Difficult People (original) (raw)

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2010s American comedy TV series

Difficult People
Genre	Sitcom
Created by	Julie Klausner
Starring	Julie Klausner Billy Eichner James Urbaniak Andrea Martin Cole Escola Shakina Nayfack
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	3
No. of episodes	28
Production
Executive producers	Tony Hernandez Amy Poehler Scott King Julie Klausner Dave Becky
Producer	Ryan McCormick
Camera setup	Single-camera
Running time	22–29 minutes
Production companies	Paper Kite Productions 3 Arts Entertainment Jax Media Universal Cable Productions Hulu Originals Hulu
Original release
Network	Hulu
Release	August 5, 2015 (2015-08-05) –September 26, 2017 (2017-09-26)

Difficult People is an American comedy television series created by Julie Klausner. Klausner stars alongside Billy Eichner as two struggling and jaded comedians living in New York City; the duo seemingly hate everyone but each other.

The series premiered on August 5, 2015 on Hulu,[1] and was renewed for two additional seasons.[2][3][4][5][6]

Cast and characters

[edit]

• Julie Klausner as Julie Kessler, an aspiring comedian.

• Billy Eichner as Billy Epstein, Julie's best friend and fellow aspiring comedian.

• James Urbaniak as Arthur Tack, Julie's boyfriend.

• Andrea Martin as Marilyn Kessler, Julie's mother.

• Cole Escola as Matthew Ellis Ross (season 2–3, recurring season 1), Billy's co-worker, whom he despises.

• Shakina Nayfack as Lola (season 3, recurring season 2), a co-worker at the cafe where Billy works

• Derrick Baskin and Gabourey Sidibe as Nate and Denise, married co-owners of the cafe where Billy works

• Tracee Chimo as Gaby, Arthur's boss at a PBS station

• Fred Armisen as Garry Epstein, Billy's brother

• Jackie Hoffman as Rucchel Epstein, Garry's wife

• John Cho as Todd, Billy's boyfriend

• Lucy Liu as Veronica Ford, Marilyn's publisher

• William Bogert as Elmer, Matthew's fiancé

• Shannon DeVido as Andrea Mumford[7]

• Nate Corddry as Brian Walsh, Julie's high school crush

• Kate McKinnon as Abra Cadouglas, a recovering alcoholic turned magician

• John Benjamin Hickey as Fred, a date of Billy's who turns out to be a "participator"

• Kathy Najimy as Carol Donato, a friend of Marilyn's

• Amy Sedaris as Rita, a salesperson at a sporting goods store; also as a New York City tour guide in a Season 3 episode

• Malina Weissman as Renee Epstein, Billy's niece

• Ana Gasteyer as a woman with damaged eyebrows who Julie and Billy meet at a diner

• Debbie Harry as Kiki, a mysterious woman and roommate/lover of Rita

• Seth Meyers as a conman who hooks up with Billy

• Sandra Bernhard as Lilith Feigenbaum

• John Mulaney as Cecil Jellford, a date of Billy's who turns out to be an "old-timey"

