Difficult People Information

Difficult People is an American comedy 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 Hulu on August 5, 2015, and the second season premiered on July 12, 2016.

On October 17, 2016, Hulu renewed the series for a 10-episode third season, which premiered on August 8, 2017.

Cast

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 (season 2-, recurring season 1), Billy's co-worker, whom he despises.
• Shakina Nayfack as Lola (season 3-, recurring season 2), a co-worker at the cafe where Billy works

Recurring

• Derrick Baskin as Nate, co-owner with his wife Denise of the cafe where Billy works
• Gabourey Sidibe as Denise, co-owner with her husband Nate of the cafe where Billy works
• Tracee Chimo as Gaby, Arthur's boss
• Fred Armisen as Garry Epstein, Billy's brother
• Jackie Hoffman as Rachel Epstein, Garry's wife
• John Cho as Todd, Billy's boyfriend.

Guest stars

• Martin Short as himself
• Nate Corddry as Brian Walsh, Julie's high school crush
• Kate McKinnon as Abra Cadouglas, a former alcoholic turned magician
• John Benjamin Hickey as Fred, a date of Billy's who turns out to be a "participator"
• Maria Thayer as Nicole, a psychology student who Marilyn idolizes
• 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
• Ana Gasteyer as a woman with damaged eyebrows who Julie and Billy meet at a diner
• Seth Meyers as a conman who hooks up with Billy
• Kathie Lee Gifford as herself
• Esther Povitsky as Cissy Donato, a millennial nuisance
• Debbie Harry as a mysterious woman
• Tina Fey as herself
• Sandra Bernhard as Lilith Feigenbaum
• John Mulaney as Cecil Jellford, a date of Billy's who turns out to be an "old-timey"
• Nathan Lane as himself
• Austin Pendleton as the director of a children's TV series
• Nyle DiMarco as Doug, Billy's deaf date
• John Early as Mickey, Doug's interpreter
• Lin-Manuel Miranda as himself
• Mink Stole as one of Marilyn's patients
• Luann de Lesseps as herself
• Sonja Morgan as herself
• Kate Pierson as herself
• Jessica Walter as Henry's Mom
• Tony Hale as himself
• Amy Poehler as Flute, the Doula and Healologist

Production

In May 2014, it was announced that Billy Eichner and Julie Klausner would star in a pilot for USA Network, with Klausner penning the script and Andrew Fleming directing. Amy Poehler would executive produce under Universal Cable Productions, with Dave Becky also executive producing under his 3 Arts banner, and Michele Armor of Marobru also executive producing. That same month it was announced that Rachel Dratch, Andrea Martin, James Urbaniak, and Tracee Chimo had all been cast in the series, with Martin portraying Klausner's mother. In November 2014, Hulu had acquired the series, with a straight-to-series order. In March 2015, Gabourey Sidibe and Cole Escola were cast in recurring roles.

In March 2017, John Cho joined the cast of the series.

Episodes

Series overview

Season		Episodes	Originally aired
			First aired	Last aired
	1	8
	2	10
	3	10

Season 1 (2015)

| ShortSummary = Billy and Julie come up with an entrepreneurial scheme to sell bottled library water-fountain water and Julie gets in trouble for a controversial tweet. | LineColor = FFDB01 }}

| ShortSummary = Julie seeks out an old high-school crush and brings him to bed with her and Arthur. Meanwhile, Billy finds a father figure in Denise's husband, Nate. | LineColor = FFDB01 }}

| ShortSummary = Billy hits it off with a new man, only to find out he is a "participator". Meanwhile, Julie's home-life crumbles as Arthur cracks under the pressure of the PBS pledge drive. | LineColor = FFDB01 }}

| ShortSummary = Billy visits his very Jewish brother for Yom Kippur dinner and Julie attempts to befriend a veteran to prove to Marilyn's surrogate daughter that she is charitable. | LineColor = FFDB01 }}

| ShortSummary = While Billy's boss is out of town, Billy and Julie overhaul the caf menu with children's cuisine at adult prices. | LineColor = FFDB01 }}

| ShortSummary = Billy and Julie prepare a portfolio for a writing job, but find it easier to procrastinate than write. | LineColor = FFDB01 }}

| ShortSummary = Billy and Julie decide to create their own podcast, but it proves more difficult than anticipated; Billy has some unexpected fun at the indoor dog park. | LineColor = FFDB01 }}

| ShortSummary = Julie and Billy book a gig at The Cutting Room, but Billy's newfound obligation to family threatens to compromise their big break. | LineColor = FFDB01 }} }}

