Parents' Guide to

Happyish

By Kari Croop, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Dark comedy wallows in explicit language and sex talk.

TV Showtime Comedy 2015
Happyish Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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What's the Story?

Though he sort of shares a name with a key figure of the American Revolution, 40-something advertising exec Thom Payne (Steve Coogan) sees the forefathers' pursuit of happiness as a pretty fruitless exercise. But with a pair of new bosses who are nearly half his age and a wife (Kathryn Hahn) and son waiting in the wings, he'll have to trade in his hopelessness and be HAPPYISH -- whatever that means.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (1):

Originally developed for Oscar winner Philip Seymour Hoffman, Happyish came to a halt after Hoffman's sudden death, and the show's creators eventually found a new star in Steve Coogan, a likable Brit best known for his comedic portrayals of broadcast personality Alan Partridge and, more recently, dramatic projects such as Philomena. But Coogan and Hoffman are such different actors that it's hard not to imagine what Hoffman would have been like in the role. Perhaps it would've been better; most likely it would have been darker. Still, Coogan's doing his best to make Happyish as watchable-ish as he can.

The show hurls most of its humor at an assortment of adult problems, from depression and erectile dysfunction to the dangers of aging in the workforce, particularly when you work in an industry that's obsessed with youth culture. It's not about anything kids would care about, so there's no reason to think they'd want to watch. But if they do, they might decide that, if the future's this bleak, they might never want to grow up.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Happyish's central premise: that the pursuit of happiness is pointless because life itself is full of disappointment. How do you feel about a statement like that, and do you agree? Do the main characters' actions and experiences support it or contradict it?

  • Happyish was originally written for Philip Seymour Hoffman, who died before production began. How might the show have been different with Hoffman in the lead? Is Coogan more or less believable?

  • Do you agree with Happyish's portrayal of modern-day advertising, particularly with its argument that youth culture and social media are driving everything? How can older generations fit into the conversation and add knowledge?

TV Details

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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 suggesting a diversity update.

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