Suburgatory (2011–2014) User Reviews

Suburgatory: Where Quirk is Cool

[atlasmb · 8/10 · 27 March 2014]

"Suburgatory" is quirky. If you can't get past that statement, then you might not like the show.

But if you can, check it out, because "Suburgatory" is an excellent show featuring lots of talent.

The central theme--as you can tell from the title--is a critical view of suburbia. In the land where consumerism is the primary goal and people are themselves consumed by appearances there lives a high-schooler named Tessa (Jane Levy) who moved from New York to the land of weedless lawns and designer labels with her single father George (Jeremy Sisto). This is no "Who's The Boss". In "Suburgatory" Tessa and George are a complete family in themselves.

Although suburbia is a target of the humor, the show lovingly lampoons all aspects of society, including the central characters, who enter into some questionable relationships. They are far from perfect and the writers allow us to laugh at them and with them.

The rest of the cast is AMAZING. Three or four of them you will probably recognize, but they all rock. Comedy never had a larger cast of funny people.

As for the quirk factor, "The New Girl" wishes it could be "Suburgatory". It is quirky, but it may be too far out there, often substituting silly for insightful. "Glee" revels in the quirkiness of its characters and their actions, but it often feels like it is doing quirk just for its own sake. I only hope that "Suburgatory" keeps its edge. The best episodes have something to say and remind us of the things that are truly valuable, e.g. caring and self-realization.

A genuinely funny show.

[Shopaholic35 · 8/10 · 3 February 2014]

Suburgatory has the perfect mix of sarcastic and stereotypical humour. As the show progresses I feel like it just keeps getting better and better. Although I do miss the absurdity and genius of the first two episodes the show would not be able to sustain itself if it didn't develop. Please don't let that deter you from enjoying this show though. I love the fact that it is so over the top and plays up to stereotypes but then again does it really. They may not live in your society but guess what they are definitely out there.

I hope this show lasts for a while as they still have so many areas that can be explored. I feel like they have only scratched the surface of what is a wonderfully colourful and insanely hilarious world.

Why all the hate?

[malloryefron · 8/10 · 25 November 2011]

This show is amazing! It's got all the things you look for in a comedy like funny situations, laugh out loud lines, and moments that make you crack up a smile. I don't get all the negative reviews here because this show isn't terrible. The actors play their parts really well, the best person that plays her part well is Lisa Shay played by Allie Grant. Allie Grant plays Lisa so well as the teenager with the weird awkward family and how she try's to survive them. This is also a really good family show to watch with your kids, but be careful because some of the things they do in this show are not for kids between the age of 5-9. I fell in love with this show since the pilot.

I love how the show puts all the mom's as dumb blondes and trying to act cool for their kids because I do suppose some mom's do that in reailty. The men are so stupid in this show, but their also hilarious. The men in the show don't get the women code so they just get them handbags, clothes, shoes, and lets not forget money. The women in this show are so crazy. They take control over their daughters and sons and try to make them do things they hate like wearing outfits to school that will make them get teased. The main reason I watch this show is because of the main character Tesa Altman played by Jane Levy. Teasa Altman hates her life because she to move her fabulous life in New York City and to move to the stinky life in the suburbs. Tesa had to move here because her father George Altman played by Jeremy Sisto found condoms in her drawers and decided to move to the best place to raise kids which is the suburbs.

The popular girls at Tesa's school are so dumb that you might think that blonde is the true dumb color. They play their parts well, that you might think they act like that in reality. This is so far the best new comdey of the fall besides New Girl. The script is also decent, it's not the best but it goes along with the plot. I love how this show makes fun of the suburbs by showing women always watering their lawn and planting their beautiful flowers, it makes me crack up every time they show it. So far this show is amazing, the Thanksgiving epiosde was laugh out loud and I hope they countine the amazing story lines because Suburgatory has done an awesome job making me laugh and hopefully it's making other people laugh. Watch this show!

Good but ironic

[thor2062 · 7/10 · 25 July 2012]

I like this show -- it's entertaining, interesting, sometimes funny. The premise relates to this hip urban girl who comes to an upper-class suburban area and thinks she's too cool for it all and notices all its flaws. To be sure, she certainly has a point about them being over-privileged and out of touch with the surrounding world's harsher realities, to mention a couple.

