Starring: Billy Eichner, Julie Klausner, James Urbaniak, Andrea Martin, Gabourey Sidibe

Hulu’s latest original series entry just makes me miss all the good comedies that came before it. I get that they’re trying to be snarky, but did Happy Endings have to die for this? It was so much better. And the snark was actually funny in Happy Endings. Here, it’s often just uncomfortable. Difficult People often is like that friend who is telling a joke they think is totally solid, and then you’re just sitting there not laughing, and feeling even more awkward for not laughing. Your friend is hurt that you didn’t laugh, and you’re angry at them for putting you in that spot in the first place.

The first episode doesn’t really have a plot, and the second episode tries to be about Billy wanting to land an audition and Julie wanting a threesome. I thought the second episode was less funny. The pilot at least had a few good one liners.

The problem with TV is that there are so many good shows out there, that to wait for a show to grow into something is asking a lot of your viewers. I gave you two episodes. You gave me two jokes. That’s just not enough. I watched the entire season of Wet Hot American Summer, and wanted more, and I could barely make it through your first episode. I don’t know why I watched the second episode. I knew it wasn’t going to get any better.

Difficult People loves to be snarky, but now it’s the target of snark. Hashtag! Pop culture references don’t make a show. Old pop culture references definitely don’t. Your jokes aren’t that funny. Most people don’t share your hatred of understudies.

FINAL GRADE: D+