We are extremely early on into 2022, but I can already tell Somebody Somewhere is going to end up being one of my favorite new shows of the entire year. Bridget Everett has shown up in series like Unbelievable, Living with Yourself, Lady Dynamite, Camping, and Inside Amy Schumer, plus films like Trainwreck and Breaking News in Yuba County. Somebody Somewhere finally gives Bridget Everett a leading performance that she has long deserved.
In Somebody Somewhere, Sam (Bridget Everett) is a story of grappling with loss and acceptance set in Manhattan, Kansas. She finds that singing is her saving grace, and she is taken on a journey to discover a community of outsiders like herself in her tiny Kansas town. It proves that you have a somebody somewhere out there. Rounding out the cast alongside Everett is Jeff Hiller as vision-board-dreaming Joel, Mary Catherine Garrison as Sam’s sister Tricia, Mike Hagerty as Sam’s farming father, Danny McCarthy as Sam’s brother-in-law and Tricia’s husband Rick, Murray Hill as Fred Rococo, and Jon Hudson Odom as Joel’s boyfriend Michael.
This quirky, eccentric comedy brings together a cast of colorful characters for a story that is emotional and touching but also laugh-out-loud hilarious. These people feel so authentic, and it didn’t feel like anyone was acting. A lot of people will relate to what Sam is going through, trying to find her place in the world when she doesn’t even know what she wants to begin with.
The show is among the most inclusive on TV with actors of several different races, sexual orientations, and gender identities. In what seems like a utopia at times — a middle America town with devout Christians and queer people and everyday folks — it paints a picture of what the world probably should be. Some of today’s most popular TV shows are pure escapism and focus on people that don’t represent common folks. Succession is great for when you want to see millionaire families going through rich people problems, and Euphoria paints a picture of what high school looks like at Euphoria High. However, sometimes it’s just as nice to watch normal oddballs portrayed on screen (without making a caricature out of them).
Music is an extremely important part of Somebody Somewhere, so let’s break down the music featured in the show…
Season 1, Episode 1: “BFD”
“Kansas State Line” by Connie Conway
Heard at the very beginning of the episode
“Ashford” Lydia Ramsey
Heard while Sam (Bridget Everett) goes over to her niece’s house
“Conga” by Gloria Estefan
Heard when it’s performed at the Presbyterian church
“Don’t Give Up” by Peter Gabriel
Heard when Sam (Bridget Everett) sings the song live at the Presbyterian church
“My Sentiment” by Universal Togetherness Band
Heard playing over the end credits
Season 1, Episode 2: “Knick-Knacks and Doodads”
“Dale Fuego” by Edalam ft. Myf & Cuban Mob
Heard while Joel (Jeff Hiller) is doing Zoomba in his garage
Season 1, Episode 3: “Egg Shells”
“Piece Of My Heart” by Janis Joplin
Heard when Sam (Bridget Everett) sings the song live at the Presbyterian Church
“Making Love Out of Nothing At All” by Air Supply
Heard playing over the end credits
Season 1, Episode 4: “Feast of St. Francis”
“Everybody Loves Somebody” by Dean Martin
Heard playing over the end credits
Season 1, Episode 5: “Tee-Tee Pa-Pah”
No songs
Season 1, Episode 6: “Life Could be a Dream”
“Sh-Boom” by The Chords
Heard playing over the end credits after Sam (Bridget Everett) sings it to her mom
Season 1, Episode 7: “Mrs. Diddles”
“My Sentiment” by Universal Togetherness Band
Heard playing on Fred’s (Murray Hill) party bus
“Dust in the Wind” by Kansas
Heard playing over the end credits
Season 1 of Somebody Somewhere is now streaming in its entirety exclusively on HBO Max. The series has already been renewed for an upcoming second season.