Before you start watching this show, you should definitely watch Leanne Morgan's comedy special "I'm Every Woman" on Netflix first. This sitcom is named after herself and is full of jokes and moments inspired by her real life and the stories she tells on stage. Her Netflix special was her big breakthrough and covers the same themes you will see in this sitcom, like her marriage, motherhood, and life in small-town Tennessee. Watching it first will help you catch the many little references to her Southern family stories and middle-aged mom experiences.
This sitcom is based on real events from her life, but not everything in it is true. Some parts are changed to make a better TV story. For example, in the show her husband leaves her after 33 years of marriage, but in real life she is still happily married. The fictional parts give the show more drama and a clear story arc while still keeping the warmth and humor of her real-life personality.
Her comedy special on YouTube also gives you some helpful background, but I'm Every Woman is a must-watch for understanding all the show's references.
The Story
The show starts with a big shock - Leanne's husband of 33 years suddenly leaves her by sending an email! Can you believe that? After more than three decades of marriage, he just emails her to say he's found someone else and wants a divorce. Leanne is completely devastated and doesn't know what to do with her life. Her husband Bill, who owns RV dealerships, decides he's tired of being married and wants to start over with someone new.
Leanne lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, surrounded by her loving but sometimes crazy family. Her younger sister Carol comes to stay with her after hearing the bad news. Carol has been married and divorced twice, so she knows what it's like when relationships fall apart. She moves from Chicago back home to help Leanne get through this tough time.
The family also includes Leanne's elderly parents, Mama Margaret and Daddy John, who think Bill is the perfect husband and can't believe he would do something so mean. Leanne and Carol try to keep the divorce a secret from them at first because they know it will upset them terribly. When they finally find out, Mama Margaret actually faints from the shock and has to go to the hospital!
Leanne also has two grown-up children. Her son Tyler works for his dad at the RV business and has a wife named Nora who's always having babies. Her daughter Josie is a free spirit who doesn't want to get married or have kids, which makes her different from everyone else in their small town where people expect young women to settle down and start families.
As the story continues, we meet several other important people. There's Mary, Leanne's nosy neighbor who goes to church with her and always wants to know everyone's business. Then Carol starts dating a man named Dylan who seems really nice - he's a plumber who once saved Carol from choking at a restaurant. But it turns out Dylan is actually a criminal who robs banks! An FBI agent named Andrew comes looking for Dylan, and Leanne starts falling in love with Andrew instead.
Throughout the 16 episodes, we watch Leanne try to figure out how to live without her husband. She goes to lawyers to work out the divorce, tries to start dating again, and deals with family drama. Her ex-husband Bill keeps trying to come back, especially after his new girlfriend Faye (who happens to be a dentist) announces she's pregnant with his baby. This makes everything even more complicated.
The show follows Leanne as she slowly learns to be independent. She buys herself a fancy car (a Cadillac Escalade), starts working out to get a "revenge body" and eventually begins a sweet romance with Andrew the FBI agent. There are lots of funny moments, like when Leanne accidentally fires a shotgun in her house when she finds Bill taking a shower, or when the family tries to throw a wedding for her parents but everything goes wrong.
One of the most touching parts of the story is watching the relationship between Leanne and her sister Carol. Carol feels like she doesn't have much purpose in life since she's never had children or a successful career, but Leanne helps her realize how important she is to the family. When Carol starts feeling sorry for herself, Leanne makes sure she knows how much everyone loves and needs her.
The show also deals with some serious topics, like when Leanne and Carol get into a car accident with their neighbor Mary. After the crash, Carol starts thinking about what would happen if she died and worries that nobody would care. This leads to some really heartfelt conversations about family and what makes life meaningful.
In the final episodes, Andrew wants to take Leanne on a romantic weekend getaway, but she's nervous about it because she hasn't been on vacation with a man in decades. While they're away, there's drama back home when Bill has what everyone thinks is a heart attack but turns out to be just a panic attack. During this scare, Leanne and Bill finally have an honest conversation about why their marriage failed and what went wrong between them.
The season ends with Tyler's wife Nora having her second baby - this time it's a girl and the whole family coming together to celebrate the new arrival. Even though Leanne and Bill are divorced, they're able to be in the same room peacefully for their new granddaughter.
My Review
Watching "Leanne" felt like spending time with a warm, funny family that welcomes you right into their home. The show does exactly what good sitcoms are supposed to do - it makes you laugh, but it also makes you care about the characters and what happens to them.
Leanne Morgan herself is absolutely delightful as the main character. She brings the same charm and humor from her stand-up comedy into this series, but she also shows that she can handle the more serious, emotional moments too. You really believe that she's a woman whose life has been shattered, but who's determined to put the pieces back together in a better way.
Kristen Johnston, who plays sister Carol, is hilarious and brings lots of energy to every scene. Some people might find her facial expressions a bit over-the-top, but I think that's what makes her character so memorable. Carol is supposed to be the wild, unpredictable sister, and Johnston plays that perfectly.
The supporting cast Is excellent too. The actors who play Leanne's parents, Mama Margaret and Daddy John, are especially good at delivering the kind of one-liners that make you laugh out loud. Ryan Stiles as the ex-husband Bill is convincing as a man who made a terrible mistake and doesn't really know how to fix it.
What I loved most about the show is how it balances comedy with real emotions. Yes, there are lots of funny moments and silly situations, but the show never makes fun of the pain that comes with divorce or family problems. Leanne's hurt feels real, and her journey toward healing and independence is inspiring.
The show also does a great job showing what small-town Southern life is like. The characters go to church together, know all their neighbors' business, and support each other through good times and bad. If you've ever lived in a place like that, you'll recognize how accurate the show is.
However, the show isn't perfect. The laugh track can be pretty annoying - it seems like the audience is laughing at everything, even when the jokes aren't that funny. Some episodes feel rushed, like they're trying to fit too much story into not enough time. And sometimes the situations feel a little too similar to other sitcoms, especially "Reba" which had a very similar setup with a Southern woman dealing with her cheating ex-husband.
The show also has some moments that might make viewers uncomfortable, like when Leanne hits her ex-husband. Even though he definitely deserved to be yelled at for what he did, physical violence isn't really funny, and the show probably shouldn't have played it for laughs.
Despite these issues, "Leanne" succeeds because it has heart. The relationships between the family members feel genuine, and you find yourself rooting for all of them to work through their problems. It's the kind of show that reminds you why family is important, even when they drive you crazy.
The show is perfect for people who enjoy classic-style sitcoms and don't mind humor that's a bit old-fashioned. If you like shows like "Reba", "Everybody Loves Raymond" or "The Golden Girls" you'll definitely enjoy this. It's comfort television - nothing groundbreaking or edgy, but warm, familiar, and satisfying.
If you're already a fan of Leanne Morgan's stand-up comedy, you'll definitely want to watch this show to see her jokes brought to life in a different way. And if you've never heard of her before, this might be a great introduction to her humor and Southern charm.
Watch on Netflix