Life & Beth is an American comedy-drama television series created by Amy Schumer, who also stars alongside Violet Young, Michael Cera, Yamaneika Saunders, Michael Rapaport, and Susannah Flood. The show premiered on Hulu on March 18, 2022.[1] In April 2022, the series was renewed for a ten-episode second season.[2] On February 16, 2024, the second season was released.[3] In July 2024, Hulu cancelled the series after two seasons.[4]
| Life & Beth | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Comedy drama |
| Created by | Amy Schumer |
| Starring | Amy Schumer Violet Young Michael Cera Susannah Flood |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 20 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Amy Schumer Kevin Kane Daniel Powell Ryan McFaul |
| Running time | 22–36 minutes |
| Production companies | It's So Easy Productions Irony Point Endeavor Content |
| Original release | |
| Network | Hulu |
| Release | March 18, 2022 – February 16, 2024 |
Premise
editThe series follows wine salesperson Beth who realizes that she is dissatisfied with her life when her mother unexpectedly dies. The storyline in season 2 involving Matt suddenly discovering he has a teenage daughter is partially based on a real-life event that happened to the actor playing Matt, Kevin Kane.[5]
Cast and characters
editMain
edit- Amy Schumer as Beth, a sales representative of a mid-size wine company in New York City who reassesses all her life decisions upon the death of her mother
- Violet Young as a young version of Beth
- Michael Cera as John, a farmhand who befriends Beth on one of her sales trips to rural Long Island
- Susannah Flood as Ann, Beth's younger sister
Recurring
edit- Yamaneika Saunders as Maya
- Michael Rapaport as Leonard
- Jon Glaser as Gerald
- Kevin Kane as Matt
- Laura Benanti as Jane
- Sas Goldberg as Jess
- Arielle Siegel as Jen
- Larry Owens as Clark
- Rosebud Baker as Meri
- LaVar Walker as Lavar
- Gary Gulman as Shlomo
- Murray Hill as Murray (S1)
Episodes
editSeason 1 (2022)
edit| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Life & Beth" | Amy Schumer | Amy Schumer | March 18, 2022 |
| 2 | 2 | "We're Grieving" | Ryan McFaul | Amy Schumer | March 18, 2022 |
| 3 | 3 | "Out on the Island" | Ryan McFaul | Colleen McGuinness | March 18, 2022 |
| 4 | 4 | "Pancakes" | Amy Schumer | Amy Schumer | March 18, 2022 |
| 5 | 5 | "Fair" | Kevin Kane | Amy Schumer | March 18, 2022 |
| 6 | 6 | "Boat" | Ryan McFaul | Emily Goldwyn | March 18, 2022 |
| 7 | 7 | "Leonard" | Daniel Powell | Ron Weiner | March 18, 2022 |
| 8 | 8 | "Homegoing" | Ryan McFaul | Colleen McGuinness | March 18, 2022 |
| 9 | 9 | "MRI" | Amy Schumer | Amy Schumer | March 18, 2022 |
| 10 | 10 | "Kiss from a Rose" | Amy Schumer | Amy Schumer | March 18, 2022 |
Season 2 (2024)
edit| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by [6] | Original release date [7] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 1 | "Trust Me" | Amy Schumer | Amy Schumer | February 16, 2024 |
| 12 | 2 | "Who Dat?" | Ryan McFaul | Chuck Hayward & Mia Jackson | February 16, 2024 |
| 13 | 3 | "Nothing Can Get Me Down" | Ryan McFaul | Phoebe Walsh | February 16, 2024 |
| 14 | 4 | "This Soup is Gonna Be Good" | Ryan McFaul | Ron Weiner | February 16, 2024 |
| 15 | 5 | "Claire" | Daniel Powell | Daniel Powell | February 16, 2024 |
| 16 | 6 | "The Work" | Ryan McFaul | Tami Sagher | February 16, 2024 |
| 17 | 7 | "That's What Friends Are For" | Ryan McFaul | Tova Diker | February 16, 2024 |
| 18 | 8 | "Shower Sex" | Kevin Kane | Jeremy Beiler | February 16, 2024 |
| 19 | 9 | "Toxic" | Amy Schumer | Alison Leiby & Sahar Jahani | February 16, 2024 |
| 20 | 10 | "Road to Nowhere" | Amy Schumer | Amy Schumer | February 16, 2024 |
Release
editLife & Beth premiered with all 10 episodes on March 18, 2022, on Hulu.[8] It was later released internationally through Disney’s Star content hub on Disney+.[9] In Latin America, it was made available to stream on Star+.[10] The series was also made accessible on Disney+ Hotstar in Southeast Asia.[11]
Reception
editViewership
editWhip Media, which tracks viewership data for the more than 21 million worldwide users of its TV Time app, reporte that Life & Beth was the seventh most-streamed original series in the U.S. during the week of March 27, 2022.[12]
Critical reception
editThe review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 90% approval rating with an average rating of 7.30/10, based on 38 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Beth proves there's still plenty of life left in Amy Schumer's artistic project, boasting the comedian's most nuanced performance yet."[13] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 70 out of 100 based on 19 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews."[14]
Amanda Whiting of The Independent stated that Life & Beth marks a significant shift in Amy Schumer’s work, moving away from her previous, more self-indulgent roles. They praised the series for its focus on self-reflection rather than humor, noting how Schumer draws on personal experiences, like her struggles with trichotillomania and her relationship with her husband, to add depth to the show. Whiting also appreciated Schumer’s new, introspective approach to comedy, pointing out that her jokes and performances now show a greater level of emotional maturity.[15] Kathryn VanArendonk of Vulture observed that Life & Beth offers a contemporary spin on the classic theme of returning home to rediscover oneself, reminiscent of romance novels and Hallmark movies. VanArendonk praised its engaging performances, particularly by Schumer and Michael Cera, as well as its genuine exploration of personal growth. However, they noted that the series sometimes struggles to integrate its elements, especially when transitioning between Schumer’s personal experiences and Beth’s childhood. Despite this, VanArendonk found the show’s blend of comedy and heartfelt storytelling often satisfying.[16]