Season 2 (2016)

| ShortSummary = Julie tries to fit in with a group of powerful TV writers as Billy attempts to get used to being his rich boyfriend's (John Mulaney) kept man; Marilyn creates a video will. | LineColor = 8DB600 }}

| ShortSummary = Billy and Julie try to create their own version of the ice bucket challenge in hopes of becoming famous. | LineColor = 8DB600 }}

| ShortSummary = Mistaken perceptions about heritage and sexual orientation leads to Julie and Billy living double lives in New Jersey. | LineColor = 8DB600 }}

| ShortSummary = Time alone become elusive after Julie is caught watching porn and Billy's brother (Fred Armisen) moves in with him. | LineColor = 8DB600 }}

| ShortSummary = Problems at Billy's apartment lead to him staying with Marilyn; a misunderstanding results in Julie landing a part on a TV show. | LineColor = 8DB600 }}

| ShortSummary = As her birthday gets closer, Julie discovers that she enjoys her mom's company when they are drinking; Billy tries to date a guy he met through an app. | LineColor = 8DB600 }}

| ShortSummary = Inspired by the success of Hamilton, Billy and Julie want to write and star in their own historical musical. | LineColor = 8DB600 }}

| ShortSummary = Billy and Julie gain their first famous fan, who tries to help them sell a sketch show to a TV network. | LineColor = 8DB600 }}

| ShortSummary = When Julie gets sick and Billy is cast in a children's TV show, they jeopardize their chance at becoming fashion elites. | LineColor = 8DB600 }}

| ShortSummary = Julie writes a personal essay about 9/11 that is optioned for a movie; Billy helps with preparations for Matthew's wedding. | LineColor = 8DB600 }} }}

Season 3 (2017)

| ShortSummary = Julie and Billy get community service after disrupting the CBS live presentation of Bazinga in the Park with George. Julie gets a new meditation app when she is denied antidepressants to survive her family's Passover seder. Billy gets a job as a warmup comic for Larry Wilmore's new show. | LineColor =FF4AC3 }}

| ShortSummary = Julie gets cast in Woody Allen's new Amazon TV series. Billy and Marilyn get involved in Mike Pence's gay conversion program. Matthew's ex-wife (Vanessa Williams) visits. | LineColor = FF4AC3 }}

| ShortSummary = Julie decides she has an addiction to her mother, and treats it by joining AA. Billy helps his sister-in-law Rachel exorcise a Jewish demon from her basement. Arthur experiences frustration in the bedroom and at work, and takes both into his own hands. | LineColor =FF4AC3 }}

| ShortSummary = Alone for the weekend, Julie hires a creepy handyman (Chris Elliott) who overstays his welcome. Meanwhile, Billy feuds with an advertising exec (John Cho), and Marilyn gets a book deal from a patient's mother (Lucy Liu). | LineColor = FF4AC3 }}

| ShortSummary = Julie gets a sketchy Botox treatment that freezes her face in a smile. She's amazed by how much better people treat her and attempts to exploit that. | LineColor = FF4AC3 }}

| ShortSummary = Julie and Arthur stumble into sexual roleplay, while Billy worries he"?s been miscast as a supportive spouse at Todd"?s work parties. Meanwhile, Julie"?s dogs become social media stars without Julie"?s consent, and Marilyn re-unites with a former lover (John Turturro) from her free-spirited youth. | LineColor = FF4AC3 }}

| ShortSummary = Lifelong dreams come true when Julie gets hired to write on a TV show, Micky Dolenz answers Billy"?s childhood fan letter, and Marilyn throws herself a Bat Mitzvah. | LineColor = FF4AC3 }}

| ShortSummary = Julie "Yes And"?s"? her way into a corner with her former improv teammates and ends up being caught in a significant lie. Billy and Todd can"?t fall asleep in the same bed together. Meanwhile, Arthur uncovers a secret at work, and Marilyn and Matthew bond. | LineColor = FF4AC3 }}

| ShortSummary = Julie considers trading her showbiz dreams for a life of happy crafting as Billy sickens of New York City. Arthur is over his job, and Marilyn experiences writer"?s block. Meanwhile a visit from Lola"?s sorority may hold the answer to all of their problems. | LineColor = FF4AC3 }}

| ShortSummary = Billy moves to Los Angeles with Julie's help. Marilyn writes a best-selling memoir, also with Julie's help. Changes at the cafe include a new waiter, and eventually, new ownership. Arthur's office in Florida meets an untimely demise. | LineColor = FF4AC3 }} }}

Reception

Difficult People has 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. 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".