Difficult People | |
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Genre | |
Created by | Julie Klausner |
Starring |
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Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 3 |
No. of episodes | 28 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producers |
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Producer | Ryan McCormick |
Camera setup | Single-camera |
Running time | 22–29 minutes |
Production companies | |
Original release | |
Network | Hulu |
Release | August 5, 2015 – September 26, 2017 |
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] In Australia Difficult People premiered on 3 August 2020 on SBS Viceland and the SBS On Demand streaming service.
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]
Season | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
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First aired | Last aired | |||
1 | 8 | August 5, 2015 | September 16, 2015 | |
2 | 10 | July 12, 2016 | September 6, 2016 | |
3 | 10 | August 8, 2017 | September 26, 2017 |
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | "Library Water" | Andrew Fleming & Jeffrey Walker | Julie Klausner | August 5, 2015 | |
2 | 2 | "Devil's Three Way" | Jeffrey Walker | Julie Klausner & Scott King | August 5, 2015 | |
Julie seeks out an old high-school crush and brings him to bed with her and Arthur. Meanwhile, Billy finds a father figure in Denise's husband, Nate. | ||||||
3 | 3 | "Pledge Week" | Jeffrey Walker | Julie Klausner | August 12, 2015 | |
Billy hits it off with a new man, only to find out he is a "participator". Meanwhile, Julie's home-life crumbles as Arthur cracks under the pressure of the PBS pledge drive. | ||||||
4 | 4 | "The Courage of a Soldier" | Jeffrey Walker | Julie Klausner | August 19, 2015 | |
Billy visits his very Jewish brother for Yom Kippur dinner and Julie attempts to befriend a veteran to prove to Marilyn's surrogate daughter that she is charitable. | ||||||
5 | 5 | "The Children's Menu" | Jeffrey Walker | Julie Klausner | August 26, 2015 | |
While Billy's boss is out of town, Billy and Julie overhaul the café menu with children's cuisine at adult prices. | ||||||
6 | 6 | "Even Later" | Jeffrey Walker | Julie Klausner | September 2, 2015 | |
Billy and Julie prepare a portfolio for a writing job, but find it easier to procrastinate than write. | ||||||
7 | 7 | "Premium Membership" | Jeffrey Walker | Julie Klausner | September 9, 2015 | |
Billy and Julie decide to create their own podcast, but it proves more difficult than anticipated; Billy has some unexpected fun at the indoor dog park. | ||||||
8 | 8 | "Difficult Christmas" | Jeffrey Walker | Julie Klausner | September 16, 2015 | |
Julie and Billy book a gig at The Cutting Room, but Billy's newfound obligation to family threatens to compromise their big break. |
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
9 | 1 | "Unplugged" | Jeffrey Walker | Julie Klausner | July 12, 2016 | |
Julie tries to fit in with a group of powerful TV writers as Billy attempts to get used to being his rich boyfriend's (John Mulaney) kept man; Marilyn creates a video will. | ||||||
10 | 2 | "Kessler Epstein Foundation" | Jeffrey Walker | Julie Klausner | July 12, 2016 | |
Billy and Julie try to create their own version of the ice bucket challenge in hopes of becoming famous. | ||||||
11 | 3 | "Italian Pinata" | Jeffrey Walker | Julie Klausner | July 19, 2016 | |
Mistaken perceptions about heritage and sexual orientation leads to Julie and Billy living double lives in New Jersey. | ||||||
12 | 4 | "Blade Stallion" | Neil Daly | Julie Klausner & Scott King | July 26, 2016 | |
Time alone become elusive after Julie is caught watching porn and Billy's brother (Fred Armisen) moves in with him. | ||||||
13 | 5 | "Patches" | Jeffrey Walker | Julie Klausner & Scott King | August 2, 2016 | |
Problems at Billy's apartment lead to him staying with Marilyn; a misunderstanding results in Julie landing a part on a TV show. | ||||||
14 | 6 | "36 Candles" | Jeffrey Walker | Julie Klausner & Scott King | August 9, 2016 | |
As her birthday gets closer, Julie discovers that she enjoys her mom's company when they are drinking; Billy tries to date a guy he met through an app. | ||||||