Here's what took me longer to notice: the girl herself isn't much better than they are. She's a little smarter, a little more insightful, but she has a lot of the same flaws they do. She acts like the smallest inconveniences are the weight of the world on her -- e.g., a girl pays her a hundred bucks to drive her around the block a few times and she she moans, "I hate my job". She's sort of disrespectful to her father, who she calls George,and lives a lifestyle only slightly less entitled than those around her. In short, we're supposed to side with her against the rich snobs and not notice that she's a lot like they are. Sure, that community thinks they're better than others, but she thinks she's better than they are, so how's that any better? Despite this, I like the show.

Funny and clever, with just enough heart

[cfduffy16 · 10/10 · 14 December 2011]

This show is well-written and really funny. It's silly and campy but also has just enough heart. The lead, Jane Levy, a relative unknown is totally natural and absolutely charming. Jeremy Sisto, an unlikely casting choice for a comedy, grounds the show and is realistic as the "cool city dad." But for me, Cheryl Hines is the one to watch. She hits it out of the ballpark as Dallas Royce.

I love the heightened reality and the way the show pokes fun at the suburbs while also envying those who live there. The stories explore the differences between people raised in different ways but also shows, no matter where you grow up, there are certain universal truths that connect us.

The supporting cast is terrific. I've always loved Alan Tudyk and Carly Chaiken is scene- stealingly hilarious as Dalia. I laugh at these characters while also caring about them which to me is the sign of a really great show.

Hilarious and over-the-top wacky

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 9 May 2014]

Single dad George Altman (Jeremy Sisto) is leaving NYC and bringing his daughter Tessa (Jane Levy) to the suburbs. The rebellious teen is not happy with the otherworldly Stepford Wives existence. She becomes friends with loner Lisa Shay (Allie Grant) and Medium obsessed Malik (Maestro Harrell). She also makes an enemy of queen bee Dalia Royce (Carly Chaikin). On the other hand, Dalia's mom Dallas (Cheryl Hines) would become a great friend.

Jane Levy started the show at 21 and that's probably the only minor complaint I have about this show. It's not unexpected for network shows about high school to have older actors play young teens. The cast of characters are a wacky bunch. Tessa has a superiority attitude and it's funny to see the culture clash. I love the hilarious Carly Chaikin and her stone faced delivery. It squeezed out 2 and a half seasons before being canceled.

Tessa: The New Jesus of Suburbia

[songbirdn · 8/10 · 16 June 2012]

This show may not be perfect, but it is funny. Also, it's very relatable, especially to a kid growing up in an obnoxiously fake suburb like the one on the show.

The actors are funny, sweet, quirky, and bring good-natured comedy to the screen. Tessa, Dalia, and Dallas are my favorites on the show. Tessa is witty and clever, a jaded foil to the naive and plastic Dalia and over-the-top yet lovable Dallas.

Also, the script is, for the most part, well written and the situations that Tessa finds herself in are hilarious.

As every sitcom, it's not perfect, and not all the jokes are funny, but for the most part, I am enjoying it and I'm looking forward to next season.

It is a Comedy and this one is actually Funny

[sean0888 · 7/10 · 13 January 2013]

Having seen the pilot I purchased the Season 1 DVD and have seen most of the episodes. It is great seeing 5 or 6 episodes of short shows like this one in succession without advertisements and the like breaking it all up.

Heck some people over analyse things though. It's just a little TV show.

This is a simple basic comedy with some extreme characters some of which are funny and some not so, some endearing and others much less so. In fact a few of the characters (very few fortunately) are just ridiculous but this is Hollywood fiction so they create the extreme at times.

The writers set out to send up Americans and some aspects of its culture and they obviously had a lot of fun doing so. Why they went too far over the top at times I do not know because the show would work better without some of the occasional stupidity that has been allowed to creep in now and then. Obviously some episodes are better and funnier than others.

