Please Like Me | |
---|---|
Genre | Comedy drama |
Created by | Josh Thomas |
Written by |
|
Directed by |
|
Starring |
|
Opening theme | "I'll Be Fine" by Clairy Browne & The Bangin' Rackettes |
Composer | Bryony Marks |
Country of origin | Australia |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 4 |
No. of episodes | 32 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producers |
|
Producers |
|
Cinematography |
|
Editors |
|
Camera setup | Single-camera |
Running time | 25–27 minutes |
Production companies |
|
Original release | |
Network | |
Release | 28 February 2013 – 14 December 2016 |
Please Like Me is an Australian comedy-drama television series created by and starring Josh Thomas. Thomas also serves as a writer for most episodes. The series premiered on 28 February 2013 on ABC2 in Australia and is on occasion available on Netflix in certain regions. The show explores realistic issues with humorous tones; executive producer Todd Abbott had pitched the show as a drama rather than a sitcom. The show aired later on the United States network Pivot, which then helped to develop the show from its second season onwards. Four seasons of the show have been broadcast, and creator Thomas has stated that he has no plans to make any further episodes. [1] The show has attracted praise from critics and has garnered numerous nominations, winning a number of awards.
Please Like Me was chiefly written by Josh Thomas, who also played the main character, Josh. Most episodes were directed by Matthew Saville. [2] Thomas and producer Todd Abbott developed the series together for four years. They held a series of consultation meetings with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Abbott was careful to pitch the series as a drama rather than a sitcom. It portrays a set of circumstances that could happen to a young person but has humorous themes. [2] Thomas envisioned an original show, something he had not seen on television before. The actor, also a known comedian in Australia, wanted honesty in the script and wrote the comedy with that in mind. He also wanted the actors to not intentionally react to the scripted jokes. [2]
In January 2013, The West Australian reported that Please Like Me would air on ABC2. [3] The show had been meant to air on ABC1, but it was decided that the show would be better suited to the digital channel ABC2. The broadcaster stated that the show is aimed at a younger demographic more appropriate for ABC2, while ABC1 caters to all ages. The move was criticised because it was believed to be the result of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation viewing the show's content as "too gay" for their primary channel. [4] The series begins with Josh realising that he is gay and his mother attempting suicide with an overdose of Panadol. [2]
In September 2013, ABC1 started running the series on Wednesday nights (10pm), six months after its original ABC2 run.
It was announced in July 2013 that the series would air in the United States as part of the launch programming of Pivot, a new digital cable and satellite television channel which released the first episode of the series online prior to its screening on the channel. [5] It would also offer the series as part of its video on demand service. [5] Pivot also launched a social media website "pleaselikeme.org" for viewers to share personal experiences about breaking stigma and fear of being unliked, in relation to the series. [6]
On 26 July 2013, it was announced that ABC and Pivot had commissioned a second season of the show consisting of ten episodes. [7] The season debuted in its American territory first from 8 August 2014. [8] Producers also added a host of new regular characters to the cast. [9] On 12 July 2014, it was announced that the networking partnership had renewed Please Like Me for a third series also comprising ten episodes. [10] On 7 July 2016, the series was renewed for a fourth season consisting of six episodes. [11] On 2 February 2017, it was announced that season 4 would conclude the series.
