At once cynical and still in love with the glamor of show business, Difficult People puts a comedic target on absolutely everybody—celebrities, executives, and fans who love media as much as they hate it. Much of the series’ comedy comes from how its two protagonists (played with undeniable chemistry by Julie Klausner and Billy Eichner) constantly sabotage their own opportunities at success, as they get swallowed up in a self-cannibalizing ecosystem of fleeting trends and failed ideas. But even as Julie and Billy almost always come home defeated, there’s something touching about the unwavering strength of their friendship that gets them through each day. It’s an unexpected reminder of the real things and real people who are here now, laughing with us about the absurdity of it all.
"Not too many [post-Seinfeld sitcoms] are willing to really, truly commit and create unpleasant characters that you ultimately like because they're funny and make an art out of going too far."
— Matt Zoller Seitz
"Klausner and Eichner don't laugh at each others' jokes, but that's because they're fully committed to the bit. The world is their stage, and they refuse to break."
— Liz Shannon Miller
Life is really tough for Julie Kessler and Billy Epstein, two thirty-something aspiring comics living and working in New York City. While their friends and acquaintances move on to find success and love, they continue to struggle with careers and relationships, getting more bitter by the day.