Overall this is a cute, second tier, light hearted comedy show which will really make you laugh. After all that is what a comedy is for.(It is not quite up in the same league as some of the very high rated Chuck Lorre comedies though). For the most part it is quite well acted and the 3 principal characters are quite endearing.

If you don't like a good laugh then you probably won't like it that much. Some of it is hilarious but I am sure some of the slick lines they have dropped in there will go right over the heads of some.

As far as ratings go, some of the episodes I have seen from Season 1 are so funny I would give them a 9 or 10 rating.

Give this show a go because when you get into it, for the most part, you will enjoy it. There is nothing like having a good laugh is there?

Still a product of its time

[dskywalker0 · 8/10 · 16 May 2021]

Back when this show was current I was a teenager. The premiss is not great at all, but there weren't many shows with weird teenage girls as protagonists just yet - and that's why I liked it so much. It made fun of everyone that made fun of me, the quirky girl, such as the suburban mum with its teenage version for a daughter, or the contradictorily concerned-yet-cool single father. Tessa was very relatable and I was sorry when it got cancelled.

A single father reacts to his teenage daughter's recent unappealing behavior by hastily relocating their lives from NYC to an outlying suburb.

[askins513 · 7/10 · 2 October 2011]

As it says, I may spoil some areas of the show. As the reader, just assume this review is full of spoilers of the first episode. A father (George Altman) invades the privacy of his daughter's (Tessa Altman) room and discovers a box of unopened condoms in her dresser and naively assumes that by moving from the big city to the suburbs, that his problems will be over.

I had a problem with a few things. 1. He wants to discourage his daughter from being sexually active, and then tries to encourage a more provocative and feminine sense of style once in the suburbs.

2. The writers/directors have employed the tiresome tool of trying too hard to create comedy.

3. We're supposed to believe that in all of NYC the first time Tessa met a superficial person only interested in looks, was when she moved to the suburbs. Never had she seen such a fake person.

All in all, it was a funny show. It has the ability to be the show everyone wants to watch.

Two Thumbs up

[msveloso · 9/10 · 4 December 2011]

I enjoy this show. It has a lot of interesting characters. It's a bit of Desperate Housewives meets Mean Girls.

I can relate to this as I am a city gal myself who moved to the burbs with my single dad in high school. Just him and I. So I get this situation completely. I think its refreshing to do a comedy about it.

Jeremy Sisto is wonderful. (as always!) The young lady that plays his daughter is a great little actress as well. The "fake mom" becomes a lovable character and has more heart than you expect. The dentist friend is hilarious....

The only negative thing i can say about this show is that the daughter is so mature for her age that if you do not watch this regularly you might think they are husband and wife. I did not notice this as much as my husband did. When I reminisce about my own situation I do recall that in high school people who did not know me would assume that my dad, who was a handsome man as well, was my boyfriend. I know, yuck. He would drop me off at high school in the burbs in his nice car and some mean girls would tease, don't you think he's a bit old for you and my standard come back was, ya, he's old enough to be my dad. This would make their mouths drop and I had to have fun with that.

Eventually they would find out the truth and when they did it actually made me quite popular. The rumour mill in the burbs.

A lovely little show that reflects but exaggerates modern day society.

[ios254 · 6 October 2011]

I love the filming perspective of this show, as well as the setting. It almost has that vivid "Pushing Daisies" feel to it.

As suspected, in reading just the two reviews currently posted, not many understand what it is to be this male / female in which, Jane Levy portrays and it is even harder as a girl (as a male, I can attest to that). I'm afraid that the majority of the viewers are therefore, not going to respond well to this show.

My wife is not your typical "Girl," and while beautiful, never fancied the latest fashion / trends, gossip, makeup, fake-baking, celebrity nonsense, or idolize and embody female figures...and as a consequence, has to go through the rude remarks about clothing, like, "oh! that's, uh, interesting..." whilst at work and has been picked on, bullied and called Lesbian by other girls because she'd rather mind her own, listen to punk, rock, etc. Read, draw, sew patches onto her green / grey jackets and wear them with her black tights, a jean skirt and a pair of converse.