• Nyle DiMarco as Doug, Billy's deaf date

• John Early as Mickey, Doug's interpreter

• Julianne Moore as Sarah Nussbaum

• Stockard Channing as Bonnie, Marilyn's sister

• Vanessa Williams as Trish, Matthew's ex-wife

• Patton Oswalt as Kenny Jurgens

• Jane Krakowski as Lizzie McCormick, Julie's neighbour

• Victor Garber as John Passias, Billy's acting teacher

• John Turturro as Dusty, Marilyn's old flame

• Rosie O'Donnell as Vanessa

• Susan Lucci as Shelley Waxman

• Jessica Walter as Chuck's Mom

• Jami Gertz as David's Wife

• Amy Poehler as Flute, the Doula and Healologist

• Ken Burns as himself

• Luann de Lesseps and Sonja Morgan as themselves

• Tina Fey as herself

• Kathie Lee Gifford as herself

• Tony Hale as himself

• Nathan Lane as himself

• Joel McHale as Billy's trainer

• Method Man as himself

• Lin-Manuel Miranda as himself

• Kate Pierson as herself

• Maury Povich as himself

• Marc Shaiman as himself

• Martin Short as himself

• Larry Wilmore as himself

• Micky Dolenz as himself

• Justin Vivian Bond

• Sally Kellerman as Joan Gentile

• Rachel Dratch

• Andy Cohen

• Mink Stole

• Danny Aiello

In May 2014, it was announced that Billy Eichner and Julie Klausner would star in a pilot for USA Network, with Klausner penning the script and Andrew Fleming directing. Amy Poehler would executive produce under Universal Cable Productions, with Dave Becky also executive producing under his 3 Arts banner, and Michele Armor of Marobru also executive producing.[8] That same month it was announced that Rachel Dratch, Andrea Martin, James Urbaniak, and Tracee Chimo had all been cast in the series, with Martin portraying Klausner's mother.[9] In November 2014, Hulu had acquired the series, with a straight-to-series order.[10] In March 2015, Gabourey Sidibe and Cole Escola were cast in recurring roles.[11]

In March 2017, John Cho joined the cast of the series.[12]

Difficult People received generally positive reviews from critics. Review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, gave the first season an 85% approval rating and an average rating of 8 out of 10, sampled from reviews from 20 critics. Seasons two and three both received a 100% from polled critics. The site's consensus reads, "Difficult People makes the unlikable likable with mean-spirited, unhappy characters who still can't help but amuse."[13] On Metacritic, the first season holds a rating of 76 out of 100, based on 12 critics' reviews, implying "generally favorable reviews".[14]

The series frequently leveled jokes about Kevin Spacey prior to public allegations against the actor.[15]

• List of original programs distributed by Hulu

1. ^ Lockett, Dee (June 30, 2015). "Difficult People Teaser: Don't Invite Billy Eichner and Julie Klausner to Your Funeral". Vulture.com. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
2. ^ "'Difficult People' Renewed By Hulu For Season 2". August 27, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
3. ^ Pederson, Erik (April 4, 2016). "Hulu Makes Summer Dates With 'Casual', 'Difficult People' & 'East Los High'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
4. ^ Petski, Denise (October 17, 2016). "'Difficult People' Renewed For Season 3 By Hulu". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 18, 2016. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
5. ^ Pederson, Erik (March 27, 2017). "Hulu Sets Summer Bows For 'Difficult People' Season 3, Trio Of Documentaries". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 27, 2017.
6. ^ Otterson, Joe (November 15, 2017). "'Difficult People' Canceled at Hulu After Three Seasons". Variety. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
7. ^ "Julie Klausner: The Perks of Being "Difficult"". pastemagazine.com. July 12, 2016. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
8. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (May 6, 2014). "Billy Eichner to Star in USA Comedy From Amy Poehler (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
9. ^ Evans, Bradford (May 22, 2014). "Rachel Dratch, Andrea Martin, and James Urbaniak Join Julie Klausner and Billy Eichner's USA Pilot". Splitinsider.com. Archived from the original on April 26, 2016. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
10. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (November 18, 2014). "Billy Eichner Comedy From Amy Poehler Ordered Straight to Series at Hulu". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
11. ^ Bierly, Mandi (March 24, 2015). "Gabourey Sidibe Talks Joining Billy Eichner and Julie Klausner in Their Hulu Comedy Difficult People and Life Inside Empire". Yahoo.com. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
12. ^ Petski, Denise (March 22, 2017). "'Difficult People': John Cho Set To Recur In Season 3 Of Hulu Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 27, 2017.
13. ^ "Difficult People Season 1 (2015)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
14. ^ "Difficult People: Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
15. ^ Gilchrist, Tracy (November 22, 2017). "'Difficult People' Leveled Accusations at Kevin Spacey for Three Seasons". advocate.com. Retrieved June 27, 2022.