Leanne Morgan’s new comedy series is “Happy’s Place” adjacent.
Like Reba McEntire’s venture, “Leanne” relies heavily on its star and the one-liners she’s good at dishing out.
Here, she’s a middle-aged mom who discovers an empty nest is pretty empty. Thankfully, she has her sister (Kristen Johnston) to share a bottle or two and plenty of down-home charm.
Kristen Johnston, left, and Leanne Morgan try to make the most of a night out in "Leanne."
In short, it’s a harmless comedy that borrows from Morgan’s act and gives it a big ol’ plot twist — husband Bill is leaving her.
Before she gets a chance to wallow in menopause, she’s picking up the pieces of heartbreak. Morgan is good at playing the victim; often, though, she lowers her voice so much you can’t quite catch the punchline. Johnston follows her lead (almost too often) but knows how to sell a laugh. In time, the two should be perfect complements.
From left, Kristen Johnston as Carol, Annie Gonzalez as Nora, Blake Clark as Daddy John, Graham Rogers as Tyler, Hannah Pilkes as Josie and Leanne Morgan in "Leanne."
Now, however, they’re a two-woman support system (Johnston has relationship problems, too) that often results in a living room discussion fueled by wine.
Considering he’s the source of Leanne’s problems, husband Bill (Ryan Stiles) sure turns up a lot. He’s in the house in every episode (or what seems like every episode) looking for the kind of empathy Leanne doesn’t want to give.
Thanks to her parents (Celia Weston and Blake Clark), there are enough medical emergencies to keep Bill in the next-of-kin mix. There are children, too, (a strait-laced son and a much looser daughter) but they don’t get the attention they probably deserve.
Leanne's family often is at the heart of her dilemmas. From left, Blake Clark as Daddy John, Hannah Pilkes as Josie, Celia Weston as Mama Margaret, Graham Rogers as Tyler and Ryan Stiles as Bill in "Leanne."
Instead, much of “Leanne” revolves around the woman in question recalling the good ol’ days and how this is a difficult time in her life. McEntire has those moments, too, (particularly in “Reba,” which bears an even closer resemblance to this than “Happy’s Place”) but she never let them pull her down.
“Leanne,” frequently, wears like wet clothes. Morgan gets to make that pouty face, but each episode requires Johnston to be just a little worse in every situation. That suggests a “Mama’s Family” format until the show’s producers (Morgan is one of them) deal another wrinkle. That ups Leanne’s decision to get back in the dating pool and introduces Tim Daly as an FBI agent who could be the next Mr. Leanne.
While investigating a case, an FBI agent (Tim Daly) pays a call to Carol (Kristen Johnston) and Leanne (Leanne Morgan) in "Leanne."
All very simple, “Leanne" puts into play what Morgan describes on stage. The anecdotes wear well with others sharing the comedy but, too often, the star is left to reflect others’ glory.
Morgan should have been doing a series years ago (she's hilarious and blessed with great timing), but didn’t get the opportunity. Now that she has one, she should zip through the set-up years and talk about things facing her today. A series about a fifty-something standup comedian trying to make it in the business would be much more interesting than the virtues of a walk-in bathtub.
"Leanne" airs on Netflix beginning July 31.