This show is geared toward those few girls we knew, who were literally stuck at the epicenter of what seems to becoming a progressively, fake and unabashedly dim society. Mothers who want to be 20 again, clubbing, shopping, back-stabbing, not unlike their daughters and-oh! the vanity and completely unaware of entertainment and politics in other cultures / countries etc. Because of this, I fear the show will not last past season 1, or if we're lucky, a season 2. Pushing Daisies (another intuitive and brilliant show), did not go past Season 2, because it's not a reality show and it's not Gossip girl, Sex in The City, or Grey's Anatomy.

The only thing about this show that I have a hard time grasping, is just how much story-line can their be with this sort of topic? Will they sell Jane Levy's character out? What I think they should do, is at least bring others in like her (new students), so she at least has a small circle of friends and then portray what a lot of us had to go through and lose one of those friends from your circle, who decided they wanted to fit in with the "majority."

Funny first episode, stale second episode

[qmnvcz · 7/10 · 6 October 2011]

I recommend watching the first episode: funny, witty and you can't help but laugh a lot of times.

Second episode...not that funny. The first part of the episode was stale. You knew what was going to happen, you had seen it before. Therest of the episode had potential to be funny. The story was there, but the dialog was just not funny, at all.

What happened?

Writers, when writing future episodes: be sharp in your dialog, be funny, be witty, and be smart.

So watch the first episode and skip the second.

If you like Paris Hilton, then watch this

[nephalinesyenite · 4/10 · 12 January 2012]

My problem with this show is it's "fish out of water" premise. Tessa and her father George are great, but I cringe at every other vapid character, no matter how well played(Cheryl Hines). Everything is just over-the-top, the characters are all self-obsessed, uncultured, and only concerned about appearances. The only other likable character is overly parented neighbour Lisa Shay.

This "Suburgatory" that Tessa and George move to is torture to watch, yes I guess it is a "subtle" commentary on parts of American society but who wants to subject themselves to it? I'd rather watch a show about Tessa and George in New York living their everyday lives, as a comedy or drama.

It's only my love of the main characters that enabled me to watch up until Christmas, but I just can't give it any more of my time. If you like Paris Hilton, maybe you'll enjoy it.

As for comparisons to the show "Priviledged" - the rich girls on that show were likable and their exposure to their tutor meant that they started to develop beyond the spoilt and lazy lifestyle they had been living. While, Tessa makes no impact on the vapid characters of Suburgatory.

Better but not best

[politically_incorrect204 · 6/10 · 7 November 2011]

My wife forced me to watch this. She has excellent taste but has some guilty pleasure shows that make contemplate suicide. One of them is Suburgatory. The name alone makes me want to skip it. That and I've heard middling reviews. Although the critical reviews for this show have been more positive than most of the trash that came out this season (Up All Night, Two Girls, New Girl, Whitney, Free Agents, etc.). As such I sat threw it. Now let me mention that I LOVE Alan Tudyk in anything he does and I like Jeremy Sisto as well. Although Sisto definitely feels out of his element here. Even the lead girl is cute and quite funny. The show kind of feels like Mean Girls and Easy A but a bit watered down. The lead definitely has an Emma Stone vibe. But that is fine, since I like Emma Stone a lot.

I think this show has some decent ideas. Although none of them are really new. I think the show would be better if it were more clever in tackling some of these rehashed ideas. Which I think it does at times. But more often than not it resorts back to cliché plot points and characters. I tend to agree with one critic that if this show were on HBO or Showtime and given free reign to do what the writer may have originally wanted it could have been better. But sadly this show kind of goes to the same territory a lot of new entrants are doing this year. Stale, rehashed material and writing that gives us nothing new. I for one feel that almost this entire new line of shows is just one huge flop after another. So far I have only been impressed with American Horror Story. I hear some good things about mid season shows so we'll wait for those.

