The recent 2025 Emmy nominations shone a little light on an underappreciated HBO Max show — Somebody Somewhere.
Produced by Mark Duplass and Jay Duplass and starring Bridget Everett and Jeff Hiller, this emotionally intelligent comedy received two Emmy nods. (Hiller was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, and the series finale episode “AGG” was nominated for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series.)
Find out why Watch With Us loves this amazing series — and why you should watch it in July 2025.
It Puts Character Actors in Lead Roles
Somebody Somewhere follows Sam Miller (Everett), a self-deprecating woman who moves back to her hometown of Manhattan, Kansas, to care for her dying sister, Holly. The show picks up after Holly’s death, as Sam tries to figure out what to do with her life. She frequently comes into conflict with her other sister, Tricia (Mary Catherine Garrison), as well as her henpecked father, Ed (Mike Hagerty) and alcoholic mother, Mary Jo (Jane Drake Brody). But when Sam reconnects with old high school classmate Joel (Hiller), her world is opened up.
What’s really wonderful about Somebody Somewhere is how vibrantly real its characters feel. There’s not a “movie star” in sight. You’ve probably seen both Everett and Hiller in supporting roles for years, but this show puts them in the spotlight. Hollywood’s typical limited beauty standards mean only the world’s most beautiful people usually get to emote or play characters with arcs — but here, every character’s everyday beauty is honored and appreciated. Other standouts include drag king and comedian Murray Hill as Fred Rococo, a professor at the local university, and Tim Bagley as Brad, Joel’s eventual love interest.
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‘Somebody Somewhere’ Is a Sweet Ode to Small-Town Life
It’s often assumed that only big cities offer community for LGBTQIA+ people or those who don’t fit societal norms. Stereotypes typically paint small towns, especially in rural America, as small-minded. And it’s certainly true that Joel, who is gay, encounters some homophobia in Manhattan, Kansas — but the show focuses far more on the beautiful, supportive community Joel welcomes Sam into.
Joel hosts “Choir Practice” — a weekly gathering that welcomes people of all orientations and faiths to sing and connect. Sam’s decision to attend Choir Practice changes her whole trajectory — it redirects her from grief and isolation toward healing and community.
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The show is tender in its portrayal of Kansas farmland, small stores and churches. “Getting out” of the small town is never the goal — it’s simply to be comfortable and happy where you are. The show honors small-town life and paints it as a peaceful, worthy experience, serving as a welcome contrast to the majority of narratives about nonconformity in rural areas.
‘Somebody Somewhere’ Features One of TV’s Great Friendships
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Although both characters eventually pursue romantic relationships, the central bond of Somebody Somewhere is — without a doubt — between Sam and Joel. The two of them become each other’s “person,” offering support and challenging one another when it’s needed.
The love between them is what pulls Sam back to life when she’s drowning in grief — and it’s a reminder of the kind of friend we all need. Somebody Somewhere treats romance as a “nice-to-have” and friendship as essential. It’s a welcome attitude shift that we could all stand to remember.
Watch Somebody Somewhere on HBO Max.
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