15 | 7 | "Carter" | Jeffrey Walker | Julie Klausner & Scott King | August 16, 2016 | |
Inspired by the success of Hamilton , Billy and Julie want to write and star in their own historical musical. Mother and doctor Marilyn competes with their child for their own TV score. | ||||||
16 | 8 | "Hashtag Cats" | Jeffrey Walker | Julie Klausner & Scott King | August 23, 2016 | |
Billy and Julie gain their first famous fan, who tries to help them sell a sketch show to a TV network. | ||||||
17 | 9 | "Cedar Cove" | Jeffrey Walker | Julie Klausner | August 30, 2016 | |
When Julie gets sick and Billy is cast in a children's TV show, they jeopardize their chance at becoming fashion elites. | ||||||
18 | 10 | "High Alert" | Jeffrey Walker | Julie Klausner | September 6, 2016 | |
Julie writes a personal essay about 9/11 that is optioned for a movie; Billy helps with preparations for Matthew's wedding. |
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
19 | 1 | "Passover Bump" | Jeffrey Walker | Julie Klausner | August 8, 2017 | |
Julie and Billy get community service after disrupting the CBS live presentation of Bazinga in the Park with George . Julie gets a new meditation app when she is denied antidepressants to survive her family's Passover seder. Billy gets a job as a warmup comic for Larry Wilmore's new show. | ||||||
20 | 2 | "Strike Rat" | Jeffrey Walker | Julie Klausner & Scott King | August 8, 2017 | |
Julie gets cast in Woody Allen's new Amazon TV series. Billy and Marilyn get involved in Mike Pence's gay conversion program. Matthew's ex-wife (Vanessa Williams) visits. | ||||||
21 | 3 | "Code Change" | Jeffrey Walker | Julie Klausner & Scott King | August 8, 2017 | |
Julie decides she has an addiction to her mother, and treats it by joining AA. Billy helps his sister-in-law Rachel exorcise a Jewish demon from her basement. Arthur experiences frustration in the bedroom and at work, and takes both into his own hands. | ||||||
22 | 4 | "Rabbitversary" | Jeffrey Walker | Julie Klausner & Scott King | August 15, 2017 | |
Alone for the weekend, Julie hires a creepy handyman (Chris Elliott) who overstays his welcome. Meanwhile, Billy feuds with an advertising exec (John Cho), and Marilyn gets a book deal from a patient's mother (Lucy Liu). | ||||||
23 | 5 | "Cindarestylox" | Jeffrey Walker | Julie Klausner & Scott King | August 22, 2017 | |
Julie gets a sketchy Botox treatment that freezes her face in a smile. She's amazed by how much better people treat her and attempts to exploit that. | ||||||
24 | 6 | "Bernie and Blythe" | Jeffrey Walker | Julie Klausner & Scott King | August 29, 2017 | |
Julie and Arthur stumble into sexual roleplay, while Billy worries he’s been miscast as a supportive spouse at Todd’s work parties. Meanwhile, Julie’s dogs become social media stars without Julie’s consent, and Marilyn re-unites with a former lover (John Turturro) from her free-spirited youth. | ||||||
25 | 7 | "Fuzz Buddies" | Jeffrey Walker | Julie Klausner & Scott King | September 5, 2017 | |
Lifelong dreams come true when Julie gets hired to write on a TV show, Micky Dolenz answers Billy’s childhood fan letter, and Marilyn throws herself a Bat Mitzvah. | ||||||
26 | 8 | "Criminal Minds" | Jeffrey Walker | Julie Klausner & Scott King | September 12, 2017 | |
Julie “Yes And’s” her way into a corner with her former improv teammates and ends up being caught in a significant lie. Billy and Todd can’t fall asleep in the same bed together. Meanwhile, Arthur uncovers a secret at work, and Marilyn and Matthew bond. | ||||||
27 | 9 | "Sweet Tea" | Jeffrey Walker | Julie Klausner & Scott King | September 19, 2017 | |
Julie considers trading her showbiz dreams for a life of happy crafting as Billy sickens of New York City. Arthur is over his job, and Marilyn experiences writer’s block. Meanwhile a visit from Lola’s sorority may hold the answer to all of their problems. | ||||||
28 | 10 | "The Silkwood" | Jeffrey Walker | Julie Klausner & Scott King | September 26, 2017 | |
Billy moves to Los Angeles with Julie's help. Marilyn writes a best-selling memoir, also with Julie's help. Changes at the cafe include a new waiter, and eventually, new ownership. Arthur's office in Florida meets an untimely demise. |
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]
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