Fans of the Neil Patrick Harris show Uncoupled were dismayed to hear last month that Netflix was not commissioning a second season.
However, it appears the comedy-drama has found a new home with Showtime.
Uncoupled was created by Darren Star (Sex In The City, Emily In Paris) and Jeffrey Richman. The first season debuted last summer. It starred Neil Patrick Harris as a 40-something gay man who is dumped by his long-term partner (Tuc Watkins).
Harris’s character, Michael, then had to navigate dealing with the grief of his relationship ending, and dating again on the NYC gay scene.
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Deadline reports big changes at Showtime, soon to be renamed ‘Paramount + with Showtime’, led to the good news.
New Showtime boss Chris McCarthy recently outlined three main content streams. One of these is “Metro Cultures” which covers “culturally diverse takes” like The L Word and Lena Waithe’s The Chi. Both shows have loyal followings, and Showtime wants more LGBTQ+ content to ensure those viewers stick around for the rest of the year. Uncoupled will fall under this umbrella.
Showtime’s other content streams will cover ‘Complex Characters’ (i.e. Dexter and Yellowjackets), and ‘Powerful Worlds (such as the show Billions).
Although Showtime is picking up Uncoupled, its evolution under parent company Paramount also resulted in several cancellations. It recently axed American Gigolo and Let The Right One In.
Deadline suggests the move to Showtime will see an “edgier and racier” Uncoupled than the Netflix incarnation of the show.
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I watched the entire first season. Had very high expectations as the show has some major comedy pedigree. I contend they have casting problems: just because the characters are older, it doesn’t mean we don’t want some eye candy! Plus, NPH is not a sympathetic actor, often coming off as smug and entitled. Where were Luke Evans, Jonathan Groff, Cheyenne Jackson, Matt Bomer, Scott Evans, Matt Wilkas, Russell Tovey, Lee Pace, Murray Bartlett, Luke McFarlane, Wilson Cruz, Ricky Martin or Wentworth Miller when they were casting this thing?
Haven’t found myself thinking about it or missing it in the interim.
NPH wasn’t the problem. The problem was that all of the characters were unrelatable rich guys who lived in ridiculously large apartments in NYC and that the writers never took the feelings of these men seriously. NPH recovered from the breakup awfully fast and Brooks Ashmanask’s character was never treated seriously.
I think even with the social strata of these men, a partner leaving you in your 50s in a gay world where older gay meant become invisible or only ATM machines could be a really moving story but within one episode he was hooking up with Gille Marini.
Speaking of which, Gille Marini, Tuc Watkins, Emerson Brooks, Dan Amboyer, Peter Porte, David Gregory… Eye candy wasn’t absent.
It’s interesting that so many gay viewers have a problem with the characters being mostly “rich and unreliable”. That didn’t seem to be a problem for women – or the many, many gay viewers – of Sex and the City. Why is this different?
I would suspect the difference is 20 years. The reboot of Sex in the City didn’t set any worlds on fire. Uncoupled was a shallow show when a show on the same subject with some depth–even if the characters were still rich would have been better. They may be rich but they don’t have to be unrelatable.
Personally, if I had the choice to watch a show about rich gays or poor gays, I’d go with the rich. Better costumes, better settings, better grooming, better culinary sequences, better education/wit, more leisure time to pursue romantic aims – what’s not to like?
Rich was not the problem. It was being rich and having everything and still being unhappy and whiney. Everything turned out bad. There were no silver linings or happy outcomes.
I guess I need to give Season 1 another try. I watched the first episode and just never got back to it. I didn’t hate it; I just wasn’t hooked. I probably should quit rewatching Smiley and move on. 🙂
Showtime should’ve gone for a Smiley second season as Netflix has yet to pick up. Or heck, go back to the Merli folks and ask for a Bruno spinoff. There’s something the Spaniards and the Catalans know about creating gay TV that our writers and directors don’t get.
Not to “yuck anyone’s yum”, but characters were pathetic and not reflective of mature gay men in their 40s or 50s– at least a pride-filled story worth a TV series. Storyline could have tackled mature explorations into any older LGBT persons who are seeking direction after a breakup! THAT would be a worthwhile series!!
I’m happy it’s back. I liked it and had no problem with the rich, New York life.
I’m an older gay man and can relate to the growing pains.
Good to hear there is another season.
I don’t think the characters had “growing pains.” They would have pains based on what the plot needed, not on how characters would react to this situation in real life.
Didn’t realise it was a comedy. Nothing on this show was reflective of the real gay lifestyle on NYC gays. Can’t say I would bother with the show if it gets a lifeline, just wasn’t anything or anyone on the show I found relatable.
I’ll be happy to give the series a shot. I was let down by Looking, QAF-USA and Cucumber/Banana, but I did like Heartstoppers, QAF-UK, Noah’s Arc, Sex Education and the few episodes I’ve managed to see of Love, Victor. I haven’t yet been able to check out It’s A Sin. And I’m sure there are other series that I’ve either forgotten or was never aware of.
I mentioned it in a comment above but I’m happy to spread the word as much as possible: I heartily recommend Smiley on Netflix. If you haven’t already, give it a look. It’s sweet and humorous and heartfelt. It’s honestly just about perfect. I want more gay content like THAT.
