Series Page

Season 1 – Kidding

Play trailer

0:30

Season 1 – Kidding

Sep 2018

Comedy

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

77%

Tomatometer

77 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

"Kidding" follows Jeff Pickles, a man who is iconic in children's television. Jeff, aka Mr. Pickles, is a pillar of kindness and wisdom to the impressionable minds of America's youth and to the parents who grew up with him. When Mr. Pickles' family begins to implode, his life starts to take a downward spiral. He must put the fables and puppets aside to get through this newest crisis in life. As the slow leak of sanity advances faster than he can cope with it, the cruel world breaks his heart.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Fans of Jim Carrey's slapstick may be disappointed, but other viewers may find a surprisingly poignant examination of life and grief in Kidding.

Read Critics Reviews

Eric Deggans

NPR

Nov 23, 2019

It's tough to tell if this is going to add up to a coherent story, but I'm really hopeful that Jim Carrey and Michel Gondry will create a series that's worth spending so much time with these characters' pain.

Go to Full Review

Harry Waksberg

New York Magazine/Vulture

Dec 12, 2018

4/5

I really loved this! For one thing, it's a sign of genuine growth that Jeff finally realizes that kids need someone to hear them, not someone to tell them what to do - a lesson he learned from Will repeating it more or less constantly all season.

Go to Full Review

Hugo Rifkind

The Times (UK)

Dec 3, 2018

Carrey's sadness drenches everything, but weirdness and hilarity spike through.

Go to Full Review

Valerie Ettenhofer

Film School Rejects

Apr 19, 2021

Isolate any episode of Kidding's first season and it immediately becomes clear that this is not in fact 'Mr. Rogers has a breakdown,' but instead something bolder and bigger and wonderfully, inescapably weirder.

Go to Full Review

John Tones

Espinof

Jul 11, 2019

4/5

It has already delivered some surprises and a perfect Carrey, emotional but eccentric, serene but hallucinated, perfect for an unpredictable character. [Full Review in Spanish]

Go to Full Review

Dominic Patten

Deadline Hollywood Daily

Dec 19, 2018

There is a lot that is not very funny about the decidedly bleak Showtime series Kidding from Jim Carrey and Michel Gondry, and that's both good and bad... However,... [it] is still worth watching if you can grind through.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Alireah G

@RT37124092 Apr 22, 2026

I've seen a lot of people calling this show a dark and deeply compelling tragic story steeped in existential dread. I don't see it that way at all. I cried when I found out this show wouldn't have another season after season 2, because it was my happy place. It's genuinely beautiful and sometimes I sing that stupid feelings song because it makes me feel better. There is so much genuine validation and hope in it. It made me feel warm and safe because at least in the show there is someone out there like Jim Carrey's Mr pickles.

Jun 16, 2022

Never Really Explores The Multiple Themes It Attempts To Unpack. There Is So Much Going On The Drifting From One Montage To Another Just Create A Mash Of Ideas. Nothing More, Nothing Less. Nothing Ventured. Nothing Gained.

Apr 20, 2022

This is one of my favorite TV shows. I wish they would continue it.

May 1, 2021

This is just sooo good. I'm only at episode 6 season 1 but I must say I haven't seen such good not only television but on-screen storytelling in ages.

raphael g

@raphagimenes Feb 7, 2021

Really good show! how can people have cancelled it :-(

Dec 22, 2020

I think it's one of the best things Jim Carrey have done since Eternal sunshine of a spotless mind. He is just a good Guy Who got broke by real life cruelty

Read all reviews

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Dave Holstein

Creator

Jim Carrey

Jeff

Frank Langella

Seb

Catherine Keener

Deirdre

Judy Greer

Jill

Bernard White

Scott Perera

Episode 1

Aired Sep 9, 2018

Green Means Go

Jeff Pickles thinks it's time to talk about death on his show; his producer feels that Mr. Pickles the persona and Jeff Pickles the person should remain separate; Deirdre punishes Maddy for not eating her veggies.

Details

Episode 2

Aired Sep 16, 2018

Pusillanimous

Jeff makes a rash decision that could affect the ability of the show to continue; Seb strategizes how to rebuild Jeff's image; Deirdre tries to learn more about what's happening while Maddy is at her piano lesson.

Details

Episode 3

Aired Sep 23, 2018

Every Pain Needs a Name

Jeff tries to fix his heartbreak; Deirdre deals with her daughter's developing medical condition; Seb outlines the future of "Mr. Pickles' Puppet Time" without Jeff; Jeff tries to get Will off pot by giving him a hobby.

Details

Episode 4

Aired Sep 30, 2018

Bye, Mom

Jeff deals with a one-night stand; Jill learns that Jeff has been sending money to someone behind her back and confronts him.

Details

Episode 5

Aired Oct 7, 2018

The New You

Jeff decides to step out of his comfort zone; Seb tries to get Jeff on board with new changes for "Puppet Time," as well as his ice-skating show "Pickles on Ice," starring Tara Lipinski.

Details

Episode 6

Aired Oct 14, 2018

The Cookie

Will tries to honor his brother uniquely; Jeff decides to make some changes to Pickles on Ice; Deirdre lets her anger out on Maddy; Jeff tries to convince Vivian to continue with her treatment.

Details

Episode 7

Aired Oct 21, 2018

Kintsugi

Jeff starts to speak more honestly on "Puppet Time" as Seb panics that Jeff will soon have to appear on live television; Deirdre and Scott meet Mr. Pickles-San, a visitor from Japan; the Pickles have Thanksgiving as a family.

Details

Episode 8

Aired Oct 28, 2018

Philliam

Jeff meets the son of his pen pal, an inmate on death row, and decides to help him.

Details

Episode 9

Aired Nov 4, 2018

Lt. Pickles

Jeff wonders if he's having a breakdown or a breakthrough; Will gets into trouble at school; Scott confronts Deirdre about her feelings for Mr. Pickles-San; Seb makes a last-minute change to Pickles on Ice while Jeff is away.

Details

Episode 10

Aired Nov 11, 2018

Some Day

Everyone in Jeff's life deals with the results of the speech Jeff made on national television.

Details

White Famous

53%

73%

White Famous

Watchlist

Dice

43%

94%

Dice

Watchlist

Happyish

32%

83%

Happyish

Watchlist

Shameless

82%

81%

Shameless

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Shameless

United States of Tara

85%

86%

United States of Tara

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

12 TV Shows You Should Binge-Watch This February

Kidding: Season 1 Featurette - A Kind Man in a Cruel