Why NBC’s Happy’s Place Had To End Reba McEntire’s 23-Year Sitcom Trope Explained By Producer

Reba McEntire looks annoyed in Big Sky with trees in the background

Happy’s Place will end Reba McEntire’s tired sitcom trope of 23 years, and the show’s producer, Kevin Abbott explains why. The Queen of Country Music will return on scripted network TV with a brand-new comedy this fall on NBC. The last time she was in this space was when she made an unexpected return as June in the Young Sheldon finale. While McEntire is not new to this format, having appeared in a number of sitcoms throughout the years, the story of Happy’s Place offers something new for the singer/actor.

Speaking with TV Insider, Abbott explains the reason behind setting Happy’s Place in a tavern as opposed to a family home. The producer has worked with McEntire before, also serving the same role in her famous sitcom, Reba. He also developed Malibu Country — McEntire’s shortlived comedy that followed. Having that connection, Abbott reveals that the shift in the environment is a conscious effort so they can do more adult storylines as compared to the old series.

It’s a pleasure to take everything that we have gone through in our lives, the growth that we’ve had, and continue to apply [that to stories]. It’s nice to do this at a tavern as opposed to [in] a family [setting] show because we’re both now at our stage where the kids are grown. It’s more interesting to us to do more adult stories — even though they are told for a family.

Can Happy’s Place Replicate The Success Of Reba?

Happy’s Place Is Very Different From McEntire’s Iconic Sitcom

Barbra Jean and Reba sitting on couch in Reba

McEntire’s Reba sitcom from the early 2000s made the singer a legend in the comedy space. In the show, she played the titular character who was on the heels of separating from her husband while also dealing with her teenage daughter getting married while pregnant. Throughout six seasons, she navigated her new life while also mysteriously maintaining a civil relationship with her ex-husband and extra-annoying new wife, Barbra Jean, played by Melissa Peterman. Reba was fun and family-friendly, and it remains a favorite in syndication and streaming services.

Happy’s Place being different may be a risk, but at this point, it’s best to offer something fresh to viewers rather than rehashing something that has been done before.

However, things are a bit different in McEntire’s new show. Happy’s Place will see Reba play Bobbie — the inheritor of her late father’s restaurant. What she doesn’t know is that she’ll have to run it with her half-sister who she didn’t know existed. Peterman is also part of the cast of Happy’s Place as Gabby, marking the pair’s small screen reunion. This time, the pair’s relationship is less complicated than the one they had in Reba. Add Abbott to the mix, and Happy’s Place has all the ingredients needed for success.

Admittedly, it’s still too early to say how it will be received. However, considering Malibu Country‘s failure, trying something new may be the key to McEntire’s successful comedy return. Happy’s Place being different may be a risk, but at this point, it’s best to offer something fresh to viewers rather than rehashing something that has been done before.

Source: TV Insider