Somebody Somewhere: Trailer, certificate and where to watch
Bridget Everett stars in this uncommonly real HBO comedy about small-town life
Year: 2022-2024
Certificate: 18
Few comedies manage to have real joy in them, because it's hard to bottle - you can manufacture it in an audience with a constant stream of gags but, for it to be genuine, it has to come from characters who feel real. They're everywhere in Somebody Somewhere, an HBO show that presents an uncommonly authentic portrait of small-town life in Manhattan, Kansas, and travels all around the emotional spectrum in the process.
Manhattan-born comedian Bridget Everett stars as Sam, a fortysomething woman reeling from the death of her sister as she returns to her hometown. Sam strikes up a surprising connection with her oddball co-worker, Joel (Jeff Hiller), which leads to her re-discovering a love of singing and life in general, and the series that follows is a celebration of outsiders that will leave you better than it finds you.
It has a perfectly-suited star in Everett and a flawless supporting cast, including Mike Hagerty as Sam's dad. Hagerty, a hugely familiar face in supporting roles on US TV over the years (Friends, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and many, many more), died after the first series and his absence is addressed with real grace in the second. Set aside some time to appreciate this one, as it's a special show with a lot going on under the surface - and the third and final series gives it a strong finish, too.
Despite that strength, Somebody Somewhere is one of those shows that managed to fly under the radar of the big awards ceremonies until its final year, when Jeff Hiller picked up an Emmy for his performance as Joel. (Three series)
