‘Throwback' Netflix comedy is addictive viewing despite a ‘terrible' first episode
Netflix has just unveiled the debut season of a fresh sitcom that's got critics buzzing - though it stumbles with a rather lacklustre first episode.
The show features comedian Leanne Morgan, who shot to fame in her 50s following her 2023 Netflix comedy special, playing a fictionalised version of herself as her world gets turned upside down.
After her longtime husband Bill (played by Ryan Stiles) drops the bombshell that he's ditching her for someone younger, Leanne refuses to roll over and begins rebuilding her existence as a newly single mother.
Joining her journey are Leanne's chaotic sister Carol (Kristen Johnston), who's been through two divorces, her perfect son Tyler (Graham Rogers), and her wayward daughter Josie (Hannah Pilkes).
Leanne also finds herself caring for her elderly parents - the steadfast Daddy John (Blake Clark) and sweet Mama Margaret (Celia Weston), reports the Mirror US.
Co-created by Morgan alongside The Big Bang Theory's Chuck Lorre, the series titled Leanne has the potential to become Netflix's most successful original comedy in years, provided viewers persevere through the rocky start.
The Guardian's review cautions that despite the show's endearing lead, the series suffers from "terribly written" scripts, with the opening episode proving particularly cringe-worthy.
"It is best to be upfront about these things and say that the opening episode is bad," they wrote. "Worse than you've just assumed when I said 'bad'. Gone is the lightness of touch, the consummate ease, the subtly immaculate timing of her stage show; instead, we have a leaden script punctuated by a desperate laughter track, and a one-note performance by Morgan."
Yet, despite initially criticising the programme's wobbly start, the critique eventually acknowledged that the debut series transforms into a soothing 22-minute escape.
"And once your expectations are suitably lowered, it takes on a charm of its own," the review continued.
"The colours are bright. The multi-camera format reminds you of happier, simpler times from your youth. Morgan and Johnston are in almost every scene and have comedy chops that can overcome even the most defiantly second- and third-tier writing and reward your viewing investment with glimmers of merriment. It starts to take on a rosy hue."
Watch Stranger Things on Netflix for free with Sky
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
from £15
Sky
Get the deal here
Product Description
The programme has also garnered acclaim from publications such as Variety, who described it as "a heaping plate of Southern charm with a side of mid-life reinvention".
"I may not be the target audience for Leanne, but I found much to like in it, and suspect many Netflix subscribers will as well," they praised.
The Hollywood Reporter also commended the show's gentle wit, noting: "That its throwback sensibility mostly comes off as classic rather than hoary is a testament to the competence of the seasoned cast and crew, as well as to Morgan's confident lead turn.
"It helps, too, that the episodes never overstay their welcome, clocking in at around 20 minutes each in an era when 'half-hour' streaming comedies have a habit of ballooning into 40-minute run times."
Viewers who enjoy family comedies like The Conners or laid-back sitcoms such as Superstore should certainly give Leanne a go for some light-hearted laughs on a relaxed morning.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
17 minutes ago
- Metro
I have to warn you after watching 'heart-stabbing' Netflix film My Oxford Year
Netflix has just released a new film that has fan up in arms about its ending, questioning its classification as a rom-com – and I'm afraid to say, is also just a bit crap. Fans have swarmed social media to reveal they are 'speechless', 'devastated' and generally crying their eyes out over the movie, while others have taken it to task for being 'so boring' and leaving them 'feeling nothing' for any other characters. And I wholeheartedly agree. Not only does My Oxford Year take a very long time to introduce any stakes, but before we get there it's a painful watch for British fans not particularly interested in the film's tourist porn shots of the titular city and university. And while they do at least cast English actors in English parts (Corey Mylchreest, Dougray Scott, Catherine McCormack), some of the schmaltz could not more obviously point to American involvement – we just don't mix well with unnecessarily twinkling and dramatic music underscoring even the most mundane of teaching scenes. Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. The 'rom-com', loosely based on the book by American author Julia Whelan, who attended Oxford herself, concerns ambitious working-class New Yorker Anna (Sofia Carson), who is attending the University of Oxford to study Victorian poetry as a postgraduate. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video While there she falls for charming local Jamie (Queen Charlotte's Mylchreest), who also happens to be teaching her classes, and the pair begin a very tedious, chemistry-free flirtationship before a secret he's been hiding threatens their burgeoning romance. (Also warning you that, despite Bridgerton raising our expectations in this department, there are no steamy sex scenes to be found here, and even their tiringly clichéd kiss in the rain gave me nothing.) *Spoilers ahead for My Oxford Year* This is where My Oxford Year takes a sharp left into cancerbait territory, revealing that Jamie is doomed to succumb to an unspecified form of the disease, just like his late brother, despite looking and acting like the healthiest, liveliest rake in the room – plus, y'know, Mylchreest. Obviously, they are reminding us that not everyone fatally ill looks or acts that way (and nor should they have to), but it's a clumsily made point when the film decides to give Mylchreest his first topless scene while receiving chemotherapy. And then they belatedly whack out the greyish face make-up for one scene later on. My Year at Oxford's ending reveals that Jamie does indeed die after catching a critical case of pneumonia, sharing the news surprisingly subtly as Anna lies in bed with Jamie, narrating the stops of the grand European tour they intended to go on. While the montage initially shows the couple happily together exploring Amsterdam, Venice, Paris and the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion in Greece, the camera then swings around to reveal Anna on her own taking the trip instead – and fine, yes, okay, I got a little burning behind the eyes at this, but it is not a high bar to pass for a film to manipulate me intro crying. It proved even more emotionally effective for others though. 