Difficult People
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, and was renewed for two additional seasons.
Cast and characters
Main
- Julie Klausner as Julie Kessler, an aspiring comedian.
- Billy Eichner as Billy Epstein, Julie's best friend and fellow aspiring comedian.
- James Urbaniak as Arthur Tack, Julie's boyfriend.
- Andrea Martin as Marilyn Kessler, Julie's mother.
- Cole Escola as Matthew Ellis Ross, Billy's co-worker, whom he despises.
- Shakina Nayfack as Lola, a co-worker at the cafe where Billy works
Recurring
- Derrick Baskin and Gabourey Sidibe as Nate and Denise, married co-owners of the cafe where Billy works
- Tracee Chimo as Gaby, Arthur's boss at a PBS station
- Fred Armisen as Garry Epstein, Billy's brother
- Jackie Hoffman as Rucchel Epstein, Garry's wife
- John Cho as Todd, Billy's boyfriend
- Lucy Liu as Veronica Ford, Marilyn's publisher
- William Bogert as Elmer, Matthew's fiancé
- Shannon DeVido as Andrea Mumford
Guest
- Nate Corddry as Brian Walsh, Julie's high school crush
- Kate McKinnon as Abra Cadouglas, a recovering alcoholic turned magician
- John Benjamin Hickey as Fred, a date of Billy's who turns out to be a "participator"
- Kathy Najimy as Carol Donato, a friend of Marilyn's
- Amy Sedaris as Rita, a salesperson at a sporting goods store; also as a New York City tour guide in a Season 3 episode
- Malina Weissman as Renee Epstein, Billy's niece
- Ana Gasteyer as a woman with damaged eyebrows who Julie and Billy meet at a diner
- Debbie Harry as Kiki, a mysterious woman and roommate/lover of Rita
- Seth Meyers as a conman who hooks up with Billy
- Sandra Bernhard as Lilith Feigenbaum
- John Mulaney as Cecil Jellford, a date of Billy's who turns out to be an "old-timey"
- Nyle DiMarco as Doug, Billy's deaf date
- John Early as Mickey, Doug's interpreter
- Julianne Moore as Sarah Nussbaum
- Stockard Channing as Bonnie, Marilyn's sister
- Vanessa Williams as Trish, Matthew's ex-wife
- Patton Oswalt as Kenny Jurgens
- Jane Krakowski as Lizzie McCormick, Julie's neighbour
- Victor Garber as John Passias, Billy's acting teacher
- John Turturro as Dusty, Marilyn's old flame
- Rosie O'Donnell as Vanessa
- Susan Lucci as Shelley Waxman
- Jessica Walter as Chuck's Mom
- Jami Gertz as David's Wife
- Amy Poehler as Flute, the Doula and Healologist
- Ken Burns as himself
- Luann de Lesseps and Sonja Morgan as themselves
- Tina Fey as herself
- Kathie Lee Gifford as herself
- Tony Hale as himself
- Nathan Lane as himself
- Joel McHale as Billy's trainer
- Method Man as himself
- Lin-Manuel Miranda as himself
- Kate Pierson as herself
- Maury Povich as himself
- Marc Shaiman as himself
- Martin Short as himself
- Larry Wilmore as himself
- Micky Dolenz as himself
- Justin Vivian Bond
- Sally Kellerman as Joan Gentile
- Rachel Dratch
- Andy Cohen
- Mink Stole
- Danny Aiello
Production
In March 2017, John Cho joined the cast of the series.
Episodes
Season 1 (2015)
Season 2 (2016)
Season 3 (2017)
Reception
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." On Metacritic, the first season holds a rating of 76 out of 100, based on 12 critics' reviews, implying "generally favorable reviews".The series frequently leveled jokes about Kevin Spacey prior to public allegations against the actor.