''Happy!'' is an American live-action/adult animated

black comedy Black comedy, also known as dark comedy, morbid humor, or gallows humor, is a style of comedy that makes light of subject matter that is generally considered taboo, particularly subjects that are normally considered serious or painful to discus ...

action Action may refer to: * Action (narrative), a literary mode * Action fiction, a type of genre fiction * Action game, a genre of video game Film * Action film, a genre of film * ''Action'' (1921 film), a film by John Ford * ''Action'' (1980 fil ...

drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has been ...

television series based on the four-issue comic book series of the same name created by writer

Grant Morrison Grant Morrison, MBE (born 31 January 1960) is a Scottish comic book writer, screenwriter, and producer. Their work is known for its nonlinear narrative A narrative, story, or tale is any account of a series of related events or experiences, w ...

and artist

Darick Robertson Darick W. Robertson is an American artist best known for his work as a comic book illustrator on series he co-created, notably ''Transmetropolitan'' (1997–2002) and '' The Boys'' (2006–2012; 2020). Robertson has illustrated hundreds of comic ...

, with Brian Taylor serving as director for a majority of the episodes (seven of the first eleven). The series premiered on

Syfy Syfy (formerly Sci-Fi Channel, later shortened to Sci Fi; stylized as SYFY) is an American basic cable channel owned by the NBCUniversal Television and Streaming division of Comcast's NBCUniversal through NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. Lau ...

on December 6, 2017, receiving mostly positive reviews. On January 29, 2018, it was announced that Syfy had renewed the series for a second season, which premiered on March 27, 2019. On June 4, 2019, the series was cancelled by Syfy after two seasons.

Premise

Disgraced police detective Nick Sax (

Christopher Meloni Christopher Peter Meloni (; born April 2, 1961) is an American actor. He is known for his television roles as NYPD Detective Elliot Stabler on the NBC legal drama '' Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' for its first 12 seasons and its spin-off ...

) lives as a social outcast, filling his days with heavy drinking and substance abuse, moonlighting as a hitman to feed his various habits. After sustaining a massive heart attack, Nick comes into contact with a small, blue, winged unicorn named Happy (an animated character voiced by

Patton Oswalt Patton Peter Oswalt (born January 27, 1969) is an American stand-up comedian, actor and writer. He is known as Spence Olchin in the sitcom ''The King of Queens'' (1998–2007) and for narrating the sitcom '' The Goldbergs'' (2013–present) as ...

) that apparently only he can see. Happy explains he is the

imaginary friend Imaginary friends (also known as pretend friends, invisible friends or made-up friends) are a psychological and social phenomenon where a friendship or other interpersonal relationship takes place in the imagination rather than physical reality. ...

of a little girl named Hailey, who has been kidnapped by a deranged man dressed as Santa Claus ("Very Bad Santa"). Happy reveals that Hailey is Nick's estranged daughter and sought Nick's aid, believing him to be the hero cop that Hailey envisioned him to be. Though skeptical at first, Nick reluctantly agrees and the two work to save Hailey. The events of their search slowly begin to reveal the existence of a massive, global conspiracy involving child trafficking, sex cults, aliens, ancient gods, and the apocalypse.

Cast and characters

Main

as Nick Sax, a cynical, alcoholic ex-detective turned ex-hitman turned cab driver *

Ritchie Coster Ritchie Coster (born 1 July 1967) is an English actor. He is best known for playing the roles of Dietrich Banning in '' The Tuxedo'' (2002), the Chechen in ''The Dark Knight'' (2008), Elias Kassar in '' Blackhat'' (2015), Mayor Austin Chessani o ...

as Francisco "Mr. Blue" Scaramucci, a wealthy, insecure, and temperamental crime boss who poses as a legitimate businessman and wine importer ** Coster also portrays

Orcus Orcus ( la, Orcus) was a god of the underworld, punisher of broken oaths in Etruscan and Roman mythology. As with Hades, the name of the god was also used for the underworld itself. In the later tradition, he was conflated with Dis Pater. A ...

