery is the best. ("I'm not goin' anywhere 'til I finish my Schlitz.") She created this show, wrote it, and then transforms Maggie into a character who is both bold and tender, zany and vulnerable. If you love her in Bless this Mess, you'll love her even more in this show, where she's the main character. She and Jessica St. Claire (Upright Citizen's Brigade) are awesome together. It wouldn't work without Keeghan Michael-Key, who adds humor, hilarity, and sex appeal. The love story subplot spices up the show, too.
I have dipped back into this show and watched all three seasons several times when I needed a laugh. My only sadness is that it's only three seasons long. Thanks for the laughs, Jammerz. -
jtungsten1628 October 2018Playing House is the best comedy I think I've seen, other than the other show with these two leads which was on NBC called Best Friends Forever, loved that show and I knew I was going to love this, everyone in this show is hysterical and If you haven't seen it you must. Great, great show!
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tazhonrhode16 November 2019Great show that unfortunately went under the radar.