Twenty something Josh is going through a number of big changes as he navigates his first decade of adulthood. After being dumped by his girlfriend, he comes to the realization that he is gay. [12]
Actor | Character | Seasons | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||||
Main characters | |||||||
Josh Thomas | Josh | Main | |||||
Debra Lawrance | Rose (Mum) | Main | |||||
David Roberts | Alan (Dad) | Main | |||||
Judi Farr | Aunty Peg | Main | |||||
Thomas Ward | Tom | Main | |||||
Wade Briggs | Geoffrey | Main | Guest [lower-alpha 1] | Guest [lower-alpha 1] | |||
Caitlin Stasey | Claire | Main | Recurring [lower-alpha 1] | Main | |||
Nikita Leigh-Pritchard | Niamh | Main | Recurring [lower-alpha 1] | ||||
Renee Lim | Mae | Main | |||||
Denise Drysdale | Ginger | Main | |||||
Hannah Gadsby | Hannah | Main | |||||
Charles Cottier | Patrick | Main | |||||
Keegan Joyce | Arnold | Main | |||||
Charlotte Nicdao | Jenny | Main | |||||
Bob Franklin | Stuart | Main | Recurring [lower-alpha 1] | ||||
Emily Barclay | Ella | Main | |||||
Recurring characters | |||||||
John the Dog | John | Recurring | |||||
Andrew S. Gilbert | Rod | Recurring [lower-alpha 1] | |||||
Luke McGregor | Rental Agent | Guest | |||||
Nick Cody | Steve | Recurring | Guest | ||||
David Quirk | Ben | Recurring | Guest | ||||
Geoff Morrell | Bruce | Guest | Guest |
Notes
Anthony D. Langford from AfterElton.com said that he "absolutely loved this charming series. It’s funny and sweet and has plenty of heart." He also praised Thomas's portrayal of Josh and wished that U.S. broadcasters could emulate the show's format. [13] He later said that he would miss the show and hoped a second season would be commissioned. He added that he did not want to say goodbye to Josh's world. [14] Andrew Mast, writing for Music.com.au, praised Briggs's "naturalistic performances" and the inclusion of accomplished actress Farr. He concluded that Thomas's writing was good and comedic, but the on-screen delivery did not meet his expectations. [15] David Knox from TV Tonight praised the performances of many cast members. He opined that the dynamic between Josh and his parents created a "very rich comedic terrain" for the show. He added that Please Like Me displays "a confidence that delivers laughs, pathos and insight". [16]
Colin Vickery and Darren Devlyn from News.com.au said that it "has a sweetness that sets it apart from other boundary-pushing comedies". [4] Giles Hardie from The Age praised the show for "breaking new ground" and not making stereotypes of gay characters. He viewed the comedy as being genuine without feeling like a sitcom. He noted that coming out and attempted suicide are given humour without the gags. Hardie concluded that Josh, his family and friends were "incredibly well" played. [17] His colleague Scott Ellis believed that Please Like Me was an important show and the type of material the ABC should be investing more in. He also branded it "gentle" and insightful when covering "tough ground". [17] Fellow critic Craig Mathieson also agreed that the show's darker moments are some of the most humorous and compared it to American show Louie . [2] Please Like Me received an invitation to screen at the Series Mania Television Festival in Paris. [18]
The A.V. Club regarded season 2 of Please Like Me as one of the year's best shows, praising the camera work and Josh's performance. [19] The Guardian praised Please Like Me's "unconventional writing". [20]
The Season 3 premiere episode of Please Like Me, 'Eggplant' received praise for its portrayal of a gay sex scene, described in IndieWire as "a very tender moment that is rarely afforded to queer characters in films or TV series." [21] The scene is cited as a significant shift for Australian broadcast television because "the camera does not cut away," a shift compared to earlier portrayals that used "cinematographic censorship." [22]
Year | Award | Category | Recipients and nominees | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | Australian Writers Guild Awards [23] [24] | Best Writing in a Comedy: Situation or Narrative | Josh Thomas, Liz Doran and Thomas Ward – Series 1, Episode 3 'Portuguese Custard Tarts' | Won |
Josh Thomas, Liz Doran and Thomas Ward – Series 1, Episode 5 'Spanish Eggs' | Nominated | |||
2014 | 3rd AACTA Awards [25] | Best Television Comedy Series | Please Like Me – Todd Abbott | Won |
Best Performance in a Television Comedy | Josh Thomas | Nominated | ||
Best Direction in a Television Drama or Comedy | Matthew Saville – Series 1, Episode 3 'Portuguese Custard Tarts' | Nominated | ||
