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Reba McEntire's New Comedy Series 'Happy's Place' Launches: What You Should Know

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Reba McEntire's New Comedy Series 'Happy's Place' Launches: What You Should Know

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Golden Globe-nominated actress and Oklahoma native Reba McEntire returns to series television with her highly anticipated new sitcom, Happy's Place.

The half-hour series premieres Friday, October 18 at 7 p.m. on NBC.

All new episodes will stream the next day on Peacock, along with the rest of NBC's entertainment lineup.

Here's what you should know about Reba's new show “Happy's Place”:

What is Reba's new sitcom “Happy's Place” about and who stars alongside her?

Reba confirmed in a spring interview with The Oklahoman that filming for the pilot episode of Happy's Place, which stars Belissa Escobedo, Melissa Peterman, Pablo Castelblanco, Tokala Black Elk and Rex Linn, wrapped in April.

In the new multi-camera series, Reba plays Bobbie, who inherits her father's Tennessee bar, Happy's Place, when he dies. After running the tavern for many years, her character is less than thrilled when she learns that she has a new business partner: Isabella, the much younger half-sister she never knew she had, played by ” Blue Beetle” star Escobedo.

Peterman plays Gabby, a longtime bartender at the tavern who wishes she were Bobbie's sister, while Linn, Reba's actor friend and fellow Oklahoman, plays a taciturn chef named Emmett.

“Yellowstone” actor Black Elk, a member of the Oglala Sioux tribe and a direct descendant of the Lakota saint Black Elk, was cast as a friendly waiter with handyman skills named Takoda. Castelblanco (“Alaska Daily”) plays Steve, the restaurant’s bookkeeper, who does his work at the bar and doesn’t like change.

Reba and Peterman became infamously close friends when they starred in the still-popular TV series Reba from 2001-07. Last month, they had a storming performance as hosts at the Primetime Emmy Awards, where their presence on the red carpet made Ayo Edebiri, an Emmy-winning star of the hit FX series “The Bear,” literally squeal with joy.

In the first two episodes of “Happy's Place,” there's good chemistry between all of the cast, and the warm-hearted jokers hold up for the most part. Plus, Reba sings at the beginning of the second episode, which is always a plus.

Who works behind the scenes at Happy's Place?

“Reba” executive producers Kevin Abbott, Michael Hanel and Mindy Schultheis are back together for the new project, along with Julie Abbott, a new addition to the creative team.

Kevin Abbott is also the writer of the new series, while Reba is an executive producer.

“My crew, my producers and my showrunner, we have been working together for a long time. Since 2006, when 'Reba' was canceled, we've been trying to find a different story,” Reba told The Oklahoman in a one-off interview. One-on-one interview behind the scenes at the Western Heritage Awards in April in Oklahoma City.

“My showrunner Kevin Abbott and his wife Julie had this idea – and we made it happen. And NBC liked it so much that we shot a pilot, and we hope to find out soon if we get it to take it a step further forward.”

The Abbotts are credited with creating the series. Matt Berry and Pamela Fryman are also listed as executive producers.

“Happy's Place” is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.

Will we see more stars from the old “Reba” series in “Happy’s Place”?

Reba and Peterman's comeback won't be the only “Reba” reunion in the first season of Happy's Place.

Steve Howey, who played Reba's son-in-law Van Montgomery on “Reba,” will appear in the Christmas episode “Happy's Place” titled “Ho-Ho-Howey,” according to TVLine. Howey will play potential sperm donor Gabby when Peterman's character thinks she wants to have a baby.

“We really want to bring some of the old actors back, in very different roles than the ones they played on Reba. “Steve is our first contestant and we're trying to figure out how to bring JoAnna (Garcia-Swisher) in,” Kevin Abbott told TVLine.

“We only want to have the old cast if we can really use them in a fun and impactful way. This cast was so easy to get along with – Reba sets the tone, so that's no surprise – and this (new) cast is exactly the same.”

Who did Reba write the theme song “Happy's Place” with?

The “Reba” reunion on “Happy's Place” comes at a time when McEntire's eponymous series, for which she was nominated for a 2004 Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy TV Series, continues to be a hit is a popular title.

All episodes of the six-season show are now streaming on Hulu, and the series debuted on Netflix in the spring.

“I'm a Survivor,” the theme song to Reba's first sitcom from 2001-2007, has proven to be a surprisingly staple for the flame-haired hitmaker and continues to inspire internet memes and TikTok trends.

The Country Music Hall of Famer once again sings the theme song to “Happy's Place,” with a warm atmosphere and inviting lyrics designed to make viewers feel at home – and feel the love.

The entertainment icon released the theme to “Happy's Place” via MCA Nashville across all music platforms last week.

The Chockie native teamed up with fellow entertainment icon and legendary songwriter Carole King to write the theme “Happy's Place.”

“I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to write the theme song for 'Happy's Place' with my good friend Carole King,” Reba said in a statement. “It just doesn’t get much better! I hope my fans will love this song as much as they love the theme song for the 'Reba' show.”

What's the deal with the new series Reba airing three times a week on NBC this fall?

Once “Happy's Place” debuts on Friday, fans can expect to see Reba at least three days a week on NBC this fall: The three-time Grammy Award winner has returned to coaching on the Emmy Award-winning series “The Voice” following her win. back season 25 in spring.

Reba mentors contestants on Season 26 of The Voice, alongside returning coach (and Sooner State transplant) Gwen Stefani and newcomers Snoop Dogg and Michael Bublé.

“The Voice” airs Mondays and Tuesdays at 7 p.m. on NBC.

With its Friday slot at 7 p.m., “Happy's Place” kicks off a new NBC comedy hour, followed by the return of the third season of fan favorite “Lopez vs. Lopez,” starring comedian George Lopez, Fridays at 7 p.m :30 p.m. The news magazine “Dateline NBC” crowns the evening on Fridays from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Where in Oklahoma is Reba's real restaurant?

With “Happy’s Place,” Reba is now represented in the restaurant industry both on television and in real life.

Reba told The Oklahoman that she hopes to bring her real-life experiences to the new TV show: She opened her eponymous hometown restaurant, Reba's Place, in a 100-year-old building in downtown Atoka in early 2023.

“I have a lot more knowledge about running a restaurant and tavern than I did before, so I think it will help,” said Reba, who grew up on an Atoka County ranch in nearby Chockie.

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