'Did I finish the movie or did the movie finish me?' asked fan Agnes on X over My Oxford Year's traumatic conclusion. 'Thought I was signing up for a chill romantic movie with a few clichés. Instead, My Oxford Year wrecked me emotionally, stabbed me in the heart and walked away like nothing happened. That ending?? RUDE. Yeah. I'm not okay. Not even a little bit,' ranted user @_httpSea_, echoing a lot of the shocked reaction to the film. 'My Oxford Year is the biggest Trojan horse ever seen. I thought I was watching a silly romcom and I just got depressed with the ending of it,' tweeted @JENNIEDEMIE. 'Why did nobody warn me that it ended like that and why am I bawling over a movie I thought would be a cute and silly rom com,' complained Lily-Rose, while Mel shared: 'Netflix really thought the book My Oxford Year wasn't sad enough, so they proceed to change the ending to send us in therapy.' Critics have not been kind to My Oxford Year, with it sitting at a dismal 29% on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes at the time of publication. Collider criticised it for having the 'plot and character development out of a Wattpad novel written by a 15-year-old One Direction fan', while The New York Times called it 'a limp attempt at being this generation's About Time'. 'An uninspired yet competently assembled trifle,' mused The Guardian's two-star review, with critic Benjamin Lee saying the cancer twist will be 'met with a sigh of disappointment' for being so hackneyed. Other viewers agreed, with one saying it was 'pretty pointless' and another that it was 'worse than mediocre'. Noga E described it as 'a painful failure' in comparison to the book while Nina B complained: 'There's no spark, no soul – just two hours of hollow stares and fake chemistry.' 'It's as if A Walk to Remember and Me Before You had a very, very odd cousin that no one wants to hang out with,' added Teresita G. I knew what I was in for when the film mentioned how much it rains in the UK after barely a minute, and Carson began her narration as Anna by quoting poet Henry David Thoreau. Literature references are always the sign of an overly earnest film as you'd never catch a normal human going around quoting poetry, including out loud and at somebody (which also happens later in the film) to make a comparison, even if you were studying it at university (and I did). More Trending That sort of thing is far too intense and emotional, control yourself… which I guess may prove the film's point about British people being repressed and not wanting to talk about their feelings, which is what drives a wedge between Jamie and his father, played by Scott. So I'll give it that, I guess. My Oxford Year is streaming now on Netflix. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Netflix fans declare 'weekend is sorted' as addictive TV series drops 6 new episodes MORE: 17,000,000 Netflix users risk £1,000 fine for watching WWE SummerSlam MORE: 'I'm a TV critic – I'm convinced Netflix's August thriller will blow me away'
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow made millions from filming of TV and movies
Shetland, the Buccaneers and US film, The Running Man, were among productions hosted in the city. The figures released in a council paper come as Glasgow's Bothwell Street is currently transformed into New York to film Spider-Man: Brand New Day. (Image: Filming for season two of The Buccaneers - an 1890s New York drama - took place in Glasgow) Explaining more about the film industry in the city, a council paper said: 'Glasgow hosted 140 productions in 2024 resulting in an estimated local expenditure of £33 million. Noted productions of scale included Shetland (S9), the second series of Apple TV's The Buccaneers, BBC's The Bombing of Pan Am 103, Sky's Lockerbie: A search for Truth and US feature film The Running Man.' It added: 'We will continue to work with our colleagues in NRS (the council's neighbourhoods, regeneration and sustainability department) to provide a free service to productions. 2025 brings three large scale studio features to the city for location filming and several UK TV series basing their production office and crewing up out of Glasgow.' Glasgow City Council has made a committment to 'ensure that the growth and success of Glasgow's film and [[TV]] industry contributes to the local economy with local business, training, and employment opportunities.' It is working on ongoing actions to to 'support film and TV production in the city' and 'promote sustainability within the screen sector in Glasgow.' The efforts form part of the council's mission to 'support the growth of an innovative, resilient and net zero carbon economy' under its 'Grand Challenge Two' policy to 'increase opportunity and prosperity for all our citizens' alongside a wide range of other work to try and improve people's lives. Details on the council's strategic plan performance relating to Grand Challenge 2 is to be presented at next week's operational performance and delivery scrutiny committee.
