Showtime has picked up the new series “Happyish,” starring Oscar and Golden Globe nominee Steve Coogan, Kathryn Hahn and Emmy Award winner and Golden Globe nominee Bradley Whitford, it was announced today by David Nevins, President of Showtime Networks Inc. The series is a comedic, soul-searching examination of our pursuit of happiness and why it continues to be so elusive.
“Happyish,” which shoots in New York, will premiere on April 26th at 9:30 p.m. ET./PT, immediately following “Nurse Jackie” airing at 9 p.m., and followed by the premiere of the second season of the Showtime drama series “Penny Dreadful” at 10 p.m. Emmy and Tony Award winner Ellen Barkin, Emmy Award winner Carrie Preston (“The Good Wife”), Molly Price (“Third Watch”) and Andre Royo (“The Wire”) will guest star.
“Shalom has a unique comedic voice. He is smart, provocative and thoughtful. I know he’s going to make viewers laugh, but he’s also going to push a few buttons while doing it,” said Nevins.
“Happyish” was created, written and executive produced by critically acclaimed author and regular “This American Life” contributor Shalom Auslander. Emmy Award nominee Ken Kwapis (He’s Just Not That Into You, A Walk in the Woods) will executive produce and direct the pilot. Kwapis’ producing partner Alexandra Beattie will co-executive produce, under their In Cahoots banner.
Coogan will star in the lead role of Thom Payne, a 44 year-old man whose world is thrown into disarray when his 25 year-old “wunderkind” boss arrives, saying things like “digital,” “social” and “viral.” Is he in need of a “rebranding,” or does he just have a “low joy ceiling,?” Maybe pursuing happiness is a fool’s errand? Maybe, after 44 years on this ludicrous planet, settling for happyish is the best one can expect.
