
Warning: Spoilers Ahead
I don’t know what I was expecting from this series, but it’s a very strange and quirky take on life and dating. I love the surreal tone throughout and that it’s not just all in Josh’s head. If you’re not watching this comedy, you should be.
Have no idea what you’re in for? This clip will give you an idea.
Talk to the Hand:
TV Goodness participated in a press call with series creator/showrunner/EP Simon Rich last week. We talked about how the series came into being, some of the great guest stars they’ve gotten for the show and casting Jay Baruchel as Josh.

When you were writing these stories, did you think about it turning it into a show at some point?
Simon Rich: “When I was first writing the supernatural love stories, I never even imagined that they would get published, let alone be turned into a compilation and, ultimately, a television show. Yes, the stories are very strange and they’re also extremely personal.
I started writing these stories almost as a kind of therapy. I was writing about things that I was going through in my 20s, situations like getting dumped or being resentful of an ex’s new boyfriend. I was just processing it in my own way by writing these insane stories and I was amazed when they started to catch on and really thrilled because I got to write more of them.
I’m so psyched about this show, because now I have all of these writers and they’re bringing in their own personal experiences to the writer’s room. The show’s autobiographical for me, of course, but it’s also hugely autobiographical for all of my writers, for my cast and for my directors and now we all get to play in this strange world together.â€
I’ve really enjoyed the series so far and you’ve gotten some really great guest stars. Can you talk about getting them and who you’ve got coming up?
Simon: “Yes, we’ve been extremely lucky to get some super talented people to be on our weird little show. We had my friend, Bill Hader, in the pilot and also Vanessa [Bayer] from SNL and then we were able to get Sarah Silverman to voice Josh’s right hand and Tim Heidecker to play the bartender who ends up recovering Josh’s lost dick in episode 3.
Later on, Fred Armisen, voices Tanaka, who’s a Japanese penis monster from another dimension. Carrie Brownstein makes a great cameo in episode 8. We’ve got a bunch of other surprises. I don’t want to give it all away. Minka Kelly is in episode 5. She is phenomenal. I can’t wait for people to see her in our show. She really nailed it.
It’s a strange show because it requires you to play some very absurd scenes with a lot of dry naturalism and not everybody can pull it off. We’re thrilled that we’ve had such great actors this season, because I think every single one of them has nailed it.â€

The series’ regulars are so great as well. Can you talk a little bit about what you were looking for in Josh?
Simon: “Obviously, it’s called Man Seeking Woman, so who we cast as the man is the most important creative production decision. I think we won the lottery with Jay because he’s given us everything we needed.
He’s obviously extremely funny and people have known that for a long time. In addition to being hilarious, he is able to play scenes with incredible emotional honesty and subtlety and naturalism, which a show like ours needs desperately in order to balance out all of the heightened supernatural madness we’ve got going on.
I think the show probably wouldn’t work without Jay. He really carries the thing on his back. Our job in the writer’s room, we used to joke, is essentially just to dream up new ways to torture him. That’s what the show is all about, is to figure out new ways to humiliate his character and physically humiliate him. So, Jay’s been a real trooper to go through this journey with us.â€
Edited for space and content.
Man Seeking Woman airs Wednesdays at 10:30/9:30c on FXX.

“Dram” synopsis, from FX:
Josh feels pressure from his family to settle down.

