New Southern Sitcom About Starting Over at 50 Has Viewers Completely Hooked originally appeared on Parade.
If you loved Reba, there’s a brand-new comedy series that’s about to become your latest obsession. Leanne has taken the streaming world by storm, and trust us – this Southern gem is exactly what your watchlist has been missing.
This isn’t just another sitcom about starting over. Leanne follows real-life stand-up comedian Leanne Morgan through the messy, hilarious reality of rebuilding your life after your husband of 33 years decides to trade you in for a newer model.
With her family and friends as backup, Morgan’s character tackles everything from single motherhood in her 50s to the absolute nightmare that is modern dating.
Since hitting Netflix on July 31st, Leanne has jumped to the number two spot on the platform’s Top 10 Shows list. It seems audiences are absolutely loving it, giving the show a 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes’ Popcornmeter while critics awarded a solid 75% on the Tomatometer.
Watchers are particularly impressed with how the show balances laughs with genuine emotion. Collider praised the series, writing, “Like any good sitcom, Leanne combines goofiness and sincerity to give a platform to women who struggle to believe they can have a second lease on life: awkward at first, but comforting and humorous as it grows.”
The fan response has been overwhelming with support as Netflix’s Instagram is flooded with viewers already pleading for more episodes.
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“Please please please do another season!!! I loooooooved the show just finished it and i feel like im missing something now,” one passionate fan wrote, while another declared, “We need this type of comedy.”
The sitcom is backed by producers Chuck Lorre, known for The Big Bang Theory, and Susan McMartin, known for Mom.
However, what truly sets the show apart is the incredible ensemble cast surrounding Morgan. We’re talking comedy royalty, with Kristen Johnston, Celia Weston, Blake Clark, Ryan Stiles, Graham Rogers and Hannah Pilkes all in the mix.
For Morgan, seeing part of her life story transformed into a Netflix series has been surreal in the best possible way. The 59-year-old comedian opened up to Netflix’s Tudum about the experience.
“This is something I’ve dreamed of since I was a little girl, and it was just as exciting as I imagined. Learning a new medium was definitely a challenge — memorizing new scripts every week was totally new for me — but I loved it. As a stand-up, the comedic timing felt natural, and filming in front of a live audience was especially comfortable. By the end of the season, it really felt like home.”
New Southern Sitcom About Starting Over at 50 Has Viewers Completely Hooked first appeared on Parade on Aug 16, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