Lastly if you like kind of typical tripe that is Mean Girls/Easy A themed then you'll probably like this. Don't get me wrong I think both of those movies are great. But they also both took this genre to a higher level. This feels aimed at teens and their moms and extremely watered down. But I'm sure there are those who will like it.

pretty funny

[jmgmasse · 8/10 · 11 May 2013]

Okay, in all fairness, I was about to award the full 10 points, but that wouldn't be fair to the other great shows out there, so I settled for 8,5. In the comedy genre, it's certainly worth a 9 though. I don't remember exactly why I started watching this show, but I am so glad I did! Jane Levy is extremely funny and Cheryl Hines... can't go wrong there. I wondered how on earth Suburgatory would continue to entertain me after the first - rather stereotypical- episode, because I was sure the characters would be too flat for further interesting stories. Let me assure you, they are not. I don't know how the writers manage it, but it's still quirky (not in a 'new girl' kinda way) en original. I like this show a lot. I just hope they don't drag it out, because I do believe the concept is limited. Overdoing it would ruin the show, honestly. One tip: if you did not like episode 1, seriously try episode 2 because it is very funny. Penguins and all.

Funny but also clever and heart-warming

[annats495 · 10/10 · 23 July 2020]

I'm currently rewatching this,and I'm enjoying it more as an adult than when I was a teenager. It's funny,the performances are amazing and it has enough sentiment where it needs to be. Totally recommended!

Sad its over

[nickyvveen · 10/10 · 30 May 2019]

Sad this show stopped, it was great! Always hoping they atleast give a proper ending to it

Great surprise - funny, quirky show.

[withloverommy · 10/10 · 4 June 2014]

I kept seeing the ads for this show before it started on TV and for some reason I always got the 'boring lame show' vibe. Months later I decided to watch all the movies and shows that Jeremy Sisto was in. I didn't realize Jeremy Sisto was in Suburgatory. I went to watch some short clips online, next thing I know I've watched the entire first season in less than a week, then the second season, next thing I know...this had become my new favorite show!! I love the fact its quirky and funny!! Its sarcastic humor just gets you....well at least it got me. All the characters are amazing and all of them make the show what it is!! It's a shame that no more new episodes have come out and that on season 3, and that Allan isn't seen much :(

From someone who's favorite show is f.r.i.e.n.d.s and that 70's show, I didn't expect to get into this show but it was a great surprise!!!

Good start, but then what? A series with deranged morals

[amanda-akerlind-matz · 1/10 · 1 August 2012]

I must say, to begin with, that the first two episodes were really good. I actually watched them twice, and judging from them alone the series is quite fabulous. The filming is great, the developments of the main characters are quite good as well (and enables you to ignore the very static and stereotypical nature of other characters, similarities shared with MTV's "Awkward.").

From these two episodes I received the feeling that something really was about to happen in Suburbia; a gay cuple was presented (but they both had wives), the guy across the street had only his sex appeal as an asset and the father George is a single parent to a teenager. However, as the series move forward as I watch one episode after another it seems like nothing is right.

I must say, there were things in the first two episodes that I reacted on, but held for myself as I thought that "Suburgatory" had a lot more to offer. First off, finding condoms in Tessa's dresser does not sound like a good enough excuse to move to the suburbs, especially not since they encounter even worse obstacles in that area as soon as they get to Suburbia. In fact, I can't even think of a single good reason for the family to stay; Tessa is obviously not guided into a morally better path, neither George nor Tessa actually like the clingy nature of their neighbours or their traditions, and there obviously aren't any jobs around for George (what kind of an architect builds windows??).

What also bugs me is the authority of George. Firstly, when he asks Dallas for sincere advice about the condoms he does not take her opinion into consideration, never does it cross his mind (really) that he might have been overreacting. Tessa obviously shows him the product of what she is exposed to in Suburbia, and he admits to having ruined her life, however the next time they talk and she makes it clear that she really does not comfortable in their new environment all she needs to hear is that 'he has a feeling that it's going to work out alright', and she gives him a smile of conformity. She seems like such a strong-willed and smart girl at first, I can't see why she would agree that easily (without a legitimate reason). To me, it seems like Tessa and George are a married couple, or at least that George has never taken care of his daughter until recently (and hence made some rather odd decisions). She seems so much more mature compared to George, still she gets no say in the house. There simply is no balance of power.