, the Roman god of death who possesses Scaramucci's body *

Lili Mirojnick Lili Mirojnick (born April 9, 1984) is an American actress. She has appeared in guest roles in episodes of various television series, and may be best known for her main cast role as Det. Meredith McCarthy on the Syfy television series '' Happy!''. ...

as Meredith "Merry" McCarthy, a resilient homicide detective with a dark past * Medina Senghore as Amanda Hansen, Nick's ex-wife and Hailey's mother *

Patrick Fischler Patrick S. Fischler (born December 29, 1969) is an American character actor known for his roles as Jimmy Barrett on the drama series ''Mad Men'', Dharma Initiative worker Phil on the drama series '' Lost'' and Detective Kenny No-Gun on the poli ...

as "Smoothie" / "The Bunny", one of Mr. Blue's enforcers and a sociopathic killer who specializes in interrogation and torture *

as the voice of Happy, an "imaginary" blue, goofy, cartoonish, winged unicorn * Christopher Fitzgerald as Louis Sheinberg, a children's entertainer also known as "Sonny Shine", and to Blue as "Mr. Bug" (season 2; recurring season 1) * Bryce Lorenzo as Hailey Louise Hansen, a young girl who was kidnapped, and sends her imaginary friend Happy to find help (season 2; recurring season 1)

Recurring

Joseph D. Reitman Joseph David Reitman (born May 25, 1968) is an American actor, producer, director, and writer. Early life Joe Reitman grew up in Brookline, Massachusetts, and majored in theatre at Pitzer College in Claremont, California, in order to pursu ...

as Very Bad Santa, a delusional, drug-addicted psychopath dressed like Santa Claus who kidnaps children (recurring season 1; guest season 2) *

Debi Mazar Deborah Anne Mazar Corcos (; born August 13, 1964) is an American actress and television personality, known for playing sharp-tongued women. She began her career with supporting roles in ''Goodfellas'' (1990), '' Little Man Tate'' (1991) and ''S ...

as Isabella Scaramucci, Blue's sister, star of the reality show ''Secrets of My Sussex'', and mother of the four Scaramucci brothers gunned down by Sax * Gus Halper as Michelangelo "Disco Mikey" Scaramucci, the youngest of Isabella's sons (season 1) * Laura Poe as Jessica McCarthy, Merry's elderly widowed mother (season 1) *

Michael Maize Michael Maize (born Michael Meyer; December 1, 1974) is an American motion picture and television actor, perhaps best known for his role of Daniel in the film '' National Treasure: Book of Secrets''. Biography Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisc ...

as Le Dic, an arms dealer connected to Nick Sax's past * Carly Sullivan as Gala Scaramucci, Blue's wife * Dante Pereira-Olson as Gerry Scaramucci, Blue's son * Jaimie Kelton as the voice of Bo Peep, an imaginary friend and Happy's love interest * Antonia Rey as Assunta, Blue and Isabella Scaramucci's spiritual aunt *

Joseph Perrino Joseph Perrino (born April 30, 1982) is an American actor. He is best known for his role in the drama film ''Sleepers'' in 1996. Life and career Joseph Perrino is an American film, television and stage actor, best known for his roles in the fe ...

as Pal Scaramucci, one of Isabella Scaramucci's sons (season 1) *

Ann-Margret Ann-Margret Olsson (born April 28, 1941) is a Swedish–American actress, singer, and dancer. As an actress and singer, she is credited as Ann-Margret. She is known for her roles in '' Pocketful of Miracles'' (1961), ''State Fair'' (1962), '' ...

as Bebe Debarge, a former actress and Sonny Shine's wife (season 2) *

Big Show Paul Donald Wight II (born February 8, 1972) is an American professional wrestler and actor. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) as an in-ring performer, and as a commentator for its web television show, '' AEW Dark: Elevation,'' under ...

as Big Pink, Blue's prison boyfriend (season 2) *

Laura Darrell Laura Darrell is an American actress, singer, and audiobook narrator best known for the recurring roles of Anna in the TV series ''Dietland (TV series), Dietland'' and Sister Lee in the TV series ''Happy! (TV series), Happy!''. In theater Laura ...

as Sister Lee (season 2) *

Curtis Armstrong Curtis Armstrong (born November 27, 1953) is an American actor and singer best known for playing the role of Booger in the ''Revenge of the Nerds'' movies, Herbert Viola on the TV series ''Moonlighting'', Miles Dalby in the film '' Risky Busines ...

