A group of young people grapple with becoming grownups in new ensemble comedy Adults
There is something about a ragtag group of friends that the television industry just loves to latch on to. From Three’s Company in 1977 to Seinfeld in ’89, Friends in ’94 and How I Met Your Mother in 2005, proof that the ensemble comedy is alive and well rests in the DNA of shows such as HBO’s Girls and Netflix’s new Tina Fey dramedy, The Four Seasons.
Joining the ranks of these predecessors and various other contemporaries is FX’s series Adults, premiering with two episodes this Wednesday on FX Canada, and available on Disney+ the following day.
Created by Ben Kronengold and Rebecca Shaw — both of whom got their start as writers for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon — Adults follows a group of 20-somethings in New York City who get a real taste of adulthood while staying at a friend’s childhood home while his parents are away exploring America in an RV.
The friend in question, Samir (Malik Elassal), has taken on the role of “de facto man of the house,” per the FX-released press materials, and is responsible for taking care of the home in his parents’ absence despite the fact that he can barely take care of himself. Described as “struggling to launch,” Samir is growing into a fine young man but still struggles to understand the complexities of his parents’ boiler and the importance of separating laundry.
Growing up, Samir had his parents to rely on, but he also had Billie (Lucy Freyer). His childhood best friend, Billie was quick to mature and often found herself in control of matters, regardless of the situation. But after a poor choice at work that ended with her “vaguely threaten[ing] her boss,” Billie is back at square one: questioning her choices and mulling over her previously decided-upon path in life.
Joining Samir and Billie in their quests to be kind and functioning members of society are fellow burgeoning adults Issa (Amita Rao), Anton (Owen Thiele) and the always full-named Paul Baker (Jack Innanen).
Issa, who has been prone to collecting odd jobs as she learns which passion she wants to channel her energy into, is currently teaching a children’s dance class. Ever the driven activist type, Issa is someone who “loves her friends hard but struggles to feel heard.” When audiences meet Issa, she is neck deep in learning more about organized religion but has found that they all have one common thread: people talking. When she is not running around looking for work or divine answers, Issa spends the bulk of her time with her boyfriend, Paul Baker.
Paul Baker is known by both names despite the fact that he is the only Paul in their immediate friend group. Why? Well, some people just suit their full name better (like Colin Robinson of FX’s vampire comedy What We Do in the Shadows, for instance). A kind Canadian who moved to New York City to leave his imprint on the city — or maybe to have the city leave its imprint on him — Paul Baker is happy to have finally found a friend group that suits his personality and his lifestyle.
Last but not least in the group is Anton, “the only member of the friend group with a real job, even though he doesn’t quite understand what it is.” Despite initially only having ties to Samir, his college roommate, Anton has developed a close, and nearly boundary-free relationship with all four of the others. Although the connection is genuine, intense friendships are par for the course with Anton and his oozing charisma.
“We’re so grateful to be telling this story about a group of friends navigating the hardest, horniest time of life together,” Kronengold and Shaw said in a joint statement after Adults was picked up. “FX comedies have defined our generation, and we can’t wait to show them the consequences.”
Adults premieres Wednesday, May 28 on FX Canada