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
5 must-watch Netflix documentaries that are guaranteed to make your jaw drop
These documentaries should be added to you to watch list Netflix fans have an abundance of TV series and films to watch this weekend, from new releases like Happy Gilmore 2 and Untamed to old favourites. Whether you are looking for something more light-hearted and fun or something that will have you gripping the edge of your seats, there is something for everyone. The weekend is the perfect chance to binge watch, so if you are looking for something new to add to your watch pile, we have put together five documentaries that have had people talking this week, including a horrifying missing persons case to a social media frenzy. Trainwreck: Storm Area 51 The Trainwreck anthology has been a hit with fans as it explores the biggest and most bizarre events that made headlines in mainstream media. From tragic festivals and political scandals, the series has shown it all. But the latest and final instalment has been branded a must watch as it investigates the Storm Area 51 frenzy that went viral. In 2019, 20-year-old Matty Roberts sparked a worldwide sensation by creating a Facebook event titled 'Storm Area 51, They Can't Stop All of Us'. The aim was to infiltrate the secret Air Force base in Nevada and uncover its supposed hidden secrets, from government trials to alien technologies. With millions of people expressing their interest, law enforcement agencies were on edge. Released on July 29, fans have branded it "insane. On TikTok, one user commented that the "story is wild" as another said they will "stop what I'm currently watching to watch this." Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam tapes This three part series has been branded as "craziness" as one true crime fan said on TikTok it is one "you do not want to miss". Released on Netflix on July 30, The Son of Sam Tapes transports viewers into one of the NYPD's greatest manhunts in New York City. David Berkowitz, also known as the Son of Sam and the .44 Caliber Killer, is an American serial killer who was convicted of murdering six people. Now, this true crime documentary investigates the disturbing mind of the murderer himself. Netflix teases: "Newly unearthed recordings offer rare insight into his twisted psyche, revealing what was going through his mind as he unleashed a reign of terror in the late 1970s. Alongside first-hand accounts from cops, journalists, and survivors, the series unpacks how fear spread through the streets, fuelled by cryptic letters, a frenzied press, and a killer who seemed to be everywhere and nowhere at once." And fans cannot get enough of the true crime docuseries. One person wrote on X: "Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes may be one of their best true crime docu-series." Amy Bradley is Missing This heart-breaking documentary explores the disappearance of Amy Bradley who went missing without a trace in 1998 while on a Caribbean cruise with her family. The documentary features footage of her last known moments, dancing in the ship's nightclub with a cruise entertainer before returning to her cabin. It also explores her final sighting which was by her father on their balcony early morning. He later woke to find her missing, and the mystery to this day remains unsolved. The documentary has gripped fans who are taking to social media to share their thoughts and theories on what may have happened as viewers say they are "adding to their watch list". One person wrote on X: "If y'all into true crime docs Amy Bradley is Missing on Netflix is a must watch!" Another added: "That Amy Bradley is missing documentary is haunting on Netflix. The forensics on the photographs matched and there were convincing witness statements who saw her. FBI should have done more to track her down. She was alive!" Critical: Between Life and Death Critical: Between Life and Death aired on Netflix on July 23 but has quickly become a firm favourite for documentary fans. It tracks London's trauma units as they face harrowing, real life situations and save lives. From multiple traumas to life or death operations, the show is said to not be for those who have a weak stomach. The six-part series features surgeons, emergency crews and victims and their families as they recount the terrifying incidents as well as tense moments within the health service. From the Makers of 24 Hours in A&E, the show features exclusive access in London's trauma hospitals over 21 days and across 40 cameras as "every second counts". And despite noting the "gory" nature of the documentary, fans are loving it. "This one is REALLY graphic...I think a tad more than 24 Hours in A&E...I'll still watch, behind my fingers sometimes," one person wrote. Another penned: "This is brilliant. Binge watching it." Fit for TV: Reality of the Biggest Loser Although not released yet, Fit for TV: Reality of the Biggest Loser has fans talking on social media as anticipation for it is high. The documentary will be released on Netflix on August 15. Fit for TV: Reality of the Biggest Loser will be a three-part documentary exploring the making of the hit reality TV competition, The Biggest Loser. Featuring exclusive interviews with former contestants, it will also explore the show's approach to extreme body transformations. Netflix teases: "The series explores how the experience shaped the lives of those involved with the show long after the cameras stopped rolling and invites viewers to reflect on the balance between entertainment and well-being, and what it truly means to pursue lasting change." Fans are already having their say. One person on TikTok said: "I've been waiting to see the repercussions of this show." Another added: "Already set my reminder! We've needed this for years."