as Dayglo Doug (season 2) *

Daniel Sunjata Daniel Sunjata Condon (born December 30, 1971) is an American actor who performs in film, television and theater. He is known for his role as Franco Rivera in the FX television series '' Rescue Me''. Early life and education Sunjata was born a ...

as Simon (season 2)

Guest

Jerry Springer Gerald Norman Springer (born February 13, 1944) is a British-American broadcaster, journalist, actor, producer, former lawyer, and politician. He hosted the tabloid talk show ''Jerry Springer'' between September 30, 1991 and July 26, 2018, an ...

as himself (in "What Smiles are For") *

Alison Fraser Alison Fraser (born in Natick, Massachusetts) is an American actress, voice actress and singer who has appeared on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and in television and film. In concert, she has performed at such venues as Carnegie Hall, The White House ...

as Mrs. Claus (in "When Christmas Was Christmas") *

Billy West William Richard Werstine (born April 16, 1952), known professionally as Billy West, is an American voice actor. His voice roles include Bugs Bunny in the 1996 film ''Space Jam'' and several subsequent projects, the title characters of ''Doug'' ...

as the voice of Raspberry, an imaginary purple three-headed bulldog (in "The Scrapyard of Childish Things") *

"Weird Al" Yankovic Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic ( ; born October 23, 1959) is an American singer, musician, songwriter, record producer, actor and author. He is best known for creating comedy songs that make light of pop culture and often parody specifi ...

as the voice of Smoking Man Baby (in "19 Hours and 13 Minutes") *

as Janet Sax, mother of Nick Sax (in "Pervapalooza") * Amanda Palmer as leader of the Blue Feather (in "Five Chicken Fingers and a Gun") *

Jeff Goldblum Jeffrey Lynn Goldblum (; born October 22, 1952) is an American actor and musician. He has starred in some of the highest-grossing films of his era, such as ''Jurassic Park'' (1993) and ''Independence Day'' (1996), as well as their sequels. ...

God In monotheism, monotheistic thought, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator deity, creator, and principal object of Faith#Religious views, faith.Richard Swinburne, Swinburne, R.G. "God" in Ted Honderich, Honderich, Ted. (ed)''The Ox ...

(in "Resurrection")

Episodes

Season 1 (2017–18)

Season 2 (2019)

Production

Happy was originally voiced by

Bobby Moynihan Bobby Moynihan (born January 31, 1977) is an American actor, comedian and writer who was a cast member on ''Saturday Night Live'' from 2008 until 2017. He also voiced Louie Duck on Disney's ''DuckTales'' from 2017 to 2021, Panda in ''We Bare Be ...

in the pilot, but was later replaced by

Release

The series premiered on

on December 6, 2017. On January 29, 2018, it was announced that Syfy had renewed the series for a second season, which premiered on March 27, 2019. On June 4, 2019, the series was cancelled by Syfy after two seasons.

Reception

Critical response

The

review aggregator A review aggregator is a system that collects reviews of products and services (such as films, books, video games, software, hardware, and cars). This system stores the reviews and uses them for purposes such as supporting a website where users ...

website

Rotten Tomatoes Rotten Tomatoes is an American review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee, and Stephen Wang ...

reported an approval rating of 80% with an average rating of 6.2/10 based on 35 reviews. The website's critical consensus states, "''Happy!'' certainly isn't for everyone, but its appealingly oddball concept and strong performances from Chris Meloni and Patton Oswalt make for a gritty, dark comedy with definite—albeit unusual—appeal."

Metacritic Metacritic is a website that review aggregator, aggregates reviews of films, TV shows, music albums, video games and formerly, books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted arithmetic mean, weighted average). M ...

, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 65 out of 100 based on 21 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

Ratings

Season 1

Season 2

Notes

References

External links

* * {{Syfy Shows (current and upcoming), state=collapsed 2010s American black comedy television series 2010s American comedy-drama television series 2010s American crime drama television series 2017 American television series debuts 2019 American television series endings American crime comedy television series American fantasy television series American television series with live action and animation Christmas television series English-language television shows Fictional portrayals of the New York City Police Department Serial drama television series Syfy original programming Television series about organized crime Television series about television Television series based on classical mythology Television series based on Image Comics Television series by Universal Content Productions Television shows set in New York City