3 Teases:
- Liz (proudly) displays her Type A personality in helping an unwilling Josh get back into the dating game.
- Josh’s mother isn’t shy about getting information out of him in any way she can.
- Torture via social media.
“Dram” preview:
The Inside Story: Jay Baruchel
The Inside Story: Simon Rich
Related posts
Classics
Dennis Heaton Talks The Imperfects
Longtime readers at TV Goodness will know that Motive is one of my ride-or-die series, and as such, I am fiercely loyal to its creator, Dennis Heaton. He followed up that fantastic reverse procedural with Netflix’s The Order and is back on our streaming screens with The Imperfects, which dropped…
Kelly McCormack Talks Favorite Moments in A League of Their Own
[Warning: Mild spoilers for season 1.] Now that you’ve had a chance to watch A League of Their Own, here’s the rest of my chat with Kelly McCormack about her favorite moments of the season. Seeing the iconic Peaches uniforms for the first time wasn’t just a goosebump moment for…
John Griffin and Harold Perrineau Talk From on EPIX Season 1 Finale
[Warning: General spoilers ahead.] How are we doing, #FROMily? In case you missed it this morning, the very good news is that that cliffhanger will be followed by a second season, which was gifted this morning ahead of the linear broadcast of the finale. I always legitimately appreciate when we…
Elizabeth Saunders Talks EPIX’s From
[Warning: General spoilers ahead.] One of the things that makes EPIX’s From such a fun ride is the abundance of Canadian cast members. Elizabeth Saunders, who plays Donna, is a favorite from her turn on the third season of Mary Kills People [streaming on Global TV in Canada and Roku…
Corteon Moore Talks From “Broken Windows, Open Doors”
[Warning: Spoilers for tonight’s episode.] Tonight’s episode of From had us all in our feels as we learned through flashbacks about the Sophie’s Choice Boyd had to make to save his son, and back in the present as Boyd said his piece with Ellis before heading into the woods with…
Pegah Ghafoori Talks From “All Good Things…”
[Warning: Spoilers for tonight’s episode] Tonight on From, Fatima’s anniversary celebration turned into a Colony House of horrors when a misguided Kevin let his monster bae in and she promptly killed him and left the window open for her crew. While the party devolved into terror and sent everyone running,…
Shaun Majumder Talks From “Book 74”
[Warning: Spoilers for tonight’s episode.] Tonight on EPIX’s From, Father Khatri made a bold move, kidnapping Sara instead of turning her in, and then recognizing her as a vessel for some big messages. That startling realization speaks to him on multiple levels–as a man of faith, a man trapped in…
Avery Konrad Talks About Sara’s Struggle in From “Silhouettes”
[Warning: Spoilers for tonight’s episode.] Over the course of the season so far on From, we’ve witnessed Sara’s battle against the voices telling her to to do terrible things, and tonight we saw her unravel further, threatening the Matthews and lashing out in a moment of terror with horrifying results….
Hannah Cheramy Talks From “Choosing Day”
[Warning: Spoilers for tonight’s episode.] Tonight, on EPIX’s From, the Matthews participate in the show’s version of the sorting hat, choosing where to call home–the town or Colony House. At the end of the episode, Julie makes the decision to split from her family and instead settle in with Fatima…
Ricky He Talks From “The Way Things Are Now”
[Warning: Spoilers for episode 102 of EPIX’s From.] Epix’s new series From is two episodes in and it’s already laying the groundwork for a seriously spooky season. Tonight’s episode demonstrated the careful balance of relief and horror that the show hits, with our characters’ worst fears realized, just not when…
What They Said: Three Revealing Conversations from Survivor’s Remorse “Closure”
WARNING: Spoilers for Survivor’s Remorse “Closure” The latest episode of Starz’s Survivor’s Remorse featured conversations that showed characters really digging deep into their thoughts, emotions and motivations.
Two Takes: The Catch “The Knock-Off”
Who can you trust? If this episode of The Catch was any indication, the answer is just about nobody. Betrayal was running rampant as Felicity (Shivani Ghai) arose from the dead to seduce-con Margot, Gretchen (Maria Thayer, Gotham, The Mindy Project) played gold-hearted Alice 2.0 before swindling Ethan, Tessa jumped…
What They Said: Top 3 Quotable Moments from Preacher “El Valero”
Both Quincannon and Jesse refuse to give up on what they each think is rightfully theirs. While Jesse is struggling to face the consequences of his actions, Quincannon has laid his past demons to rest and is hellbent on moving forward and putting Annville on the map again. Despite a…
What They Said: Favorite Quotes from Supergirl “Worlds Finest”
Oh, Supergirl. That ending was cold. But I can’t hate on you because the latest episode has quickly become one of my favorites.
What They Said: Top 4 Quotable Moments from Black Sails “XXIII”
The dialogue in “XXIII” is phenomenal. It’s always a fun ride when Black Sails carries its viewers along without giving them the chance to catch their breath. When an episode moves at this unforgiving pace, there is no chance for a breather nor is there a respite from the information…
What Lucifer Said: Favorite quotes from Supernatural “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”
Supernatural episodes are almost always funny but thanks to the dialogue and a certain man speaking said dialogue, I laughed a lot during “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” You know, when I wasn’t busy fearing for Sam’s life or wondering what in the world was going on with Dean and…
What They Said: The Flash, “Legends Of Today” and Arrow, “Legends Of Yesterday”
Two nights of Arrow + The Flash = what more could we ask for?! I don’t know what it is about blending these shows, but I can’t help but feel that every time they come together, they somehow become greater than the sum of their parts. And that’s saying a lot…
What they Said: Top 4 Quotable Moments from Graceland “Little Bo Bleep”
Shoot outs. Fake outs. And long-awaited revelations. “Little Bo Bleep” was a jam-packed episode that wrapped up some loose ends and totally frayed others. Â It finally gave us one Sarkissian in jail and pulled back the curtain on Briggs’ master plan, but it also set up Jakes for a world…
What They Said: Favorite Quotes from Poldark “Part 4”
“What have I told you, I don’t require my wife to crochet and sip tea, but I do require her to remember she’s not a beast of burden.†No, I’m not talking about The Rolling Stones! I have to admit though, just for a second, the lyrics popped into my…
3 Moments of Goodness from Brooklyn Nine-Nine “Johnny and Dora”
The most satisfying part of this season’s finale has to the Jake and Amy kiss. Well, they kiss three times but the last one is the best one — and it means something. The Charles and Rosa dynamic was also great. I love how she’s convinced he doesn’t know anything…