Playing House is an American comedy television series that premiered on April 29, 2014, on the USA Network. Lennon Parham and Jessica St. Clair created and star in the series, which is inspired by their real-life friendship. On January 14, 2016, the series was renewed for a third season, which aired from June 23 to July 14, 2017, and with each episode available via VOD. On October 30, 2017, series stars and creators Jessica St. Clair and Lennon Parham announced over an emotional video message that USA Network canceled the show.
Premise
When mother-to-be Maggie ends her marriage upon discovering her husband's affair with a woman online, she turns to her best friend Emma for support. In order to help Maggie in her time of need, Emma gives up her successful business in China to return to their hometown of Pinebrook, and help her friend raise her newborn baby.
Cast
Main
Lennon Parham as Maggie Caruso – Emma's best friend since childhood, who was pregnant and newly single after a sudden separation from her husband in the first season. She is the mother of Charlotte Emma Caruso.
Jessica St. Clair as Emma Crawford – Maggie's best friend since childhood. She leaves her overseas job in China to come home and to help Maggie.
Playing Housefirst appeared on the USA Network development slate in February 2013, under the name Untitled Lennon Parham/Jessica St. Clair Project. The series was created by Lennon Parham and Jessica St. Clair who also star in the series and executive produce alongside Scot Armstrong and Ravi Nandan, and the production companiesUniversal Cable Productions and American Work. Casting announcements began in February 2013, with Parham, St. Clair and Zach Woods announced as starring in the series when USA Network ordered the presentation. Parham and St. Clair signed on to play the lead roles of Maggie, an expectant mother who turns to her career-driven best friend Emma. Keegan-Michael Key and Brad Morris then signed on to the series, with Key playing the role of Mark, a cop who holds resentment towards Emma because she turned down his proposal and left town twelve years earlier, and Morris playing the role of Bruce, Maggie's husband, who cheats on her. On May 16, 2013, Playing House was ordered to series, making it the second original half-hour comedy series for the USA Network after Sirens. On December 8, 2014, USA Network renewed Playing House for an eight-episode second season. Through a new model, each of the episodes will be released on video-on-demand platforms before airing a week later on USA. On January 14, 2016, Playing House was renewed for a third season.
Reception
The first season of Playing House scored 65 out of 100 on Metacritic based on 13 "generally favorable" reviews. On another review aggregator site, Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 76% rating with an average rating of 7.1 out of 10, based on 17 reviews. The site's critical consensus reads: "Jessica St. Clair and Lennon Parham are a comedy duo worth watching, and their chemistry helps to make Playing House reasonably enjoyable and perceptive." The second season was met with even more positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds an average of 100% with an average of 7 out of 10, based on 6 reviews.