GLAAD Media Awards [26] | Outstanding Comedy Series | Please Like Me | Nominated | |
Australian Directors Guild Awards [27] | Best Direction: TV Comedy | Matthew Saville | Won | |
Rose d'Or [28] | Sitcom | Please Like Me | Nominated | |
Logie Awards [29] | Most Outstanding Light Entertainment Program | Please Like Me | Nominated | |
International Emmy Award [30] | Best Comedy Series | Please Like Me | Nominated | |
Australian Screen Editors Awards [31] | Best Editing in a Television Comedy | Julie-Anne De Ruvo – Season 2, Episode 2 'Ham' | Nominated | |
2015 | 4th AACTA Awards [32] | Best Television Comedy Series | Please Like Me – Todd Abbott, Josh Thomas and Kevin Whyte | Nominated |
Best Direction in a Television Drama or Comedy | Matthew Saville – Series 2, Episode 7 'Scroggin' | Nominated | ||
Best Screenplay in Television | Josh Thomas – Series 2, Episode 7 'Scroggin' | Won | ||
Best Performance in a Television Comedy | Debra Lawrance | Won | ||
Josh Thomas | Nominated | |||
Best Sound in Television | John Wilkinson and Simon Rosenberg – Series 2, Episode 7 'Scroggin' | Nominated | ||
Logie Awards [33] | Most Popular Actor | Josh Thomas, Please Like Me | Nominated | |
Most Outstanding Comedy Program | Please Like Me | Nominated | ||
GLAAD Media Awards | Outstanding Comedy Series | Please Like Me | Nominated | |
Australian Writers Guild Awards [34] | Best Writing in a Comedy: Situation or Narrative | Josh Thomas – Series 2, Episode 7 'Scroggin' | Won | |
Australian Directors Guild Awards [35] | Best Direction in a TV Comedy | Matthew Saville – Series 2, Episode 7 'Scroggin' | Won | |
Australian Screen Editors Awards [36] | Best Editing in a Television Comedy | Julie-Anne De Ruvo – Please Like Me (Series 2) | Won | |
Screen Producers Australia Awards [37] | Comedy Television Production of the Year | Please Like Me Season 2, Guesswork Television | Won | |
Prism Awards [38] | Comedy Episode or Multi-Episode Storyline | Please Like Me Season 2 (Pivot) | Nominated | |
Dorian Awards [39] | LGBTQ TV Show of the Year | Please Like Me (Pivot) | Nominated | |
Unsung TV Show of the Year | Please Like Me (Pivot) | Nominated | ||
2016 | GLAAD Media Awards [40] | Outstanding Comedy Series | Please Like Me (Pivot) | Nominated |
Logie Awards [41] | Best Actor | Josh Thomas, Please Like Me | Nominated | |
Most Outstanding Comedy Program | Please Like Me | Nominated | ||
Australian Writers Guild Awards [42] [43] | Best Writing in a Comedy: Situation or Narrative | Josh Thomas – Season 3, 'Coq au Vin' | Nominated | |
Josh Thomas and Liz Doran – Season 3, 'Pancakes with Faces' | Won | |||
Josh Thomas, Liz Doran and Thomas Ward – Season 3, 'Simple Carbohydrates' | Nominated | |||
Australian Screen Editors Awards [44] | Best Editing in a Comedy | Julie-Anne De Ruvo – Please Like Me, Season 3 – Episode 10 | Won | |
Screen Producers Australia Awards [45] | Comedy Television Production of the Year | Please Like Me Season 3, Guesswork Television | Nominated | |
Prism Awards | Comedy Episode or Multi-Episode Storyline | Please Like Me Season 3 (Pivot) | Nominated | |
6th AACTA Awards [46] | Best Television Comedy Series | Please Like Me – Todd Abbott, Josh Thomas, Lisa Wang and Kevin Whyte | Nominated | |
2017 | Logie Awards [47] | Most Outstanding Supporting Actress | Debra Lawrance | Won |
Most Outstanding Comedy Program | Please Like Me | Won |
Debra Lawrance is an Australian actress. She is best known for her role on Home and Away, as Pippa Ross, which she played from 1990 to 1998 and in a number of subsequent return appearances, the most recent being in 2009.
Triple J TV is the name given to a series of Australian television programmes which started broadcast in July 2006 as a television spin-off of national radio broadcaster Triple J. They are broadcast on ABC1 and ABC2 as well as available online. As with Triple J, it focuses on youth-oriented (18–35) programming.
Ian Meadows is an Australian actor, playwright and writer.
Adam Zwar is an Australian actor, voice artist, and writer. He is best known for co-creating the Australian comedy series Squinters, Lowdown, Wilfred and creating the critically acclaimed Channel 10 comedy Mr. Black as well as the popular factual series Agony Aunts, Agony Uncles, The Agony of Life, The Agony of Modern Manners and Agony. Zwar also presented and produced seminal cricket documentaries Underarm: The Ball That Changed Cricket and Bodyline: The Ultimate Test which took a forensic look at the infamous 1932–1933 Ashes series between Australia and England.
