Why 'Playing House' should be renewed for a Third Season

Caroline Fortuna ’19/ Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer

In April of 2014, the sitcom Playing House appeared on USA’s show roster. In the show, childhood best friends Maggie Caruso (Lennon Parham) and Emma Crawford (Jessica St. Clair) decide to live together after a pregnant Maggie finds out her husband has cheated on her. The show captures the chaos to ensue as they juggle relationships, adventures, and eventually raising a child. The show received low ratings its first season, suggesting a short-lived sitcom unsuspecting of creating any waves of excitement. However, USA decided to renew the series for a second season, and the show has been able to charm its way into viewers’ hearts ever since. Here are five reasons why Playing House should be renewed for season three.
1) The show had quite the admirable comeback. Despite its discouragingly low ratings first season, the show was able to advertise on social media and on-demand to gain an impressive number of viewers. This viewership was able to see a more developed version of the show as every component of the series seemed to have grown. The jokes became wittier, the characters more developed, and the feel-good emotions the show brings to the table intensified.
2) The show has a unique and cheerful story line, one that at its core celebrates unwavering friendship. The first season of the show sets up the bond between Maggie and Emma. When Maggie is hurt by news that her husband has cheated on her, Emma, who has been established as somebody who tends to run away from problems, manages to drop everything and move-in to help raise the baby. Throughout the seasons, fans can see all the cast members help each other grow and see them all deal with real life situations — of course embellished for the sake of entertainment. This sense of portraying somewhat relatable situations with people that look and sound like people in real life rather than the televised world might throw people off at first but when appreciated can be the most important type of television offered.

3) This story line, with the importance of friendship at the core, leads to the next point – friendship goals! For lack of better terminology, Maggie and Emma are completely and totally what people want to achieve in their friendship goals, which is probably what puts Playing House as the frontrunner for today’s sitcoms. Their bond is undeniably strong, and they know each other well enough to play off of each other and to unite as a force to be reckoned with. Aside from their obvious care for each other that is often times the ending point of an episode, Maggie and Emma charm the audience with their strange yet endearing traditions, willingness to go on adventures, and ability to sing in impromptu unison.
4) The impact of the friendship of Maggie and Emma is a testament to actresses Parham and St. Clair. Parham and St. Clair are no strangers to comedy; Parham had small roles in Horrible Bosses Two, Veep, and Parks and Rec, while St. Clair had small roles in Bridesmaids, Enough Said, and She’s Out of My League. The duo and real life friends are finally able to be the stars of the show, and deservingly so. They are so believable and authentic that the audience is always rooting for them, and the lines are always delivered coupled with hilarious facial expressions.

5) Finally, the characters and cast that support Parham and St. Clair are incredible. The cast includes Keegan-Michael Key as Emma’s former flame, Brad Morris as the ex-husband, Zach Woods as Maggie’s brother, and Jane Kaczmarek as Emma’s mother. The show is elevated when the lines are spread throughout all of these actors, and the complicated yet loving relationships between all of these characters leave fans longing for a third season of Playing House.