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Season 1 – The Premise

Play trailer 2:25 Poster for Season 1 – The Premise Sep 2021 Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
42% Tomatometer 19 Reviews 60% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Host B.J. Novak works through timeless moral questions in unprecedented times and explores pressing topics like gun control, identity, social justice, sex, capitalism, revenge, love, fame, and social media.
The Premise — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

A mixed bag of good intentions that ultimately falls flat, The Premise's attempts to grapple with complex social issues aren't funny enough to work as satire, but lack the dramatic heft necessary to be satisfying melodrama.

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Critics Reviews

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Rebecca Nicholson Guardian 11/03/2021
2/5
Novak is an accomplished writer and actor, best known for the US version of The Office, but The Premise seems to take novel ideas and flatten them out. Go to Full Review Wenlei Ma News.com.au 11/02/2021
The series has neither the satirical edge nor the character depth of Novak's writing contributions on The Office. But it is amusing and digestible. Go to Full Review Brad Newsome Sydney Morning Herald 09/22/2021
The double-episode premiere was a mixed bag. Social Justice Sex Tape was silly and maybe counterproductive. Moment of Silence, starring Jon Bernthal as a man who lost his daughter in a school shooting, was dark and disturbing. Go to Full Review Joel Keller Decider 09/17/2021
The way the episode ended gives us hope that the the other four episodes in season 1 will eventually come to satisfying conclusions despite rocky starts. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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It's going to be ok- J @RT23087879 03/13/2023 Glad I discovered this short series and checked it out. I was not a fan of BJ Novak's work on The Office, but think he shines as a writer and director. The stories touch on familiar modern-day themes but avoid contriteness or becoming hackney. I found them fresh, entertaining and with a twist. Most episodes were really funny in a smart way where you don't necessarily laugh, but want to send an "I see what you did there emoji", and left me with something to think about. All of the main characters portrayed were multi-dimensional, something hard to achieve in a 30ish minute stand-alone episode; Even the gun lobbyists, were portrayed in a layered, nuanced way. Sadly, more people don't share my view and only 5 bingeable episodes were created. See more Michael A @RT70244109 10/20/2022 I've only watched the final episode, Butt Plug, so my five stars is based on that episode only. It has great writing, direction, and really GREAT acting performances, particularly by the lead Eric Lange. I've watched it twice already. Great show! See more 08/03/2022 I love this show. I wanted more episodes. I appreciate the canvas. See more 03/19/2022 I found the first two episodes powerful and intriguing like no other TV show. See more 01/06/2022 Episode 5 was one of the best tv spots I have seen in a long time! Well done!! See more 11/25/2021 touched on important issues with comedic affect See more Read all reviews
The Premise — Season 1

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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B.J. Novak

Creator

B.J. Novak

Host

Daniel Dae Kim

Actor

Lola Kirke

Actor

Lucas Hedges

Actor

Jon Bernthal

Actor

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Sep 16, 2021 Social Justice Sex Tape A savvy young lawyer and her mentor strategize on how to use a sex tape to save an innocent man. Details Episode 2 Aired Sep 16, 2021 Moment of Silence A grieving father starts a new job as the PR director at the National Gun Lobby, where his coworkers start to question the man's motives. Details Episode 3 Aired Sep 23, 2021 The Ballad of Jesse Wheeler A manager and a school principal urgently try to walk back a popstar's promise to have sex with his high school's valedictorian. Details Episode 4 Aired Sep 30, 2021 The Commenter A young woman forgets her happy life and loving partner for the approval of an anonymous commenter. Details Episode 5 Aired Oct 7, 2021 Butt Plug A wealthy man gives his former school bully a chance at redemption through an opportunity to pitch a very specific product. Details

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The Premise — Season 1

The Premise: Season 1 Teaser - Characters The Premise: Season 1 Teaser - Characters 0:29 The Premise: Season 1 Trailer - The Anthology of Now The Premise: Season 1 Trailer - The Anthology of Now 2:25 View more videos
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The Premise — Season 1

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Season Info

Director
B.J. Novak, Jake Schreier, Kitao Sakurai, Darya Zhuk
Creator
B.J. Novak
Executive Producer
B.J. Novak, John Lesher
Screenwriter
B.J. Novak, Jia Tolentino, Josie Duffy Rice
Network
Hulu
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
Sep 16, 2021