With humble beginnings in booking comedy gigs and putting out comedy specials on YouTube, Leanne Morgan steadily climbed her way onto Netflix, where she released her stand-up special Leanne Morgan: I’m Every Woman in 2023. This year, she tried her hand at acting, starring in You’re Cordially Invited alongside Reece Witherspoon and Will Ferrell. Now, she is making her debut as the lead of her self-titled Netflix sitcom Leanne, in which she also serves as an executive producer and co-writer. Like her comedy special, Leanne finds a down-to-earth, warm sort of humor that feels like we’re sitting with a friend over coffee and Jello salads. But this is also combined with a classic comedy framework as Morgan has teamed up with sitcom master Chuck Lorre, known for The Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men, to bring this show to life. When the show begins, it takes a second for the collaborators to find their stride together, but soon enough, Morgan’s titular character earns both our heart and our laughs

Leanne is in menopause, has grandchildren, and believes she is too old to start her life all over again, but is forced to when her husband of 33 years, Bill (Ryan Stiles), leaves her for another woman. As her life is turned upside down (via email, no less), Leanne relies on the support of her sister and best friend, Carol (Kristen Johnston), who also has her own share of divorces. Together, they navigate dating for the first time in a long time, dealing with family prejudices and pressures, and the gossip around a suburban area. They find hope and love in the most unexpected places, coming across bizarre scenarios and hilarious interactions, proving that “it is never too late to rewrite your story.” With eight episodes of the sixteen provided for review, the show takes some time to gain momentum. The first couple of episodes, dedicated to setting up exposition, are a little slow and clunky, with some lines coming off a bit more rigid than expected. However, the characters and story eventually found their little groove, flowing smoothly thereafter. Once you make it through that first awkward section, the pacing picks up and the interactions between characters are much more compelling. As the cast expands, each new relationship is also fairly dynamic and offers fun quips. We meet Leanne’s “pride and joy” son (Graham Rogers) and “work in progress” daughter (Hannah Pilkes), who flit in and out of the episodes with their own cheeky subplots. Leanne’s parents, portrayed by Celia Weston and Blake Clark, also bring a delightful layer of riffing off on intergenerational humor. Tom Daly also joins the cast, providing a more grounded counterpart to the chaos in the house. Most of the cast have decent chemistry with each other, giving the show its wholesome sitcom feel as you gradually invest in the characters and their predicaments.

The premise may remind you of another 2000s’ sitcom called Reba, named after the titular character who is also a woman later in life trying to navigate family, friends, and dating after a divorce. Despite their similarities, Leanne gives us a fresh take on the concept, where its lead is more free-spirited and also less concerned with money due to her share in the divorce, leading to more domestic and suburban-related escapades. But the major similarity of giving a second wind to a woman who, in traditional societal views, is considered “past her prime” or even not useful to the community anymore, is honored beautifully in Leanne, as the characters tackle these ideas in a blend of light-hearted and saddening moments. Since Morgan has a history in stand-up, there is already an expectation that the show’s comedy will be strong, and she delivers. Morgan’s dialogue and delivery have the same style as her comedy special, and in regard to jokes, it’s exactly what we need from her. However, she is still finding her footing as an actor, with some of the non-comedy sections not quite exhibiting the same skill. Yet, the sitcom medium definitely suits Morgan’s style, and she nevertheless gives a commendable debut performance as a lead, where she slowly grows into the role. While Morgan takes the comedy in her stride, other cast members sometimes earn weaker parts of the script or can’t quite match Morgan’s panache, making the joke land slightly off-kilter. But between random midnight car rides with your unlicensed father-in-law and doing kegel exercises with your neighbor watching, Leanne still has enough laughs spread across the cast. However, most of the comedy and the heart come from Leanne and Carol’s relationship, as they face their family and friends as a united front while relying on each us in more sobering moments. Morgan and Johnston bounce off each other with sarcastic banter and sisterly ribbing, a bit jarring at first, but their quirks quickly grow on you. 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.

Leanne

Leanne takes its time but builds to a hilarious, heartwarming second-life journey.

Release Date

July 31, 2025

Network

Netflix

Pros & Cons

Once the show hits its stride, the comedy, script, and pace are immersive.
Morgan and Johnston have compelling chemistry as sisters, and their relationship is the heart of the show.
The sitcom delves into hopeful and comforting themes.

The show is stiff at first, and may be hard to initially invest in.
Some of the comedy feels uneven, while occasional jokes are awkward and feel forced.