An Ode to Happy Endings Tv Show

While our nostalgia induced memories make us mourn the loss of many television shows, they don’t always have to come back. However, the one we yearn for the most is the one that got away.

Firstly, it’s our one-hundredth post so we wanted to give homage to one of our favorite tv shows ever. Happy Endings.
Essentially a “hangout comedy” but what sets it apart is its Jam-packed with sharp pop-culture references, banter, literal gags, and running jokes.

Happy Endings also shows multilevel friendships, you know the kind. The one that’s always there for you but will still roast or pile on about your insecurities to your face, true intimate friendships.
Nonthelesss, if you need an idea of context of the show think Friends meets Cheers with a dash of Seinfeld and some New Girl.

Premiering in April of 2011, the series already faced challenges. Airing completely out of order, even still, episodes are out of order on Hulu.
Also, its network (ABC) put minimal effort into its publicity and marketing. Even switching time slots multiple times confusing die-hard fans.

Though it’s been years its cancellation is still mourned by fans, myself included.
However, its love and devotion from the fans are what helped make the show achieve cult status. For that reason, the gang came together in 2016 for a “lost episode”.

Still lamenting the show, I came up with my now annual fall tradition of rewatching via Hulu. Now, three years later, I still celebrate by binge-watching because that’s what Max would want.

The pilot (promo below) follows six post-collegiate Chicago friends who try to keep the gang together after a sudden change of heart that sends a ripple effect within the core group. Specifically, carefree Alex Kerkovich leaves Dave Rose jilted at the altar which certainly complicates the friendship as a group.

Get to know the characters below.

Gif courtesy of Giphy.

Commencing with the responsible nice guy, Dave Rose (Zachary Knighton).
He’s the jilted groom that’s one-sixteenth Navajo. Also, Dave’s addicted to V-necks and sangria. Always saying outdated pop culture references and thinks of himself a cool dude, he’s not but he’s adorable.
While down on his luck, Dave turns things around for himself by quitting his zombie-like office job in favor of his dream. A food truck owner.

Dave’s ex-fiance Alex Kerkovich (Elisha Cuthbert), is the flighty and tad ditzy bbq rib loving runaway bride.
However, the tiny charmer is ride or die for her friends.
As well as trying to help Max by becoming his beard, she sets her ex (Dave) up on a date, and she pretends to be a lesbian to help Penny out in a white lie. Alex even Keyser Söze’d her way out of a prank war. While she may be slower to get some jokes but she’s no dummy.

Gif courtesy of Giphy.

Of course, we can’t forget Alex’s uptight control freak bisexual sister Jane Kerkovich-Williams (Eliza Coupe). Also known as the black widow, she’s a successful business shark version of Monica Geller and also Brad’s wifey.
Notably, she’s the “mother” of the group except when drunk and turns into a Creole riverboat captain straight outta True Blood.
Although Jane’s mostly in charge, her husband Brad Williams (Damon Wayans Jr) is the heart of the relationship.

Gif courtesy of Giphy.

Brad’s the king of spa services and is the goofy sexually fluid Gilmore Girl loving self-care indulgent. He loves fancy cheese and chillaxing in his tracksuits.
He and Jane share a penchant for things like regular spa treatments, charcuterie boards, scheming, and kinky sex.
Additionally, all three guys are best friends but Brad is Max’s best bro. Max and Brad have excellent comedic chemistry, they’re even Boyz II Menorah.

Gif courtesy of Giphy.

Incidentally, this leads us to Max Blum (Adam Pally) the group’s loveable self-destructive Lost Boy who was in a Chicago-based all-male Madonna cover band. He loves pop culture, binge eating, and binge-watching.
Furthermore, Max is the aforementioned “straight guy who likes dudes,” Max’s is a trailblazer in the character sense. He’s the antithesis of what tv shows have always shown gay characters to be, the overly exaggerated cartoon-like stereotypes of gay men. For instance, he’s a hairy and horny bear cub who’s also a sports bro, he loves the Chicago Bears.
Also, Max is besties with Penny who is his female counterpart.

Penelope Hartz (Casey Wilson) is the fast-talking PR exec and hopeless romantic looking for love in all the wrong places.
She’s got a flair for the dramatics and love for breaking out in dance, abbreviations, The Real Housewives, and home shopping network. While Penny’s an OG basic bitch that doesn’t make her boring. If I had to think of someone she’s like think a more aggressive and clumsy Jonathan Van Ness, yet equally as delightful and just as vivacious.

Accordingly, the result is a hilarious meta concoction overflowing with plenty of chemistry among the gang, it’s what always brings fans back to the series. Plenty of knifelike fast remarks, kooky characters, and recurring comedic darlings.
As well as its astute quick-fire pop-culture references were unlike that of any other series, making it breeze easily in the gang.

In short, Happy Endings has the mystique. Its self-aware humor embraces heartwarming moments simultaneously making fun of quirky rom-com scenarios of movies or even shows from its network.

Alas, the memorable moments of hilarity and chemistry are what gave the show its magic to live on post-mortem. While the show was gone too soon, it lives on thanks to Hulu giving it life and making fans (like myself) happy to re-live its wonder.