Playing House

I 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!!!

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!

The 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.

Emma 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.

With 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!