Caroline Framke of Variety found Schumer’s shift from her usual brash comedy to a more introspective, semi-autobiographical story refreshing and fitting. They praised the series for its evocative direction and strong performances, particularly by Schumer, Michael Cera, and Violet Young. However, Framke asserted that the show initially struggled with a slow start and passive character dynamics but gained momentum as it progressed. They complimented the series for its emotional depth and the effective chemistry between Schumer and Cera.[17] Clare Martin of Paste rated Life & Beth 7.5 out of 10, saying it captures the bittersweet experience of returning to one’s roots. They praised Schumer for her introspective approach and for drawing on her own life experiences, including her relationship with her real-life husband. Martin complimented the performances, particularly Michael Cera and Violet Young, for adding emotional depth, though they noted some tonal inconsistencies between the comedic present and dramatic flashbacks. Despite these issues, they highlighted the show’s emotional resonance and strong performances as key reasons to watch.[18]
Accolades
editLife & Beth was nominated for Best Comedy/Drama TrailerByte for a TV/Streaming Series at the 2024 Golden Trailer Awards.[19] The series was also one of 200 television series that received the ReFrame Stamp for the years 2020 to 2021. The stamp is awarded by the gender equity coalition ReFrame and industry database IMDbPro for film and television projects that are proven to have gender-balanced hiring, with stamps being awarded to projects that hire female-identifying people, especially women of color, in four out of eight key roles for their production.[20][21]
References
edit- ^ Chapman, Wilson (February 8, 2022). "Amy Schumer Falls for Michael Cera in Hulu's 'Life & Beth' Trailer". Variety. Archived from the original on March 7, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
- ^ Petski, Denise (April 13, 2022). "Amy Schumer's 'Life & Beth' Renewed For Season 2 By Hulu". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 13, 2022. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
- ^ Rouse, Isaac (January 18, 2024). "Amy Schumer's 'Life & Beth' Season 2 Sees Beth & John Get Married (VIDEO)". TV Insider. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
- ^ Iannucci, Rebecca (July 26, 2024). "Life & Beth Cancelled at Hulu After 2 Seasons". TVLine. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
- ^ Roots, Kimberly (March 11, 2024). "Law & Order: SVU's Kevin Kane Teases 'Lingering Revenge' Lurking in Bruno's Future". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
- ^ "Life & Beth - WGA Directory". Writers Guild of America West. Archived from the original on December 27, 2023. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
- ^ "Shows A-Z – Life & Beth on Hulu". The Futon Critic. Archived from the original on January 20, 2024. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
- ^ Petski, Denise (February 8, 2022). "'Life & Beth' Trailer: Amy Schumer Is Ready For a Fresh Start With Michael Cera In Hulu Comedy". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 14, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
- ^ Palmer, Roger (January 24, 2024). ""Life & Beth" Season 2 Coming Soon To Disney+ (UK/IE/AU/NZ)". WhatsOnDisneyPlus.com. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
- ^ Martínez, Xochitl (February 16, 2024). "Star+: Hoy se estrena "Life & Beth" en Star+". El Informador (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved September 17, 2024.
- ^ Goel, Yashika (March 8, 2024). "Women's Day: Disney+ Hotstar Spotlights Empowering Female Characters". TelecomTalk. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
- ^ Prange, Stephanie (March 29, 2022). "'Bridgerton,' 'Turning Red' Top Weekly Whip Media Streaming Charts". Media Play News. Archived from the original on March 30, 2022. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
- ^ "Life & Beth: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
- ^ "Life & Beth: Season 1". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
- ^ Whiting, Amanda (May 19, 2022). "In Life & Beth, Amy Schumer finally plays a human being". The Independent. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
- ^ VanArendonk, Kathryn (March 28, 2022). "Amy Schumer's Life & Beth Feels Like a Prestige-Comedy Hallmark Movie". Vulture. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
- ^ Framke, Caroline (March 18, 2022). "Amy Schumer's 'Life & Beth' Shifts the Comedian Into a More Passive, Introspective Gear: TV Review". Variety. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
- ^ Martin, Claire (March 21, 2022). "Life & Beth Reveals a Different Side of Amy Schumer". Paste. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
- ^ "GTA24 Nominees – Golden Trailer Awards". Golden Trailer Awards. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
- ^ Behzadi, Sofia (July 19, 2022). "'Euphoria', 'Abbott Elementary' & Apple Among ReFrame Stamp Recipients For Gender-Balanced Hiring; Numbers Down From 2020-2021". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 22, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
- ^ Hailu, Selome (July 19, 2022). "Gender-Balanced Hiring in Scripted TV Down 7% From Last Year, Says New Report from Reframe". Variety. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