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LumpyPillows
Surprised it got saved. I found it a bit whiney. I will watch it though. NPH is good for it.
glennmcbride
I agree, it was whiney. A bunch of rich privileged white guys feeling sorry for themselves.
bachy
I watched the entire first season. Had very high expectations as the show has some major comedy pedigree. I contend they have casting problems: just because the characters are older, it doesn’t mean we don’t want some eye candy! Plus, NPH is not a sympathetic actor, often coming off as smug and entitled. Where were Luke Evans, Jonathan Groff, Cheyenne Jackson, Matt Bomer, Scott Evans, Matt Wilkas, Russell Tovey, Lee Pace, Murray Bartlett, Luke McFarlane, Wilson Cruz, Ricky Martin or Wentworth Miller when they were casting this thing?
Haven’t found myself thinking about it or missing it in the interim.
DBMC
NPH wasn’t the problem. The problem was that all of the characters were unrelatable rich guys who lived in ridiculously large apartments in NYC and that the writers never took the feelings of these men seriously. NPH recovered from the breakup awfully fast and Brooks Ashmanask’s character was never treated seriously.
I think even with the social strata of these men, a partner leaving you in your 50s in a gay world where older gay meant become invisible or only ATM machines could be a really moving story but within one episode he was hooking up with Gille Marini.
Speaking of which, Gille Marini, Tuc Watkins, Emerson Brooks, Dan Amboyer, Peter Porte, David Gregory… Eye candy wasn’t absent.
LumpyPillows
NPH is a plus for me. I think it was the writing. Hopefully they can fix it.
queerbec
Consider the source: Rich Hollywood producer…..Looks down his nose at poor gays…..assumes everyone else does too.
Joshooeerr
It’s interesting that so many gay viewers have a problem with the characters being mostly “rich and unreliable”. That didn’t seem to be a problem for women – or the many, many gay viewers – of Sex and the City. Why is this different?
dbmcvey
@ Joshooeerr
I would suspect the difference is 20 years. The reboot of Sex in the City didn’t set any worlds on fire. Uncoupled was a shallow show when a show on the same subject with some depth–even if the characters were still rich would have been better. They may be rich but they don’t have to be unrelatable.
bachy
@ Joshooeerr
Personally, if I had the choice to watch a show about rich gays or poor gays, I’d go with the rich. Better costumes, better settings, better grooming, better culinary sequences, better education/wit, more leisure time to pursue romantic aims – what’s not to like?
LumpyPillows
Rich was not the problem. It was being rich and having everything and still being unhappy and whiney. Everything turned out bad. There were no silver linings or happy outcomes.
bachy
Lumpy honey, rich or poor, it’s a sad fact of life on NETFLIX that nobody’s wishes come true in the first season.
inbama
It had fans?
Well, I guess David Burtka.
linedrive
I guess I need to give Season 1 another try. I watched the first episode and just never got back to it. I didn’t hate it; I just wasn’t hooked. I probably should quit rewatching Smiley and move on. 🙂
man5996853
I could just pause it on Carlos Cuevas and watch it for hours. I did, genuinely, love the show so that was just an added bonus.
bachy
Smiley was probably made on half the budget and was at least 10 times better.
inbama
Showtime should’ve gone for a Smiley second season as Netflix has yet to pick up. Or heck, go back to the Merli folks and ask for a Bruno spinoff. There’s something the Spaniards and the Catalans know about creating gay TV that our writers and directors don’t get.
Mark Behar
Not to “yuck anyone’s yum”, but characters were pathetic and not reflective of mature gay men in their 40s or 50s– at least a pride-filled story worth a TV series. Storyline could have tackled mature explorations into any older LGBT persons who are seeking direction after a breakup! THAT would be a worthwhile series!!
LilMesican
I’m happy it’s back. I liked it and had no problem with the rich, New York life.
I’m an older gay man and can relate to the growing pains.
Good to hear there is another season.
dbmcvey
I don’t think the characters had “growing pains.” They would have pains based on what the plot needed, not on how characters would react to this situation in real life.
Bob M
Totally agree . I enjoyed it too and it made a nice companion piece to And Just Like That…
cuteguy
This show was watchable unlike and just like crap
nm4047
Didn’t realise it was a comedy. Nothing on this show was reflective of the real gay lifestyle on NYC gays. Can’t say I would bother with the show if it gets a lifeline, just wasn’t anything or anyone on the show I found relatable.
bachy
They don’t have rich, smug, real estate c.unts in NYC? Coulda fooled me…
johncp56
Yes I have showtime I need me some good gay stuff fun funny sexy happyness
cuteguy
Omg this was announced on entertainment weekly LAST WEEK. Why did it take a lgbtq site a week longer to report lgbtq news?
theaterbloke
I’ll be happy to give the series a shot. I was let down by Looking, QAF-USA and Cucumber/Banana, but I did like Heartstoppers, QAF-UK, Noah’s Arc, Sex Education and the few episodes I’ve managed to see of Love, Victor. I haven’t yet been able to check out It’s A Sin. And I’m sure there are other series that I’ve either forgotten or was never aware of.
linedrive
I mentioned it in a comment above but I’m happy to spread the word as much as possible: I heartily recommend Smiley on Netflix. If you haven’t already, give it a look. It’s sweet and humorous and heartfelt. It’s honestly just about perfect. I want more gay content like THAT.