Common Sense Media Review
By Kari Croop
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Snarky humor in ode to gay, Jewish New York; language, sex.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Difficult People
What's the Story?
Longtime friends and Manhattanites Julie (Julie Klausner) and Billy (Billy Eichner) are addicted to pop culture, obsessed with attention, and dumbfounded as to why they're not famous. But the truth is they're DIFFICULT PEOPLE—and completely oblivious of their flaws.
Is It Any Good?
There are heroes, there are antiheroes, and then there are people like Julie and Billy, who are just horrible—in a Seinfeld-ian way, but a lot less lovable than the characters from that show. And it's not only because they're selfish, narcissistic, and shallow; it's also because they're really not as funny as they think they are, which makes Difficult People a particularly, well, difficult comedy.
Klausner and Eichner's larger-than-life alter egos consider themselves wrongfully overlooked as comedians. But for all of Difficult People's biting one-liners and extensive roster of guest stars (plus Amy Poehler's executive-producer cred), the lack of real laughs suggests they're probably as famous now as they should be—that is, famous enough for existing fans but not destined for a much larger audience.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Difficult People's main characters, Billy and Julie, and how they measure up as role models. Does the show celebrate or criticize their behavior? Where's the line between horrible and hilarious?
How close does Difficult People get to nailing pop culture and the people who can't get enough of it? How has social media changed the way we feed our celebrity fix?
How are shows that air exclusively on streaming services such as Hulu and Netflix different from shows that air on traditional television? How have streaming content providers changed the way we watch TV?
TV Details
- Premiere date : August 5, 2015
- Cast : Julie Klausner , Billy Eichner
- Network : Hulu
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Friendship
- TV rating :
- Last updated : July 16, 2026
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate