Difficult People

Difficult People is an American comedy television series created by Julie Klausner. Klausner stars alongside Billy Eichner as two struggling and jaded comedians living in New York City; the duo seemingly hate everyone but each other.

The series premiered on August 5, 2015 on Hulu, and was renewed for two additional seasons. In Australia Difficult People premiered on 3 August 2020 on SBS Viceland and the SBS On Demand streaming service.

Main

 * Julie Klausner as Julie Kessler, an aspiring comedian.
 * Billy Eichner as Billy Epstein, Julie's best friend and fellow aspiring comedian.
 * James Urbaniak as Arthur Tack, Julie's boyfriend.
 * Andrea Martin as Marilyn Kessler, Julie's mother.
 * Cole Escola as Matthew Ellis Ross (season 2–3, recurring season 1), Billy's co-worker, whom he despises.
 * Shakina Nayfack as Lola (season 3, recurring season 2), a co-worker at the cafe where Billy works

Recurring

 * Derrick Baskin and Gabourey Sidibe as Nate and Denise, married co-owners of the cafe where Billy works
 * Tracee Chimo as Gaby, Arthur's boss at a PBS station
 * Fred Armisen as Garry Epstein, Billy's brother
 * Jackie Hoffman as Rucchel Epstein, Garry's wife
 * John Cho as Todd, Billy's boyfriend
 * Lucy Liu as Veronica Ford, Marilyn's publisher
 * William Bogert as Elmer, Matthew's fiancé
 * Shannon DeVido as Andrea Mumford

Guest

 * Nate Corddry as Brian Walsh, Julie's high school crush
 * Kate McKinnon as Abra Cadouglas, a recovering alcoholic turned magician
 * John Benjamin Hickey as Fred, a date of Billy's who turns out to be a "participator"
 * Kathy Najimy as Carol Donato, a friend of Marilyn's
 * Amy Sedaris as Rita, a salesperson at a sporting goods store; also as a New York City tour guide in a Season 3 episode
 * Malina Weissman as Renee Epstein, Billy's niece
 * Ana Gasteyer as a woman with damaged eyebrows who Julie and Billy meet at a diner
 * Debbie Harry as Kiki, a mysterious woman and roommate/lover of Rita
 * Seth Meyers as a conman who hooks up with Billy
 * Sandra Bernhard as Lilith Feigenbaum
 * John Mulaney as Cecil Jellford, a date of Billy's who turns out to be an "old-timey"
 * Nyle DiMarco as Doug, Billy's deaf date
 * John Early as Mickey, Doug's interpreter
 * Julianne Moore as Sarah Nussbaum
 * Stockard Channing as Bonnie, Marilyn's sister
 * Vanessa Williams as Trish, Matthew's ex-wife
 * Patton Oswalt as Kenny Jurgens
 * Jane Krakowski as Lizzie McCormick, Julie's neighbour
 * Victor Garber as John Passias, Billy's acting teacher
 * John Turturro as Dusty, Marilyn's old flame
 * Rosie O'Donnell as Vanessa
 * Susan Lucci as Shelley Waxman
 * Jessica Walter as Chuck's Mom
 * Jami Gertz as David's Wife
 * Amy Poehler as Flute, the Doula and Healologist
 * Ken Burns as himself
 * Luann de Lesseps and Sonja Morgan as themselves
 * Tina Fey as herself
 * Kathie Lee Gifford as herself
 * Tony Hale as himself
 * Nathan Lane as himself
 * Joel McHale as Billy's trainer
 * Method Man as himself
 * Lin-Manuel Miranda as himself
 * Kate Pierson as herself
 * Maury Povich as himself
 * Marc Shaiman as himself
 * Martin Short as himself
 * Larry Wilmore as himself
 * Micky Dolenz as himself
 * Justin Vivian Bond
 * Sally Kellerman as Joan Gentile
 * Rachel Dratch
 * Andy Cohen
 * Mink Stole
 * Danny Aiello

Production
In May 2014, it was announced that Billy Eichner and Julie Klausner would star in a pilot for USA Network, with Klausner penning the script and Andrew Fleming directing. Amy Poehler would executive produce under Universal Cable Productions, with Dave Becky also executive producing under his 3 Arts banner, and Michele Armor of Marobru also executive producing. That same month it was announced that Rachel Dratch, Andrea Martin, James Urbaniak, and Tracee Chimo had all been cast in the series, with Martin portraying Klausner's mother. In November 2014, Hulu had acquired the series, with a straight-to-series order. In March 2015, Gabourey Sidibe and Cole Escola were cast in recurring roles.

In March 2017, John Cho joined the cast of the series.

Reception
Difficult People received generally positive reviews from critics. Review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, gave the first season an 85% approval rating and an average rating of 8 out of 10, sampled from reviews from 20 critics. Seasons two and three both received a 100% from polled critics. The site's consensus reads, "Difficult People makes the unlikable likable with mean-spirited, unhappy characters who still can't help but amuse." On Metacritic, the first season holds a rating of 76 out of 100, based on 12 critics' reviews, implying "generally favorable reviews".

The series frequently leveled jokes about Kevin Spacey prior to public allegations against the actor.