ICYMI: Grab at Stool and Relax at Happy's Place

ICYMI: Grab a Stool and Relax at Happy’s Place

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NBC has hit the bullseye with Happy’s Place, a comedy that’s infused with the same charm, wit, and humor that made The WB’s Reba a hit—and that also just so happens to star the ever-talented Reba McEntire, The series follows Bobbie (McEntire) as she becomes the owner of her recently deceased father Happy’s bar—she’s worked there for the last decade as a manager—where she and her friends/employees work together to keep his legacy alive. Just as Reba began with the red-haired dynamo’s life going topsy-turvy after her husband’s affair, the Happy’s Place pilot yanks the rug out from under Bobbie, and Happy’s legacy is immediately put in jeopardy. It’s revealed that twentysomething Isabella (Belissa Escobedo) is Happy’s long-lost daughter, the product of an affair with whom he had no interaction afterward. Worse, he included Isabella in his will, leaving her a 50% share of ownership interest in the bar.

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As the women attempt to come to terms with this dramatic turn of fate, make peace with who their father was, and bond as sisters, newcomer Isabella leads the audience into the familial hijinks, hilarious shenanigans, and lighthearted yet emotional conflicts the employees of Happy’s Place share, whether or not they’re on the clock. And with another season premiering on NBC in November, now is the perfect time to catch up on Happy’s Place.

To kickstart Happy’s Place, the series leans into the ever-present nostalgia for simpler times that aches inside us all. Joining McEntire as a series regular is fellow Reba alum Melissa Peterman, whose character Gabby doesn’t stray too far from the notorious Barbra Jean. Gabby’s loud, often says things that are a little out there, and makes interesting decisions, like buying a doll that uses artificial intelligence to test whether she’s ready to be a mom. That said, the closest quality the two characters share is that they are both utterly desperate to be the leading lady’s best friend. Thankfully, in the case of Bobbie and Gabby, there isn’t such a divide between them, leading to a much less complicated dynamic filled with playful jabs and other teasing. Of course, as you can imagine, Isabella’s blossoming sisterhood with Bobbie makes Gabby extremely envious, leading to multiple sidesplitting scenes throughout the first season’s 18 episodes.

In addition to these three exceptional ladies, the fantastic ensemble is rounded out by Emmett (Rex Linn), Takoda (Tokala Black Elk), and Steve (Pablo Castelblanco). Emmett, the bar’s fry cook, is the typical no-nonsense older gentleman, frequently saying “I’m out” and walking back to the kitchen when the others start acting up. Played by McEntire’s real-life beau, the pair’s chemistry translates easily to the screen as sparks fly between Bobbie and Emmett, an attraction that’s complicated by their shared but unspoken (to each other) fear of ruining their years-long friendship if things don’t work out between them. Steve is the bar’s full-time accountant, working from his computer at the bar, often wrapped up in childish conflict with bartender Gabby from their near-constant proximity. And, if he’s not actively fighting with Gabby, then he and Isabella are going at each other instead. Steve also struggles with intense obsessive-compulsive disorder, which is frequently used to deliver funny moments and lines, but is handled with surprisingly careful consideration.

As for Takoda, he’s a proud Native American man, married with several children, and is probably the kindest and most thoughtful character on television, constantly concerned with how others are feeling and the potential impact of any situation on his loved ones. Unfortunately, he’s probably the character who is given the least individual focus within the world of the show, something which certainly needs to change moving forward. Nonetheless, Happy’s Place has created beautiful dynamics and special relationships between all members of the ensemble, truly living up to its claim that they’re a family.

The group may tease each other, but it never feels like their humor comes at one another’s expense (unless that is purposeful). They’re respectful and supportive of what the others are dealing with, offering a lifeline through Steve’s journey with OCD or Isabella’s coming to terms with Happy’s absence throughout her life as she learns the conflicting truth about what a great man everyone who knew him believed him to be. Similarly, despite Bobbie’s memory of her late and beloved father being shattered, she offers Isabella’s mother, Maritza (Justina Machado), grace and doesn’t push to learn the truth about Maritza’s affair with Happy, instead choosing to help mend the fractured relationship between mother and daughter. In short, while the comedy is there and laudable, Happy’s Place (like Reba) shines brightest through the deep, emotional elements interwoven throughout its stories.

Overall, Happy’s Place is a must-watch. It’s a perfectly cheerful and easy distraction from real-life problems, separating itself from the world at large and existing solely in the characters’ little corner of Tennessee, where kindness and compassion are a given and judgment and shame are not. Despite McEntire and Peterman both being comedic powerhouses and possessing an almost palpable familiarity and ease when working together, the supporting cast members prove themselves repeatedly, and every character has something to offer as a result. Plus, Reba alums Steve Howey and Christopher Rich both make guest appearances, so we’re a couple of steps closer to a full-fledged Hart family reunion.

Jay Snow is a freelance writer and TV critic. For more of his thoughts on television and to find his other work, follow him on Bluesky: @snowyjay.

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ICYMI: Grab a Stool and Relax at Happy’s Place