What I am also concerned about is that fact that the episodes do not seem to come together in a smooth way. For instance, one of the episodes ends with a great revelation, but it is not even mentioned in the next episode. We get to know people in the first two or thee episodes that we don't see anything of in other episodes, and the focus on the very static character Dalia is too great.

When it comes to morals, this series is telling me e.g. that no matter how valid my arguments are I should always conform to the opinions of a man (even if they make no sense). Another thing one may learn is that housewives are all stupid, and that a father doesn't have to be as much of a parent as a mother, in fact if the child is a daughter she needs to be her own parent.

There are so many things that one can react on when it comes to this series, and I believe that the reason why there are people who like Suburbatory is because they have not yet seen that many episodes. I have seen eight now, and I can't get any further (I'll seriuously explode in anger). Watch it at your own risk, but don't get surprised when it turns out the way I have described. Please, I'm begging for some unity in the scrips, and some new writers!

It's finally back

[rallyross2017 · 10/10 · 3 March 2014]

After being on break for years one of my favorite shows is finally coming back. It was going downhill last season but hats probably why we had to wait so long. Anyways suburgatory is eccentric ironic and just plain funny. The parents guide neglected to mention some homosexual kissing if that concerns any parents. I was really angry when the show came back and Noah wasn't there. But he just reappeared in the most recent episode and that was fantastic. I found it hilarious when Tessa accidentally joined a cult. My favorite character was Lisa but she's started looking unhealthily skinny so I'm starting to like Tessa more. Plus Kudos to Carly chaikin for mastering Dahlia's constant blasé expression which really fits with her character. Please, get George and Dallas back together! They were perfect in an awkward strange way.

Pretty ironic that a box full of rubbers landed me in a town full of plastic.

[Sylviastel · 8/10 · 3 February 2012]

A New York City teenager moves from the city to the suburbs not without fighting her father. Anyway, Jeremy Sisto does a great job in playing her father. Jane Levy does an excellent job as the teenager.

Cheryl Hines plays Dallas, a wealthy suburbanite housewife, with her daughter, Dahlia (reminds you of Paris Hilton). Anyway, the move to the suburbs from the city is like moving to another planet in the daughter's eyes. Things are done differently. Anyway, I enjoy the best part about the show is the casting of Saturday Night Live alums, Ana Gasteyer and Chris Parnell, as the neighbors.

I enjoy the show except it is up against another sitcom on another channel. It's hard to choose at times which one to watch. Unlike most sitcoms, there is no audience. Anyway, I enjoy the sitcom overall. I hope it lasts for awhile. We need laughter in our lives today.

a little weird but fun

[chrisdyenewguy · 9/10 · 28 February 2012]

i thought like everyone who watches this program for the first time at first the characters were a little weird so weird in fact i was starting to wonder how i was going to watch them every week after the middle'one of our family favorites' but the strangest thing happened as the weeks went on i began to fall in love with Tessa Lisa and the whole gang and now not a Wednesday goes by that i do not watch them and i get the theme stuck in my head all the time and i am a guy so i say pay a visit to the suburbs you will be glad you did and they will love to have you besides what else good is on TV on a Wednesday night anyway also this show is hilarious and you will be sure to have a great time trust me happy viewing

A teen comedy

[timpri21 · 8/10 · 1 October 2011]

I knew this show would be targeting the young women demo, so keeping this in mind, this show would be better suited for ABC Family instead of prime time network. It sort of reminds me of Privileged (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1197567/) The show is cute, the voice overs(which make the show remotely funny) and acting are OK. The plot and the story is just so ridiculous that I don't think it will stay fresh very long.

The 3 main things that happen in the pilot are 1. Everyone in this town is superficial with the exception of the neighbor that goes to her school. 2. The girl gets her first "feminine" bra. 3. All the women have large breast and hit on her dad.

My overall impression is it's alright for a few laughs, but I won't be using any space on my DVR.

Why watch someone you actively hate?

[bootsyjam · 3/10 · 20 July 2022]

I suppose it makes sense for sophisticated city dwellers to laugh at the rather nasty premise of this show of a culturally superior urbanite hating suburban living.

If you want to watch a show about a snarky, mean and condescending character sneer at stuff then knock yourself out.