USA Announces “Playing House” Season 2

Break out the hedgehog cupcakes and unwrap your wheel of Spanish Manchego, the gods have heard our prayers. Playing House will return for Season 2! The announcement just came to me a few minutes ago and after I ran around the office, doing a jig and high-fiving myself, I wanted to spread the word: TV’s funniest comedy is returning to TV. (watch Lennon and Jessica’s LOL season 2 announcement here)

PlayingHouseTinySetWebI know that I bitched and whined a lot (and may have called the people who make programming decisions at USA Network bad names), but now we can rejoice and be friends again.


My “Playing House”-Related Plea


No word as of yet when Season 2 will premiere, but according to the good folks at USA Network, the new episodes will debut some time in 2015. That lack of specifics if okay for now, it just means that USA has time to re-run Season 1 multiple times to introduce the genius of Jessica St. Clair and Lennon Parham to the uninitiated. (Hey, since Parks and Recreation is ending in February, any chance you two awesome ladies can snag Amy Poehler for a guest-starring role as a wacky cousin of Emma’s?)

The biggest announced change from USA Network is the way the show is delivered. I leave it to my new BFF’s to explain, but basically we will be able to watch the show On Demand the week before the new episode airs on USA …

Excerpt from USA press release…

A new windowing structure will allow viewers each week to watch the following week’s episode on Video-On-Demand before it airs on USA. The network will prominently promote the on-demand episodes, driving viewers to watch in the early window. This new approach is designed to offer select advertisers premium placement across millions of multiplatform connected homes, and engage the highly passionate community of Playing House fans across VOD and TV Everywhere platforms. The series, which is executive produced by, written by and stars Jessica St. Clair and Lennon Parham, will return in the second half of 2015 for eight episodes.

“We are so pleased to bring back this beloved series, with the exceptionally talented comedic duo of Jessica and Lennon” said Chris McCumber, President of USA Network. “Tapping into the increasing power of On Demand, we have the unique opportunity to reward the incredibly devoted fans of Playing House with early access to new content and bring in additional audiences.” (Did you read that, folks? “Incredibly devoted fans,” that’s us!!! Thanks for the shout out, Chris. Woot!”)

Distributors have seen On Demand TV consumption increase exponentially in recent years, as the platform has grown to become a go-to destination for viewers to catch up and stay current on their favorite shows and discover new ones. NBCU expects to drive over 1.5 billion full episode views On Demand across all platforms in 2014.

Playing HouseFrequently hailed as the new “Lucy and Ethel” or “Tina and Amy,” St. Clair and Parham have emerged as a standout comedic duo. Critics hailed the series as “…next-level hilarious…” and “Punch-You-In-The-Gut Funny,” making it one of USA’s most talked about series of 2014.

“This new programming model is a testament to the quality of Playing House and the brilliance of Jessica and Lennon who turned viewers into loyal fans,” said Jeff Wachtel, President and Chief Content Officer for NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. “Great content sets the stage for innovation.”

Playing House centers on childhood best friends Maggie Caruso (Lennon Parham, “Parks and Recreation,” “Mad Men”) and Emma Crawford (Jessica St. Clair, “Bridesmaids”) who together have shared countless adventures growing up in the charming town of Pinebrook, Conn.  In the first season, Maggie discovered that her husband Bruce (Brad Morris) was having an online affair, so Emma gave up her burgeoning business career in China to stay in their hometown and help Maggie raise her baby.  As they prepared for the birth of Maggie’s first child and the fallout of her marriage ending, Emma was also forced to confront the past that she abruptly left behind thirteen years ago: her first love and local cop, Mark (Keegan-Michael Key), her prim-and-proper mother (Jane Kaczmarek) and a small town in which she’s never felt comfortable. Together, they navigated the adventures of raising a baby in the best way they know how – together.

### end press release

It’s a great day when people who make funny comedy can be rewarded with the opportunity to make more funny comedy. I am thrilled for Lennon and Jessica and everyone who is a part of Playing House, and I’m really excited that more people are going to get to experience this wonderful show.

3 Comments

  1. So sooo happy to hear there will be a season 2 for this well-written, laugh out loud, smart comedy! Heard her familiar voice on a milk commercial and started looking for where I can rewatch season 1!! Good job usa!

  2. This show “Be Bangin!” A well written show that makes me laugh wine out of my nose! Bravo USA for a second season!!!

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