ABC Entertains is an Australian English language general entertainment free-to-air television channel owned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. It was launched on 4 December 2009 as a children's channel called ABC3. It was rebranded on 19 September 2016 to ABC Me. It rebranded once more on 3 June 2024 to ABC Entertains, now focusing on general entertainment programming.
Lawrence Leung is an Australian comedian, writer, director and actor from Melbourne. He is best known for his television series Lawrence Leung's Choose Your Own Adventure based his one-man shows on stories about his obsessions, such as breakdancing, ghosts, the Rubik's Cube, and his family.
Joshua Michael Thomas is an Australian comedian, actor, and writer. In 2005, he won the Melbourne International Comedy Festival's Raw Comedy Competition. He has since appeared on television numerous times, including as a regular and Generation Y team captain on Network 10's Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation. In 2013, Thomas created the award-winning ABC2 and Pivot television series Please Like Me, which he also co-wrote and starred in.
A sitcom is a genre of comedy that centers on a recurring cast of characters as they navigate humorous situations within a consistent setting, such as a home, workplace, or community. Unlike sketch comedy, which features different characters and settings in each skit, sitcoms typically maintain plot continuity across episodes. This continuity allows for the development of storylines and characters over time, fostering audience engagement and investment in the characters' lives and relationships.
Lowdown is an Australian television comedy series set in the world of celebrity journalism. Created by Amanda Brotchie and Adam Zwar, it stars Zwar, Paul Denny, Beth Buchanan, Dailan Evans, Kim Gyngell and is narrated by Geoffrey Rush. The ABC series premiered on 21 April 2010 and is produced by Nicole Minchin and directed by Amanda Brotchie.
The Slap is an Australian television drama series. It was first broadcast on ABC1 from 6 October to 24 November 2011. The series is based on The Slap, a 2008 novel by Australian author Christos Tsiolkas, which explores what happens when a man slaps a child, who is not related to him, at a suburban barbecue.
Laid is an Australian television comedy series that first aired on 9 February 2011 on ABC1. The 12-episode comedy series was written by Marieke Hardy and Kirsty Fisher, and produced by Liz Watts. Laid was renewed for a second series, which aired from 2 May to 6 June 2012.
At Home with Julia is a four-part Australian sitcom television series, created and written by Amanda Bishop, Rick Kalowski and Phil Lloyd, which debuted on 7 September 2011 on ABC1. A re-run of the series aired on ABC2 in April 2012. The series ran in syndication in the United States on the Vibrant TV Network.
Redfern Now is an Australian drama television series featuring the lives of Aboriginal Australian families living in Redfern, Sydney, that first aired on ABC1 in 2012. A second season followed in 2013, and the series concluded with a feature-length telemovie, Redfern Now: Promise Me, in April 2015. The series' release contributed to widespread public debate surrounding Indigenous representation in the Australian media, and both series as well as the film were nominated for and won many awards.
Celia Pacquola is an Australian comedian, writer, presenter and actor who performs predominantly in Australia and the United Kingdom.
Dirty Laundry Live is an Australian comedy panel television quiz show hosted by Lawrence Mooney. The first of 22 episodes in Season 1 screened live on Thursday 16 May 2013 at 9.30pm AEST on ABC2. It returned for 16 episodes in Season 2 the following year in the same timeslot on 15 May 2014, with longer episodes. The show was moved to ABC for Season 3 with 12 episodes from 28 May 2015 and repeats on ABC2.
The Agony of... is a collection of conversational-style Australian television programs which originally screened between 2012 and 2015 on ABC1, and later aired in the United States on Vibrant TV Network. The format shows a number of well-known men and women talking to interviewer/narrator Adam Zwar.
Melinda Claire Buttle is an Australian comedian, television and radio presenter and writer. Buttle previously co-hosted The Great Australian Bake Off alongside Claire Hooper.
Beat Bugs is an animated children's television series, created by Josh Wakely, and produced for Netflix by Grace: A Storytelling Company and Thunderbird Entertainment since 2016. The series is centred around five young anthropomorphised insects who live in an overgrown suburban backyard and learn life lessons while having adventures. Wakely acquired worldwide rights from Sony/ATV Music Publishing to a catalogue of music by the Beatles to feature in the series. The program features versions of songs by the popular rock group, performed by contemporary recording artists and interwoven into the narrative.