
Scripted series · ABC
Suburgatory
Escape is not an option.
Who's in it
Cast
The principal ensemble across the run of the series.
The Nutevio profile
TV DNA
How Suburgatory actually feels to watch, measured on the traits our editors track across every series.
Signature profile
Suburgatory reads strongest on Humour, Character Depth and Bingeability.
How often the series is genuinely funny, by design.
How fully written and psychologically layered the ensemble is.
How hard it is to stop after one episode.
How much each hour depends on the one before it.
How often an episode ends on a hook you can't ignore.
The sustained pressure the series keeps you under.
Visual ambition — scale, craft and set-piece filmmaking.
The scale, internal logic and texture of the world.
How much the series is designed to affect you.
The story
What it's about
Single father George Altman is doing his best to raise his sixteen-year-old daughter Tessa in the big city. When he discovers a box of condoms in her bedroom, though, he decides the time has come to move her to a more wholesome and nurturing environment: the suburbs. But behind the beautiful homes and perfect lawns lurk the Franken-moms, spray tans, nose jobs, and Red Bull-guzzling teens who have nothing in common with Tessa. It’s a whole new world, one that makes George wonder if they haven’t jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire.
Where the series peaks
Best Episodes
The hours that define the show, ranked by audience response and editorial signal.

S01E11
Out in the Burbs
When Tessa is asked to show new guy Josh Sherman around school, she becomes convinced that he's gay, when in fact he's an undercover narcotics officer. Lisa becomes deeply infatuated with Josh, and Tessa inadvertly convinces Mr. Wolfe to make special announcement to the student body. Meanwhile George re-evaluates his relationship with Dallas.
- Written by Bob Kushell

S01E01
Pilot
Tessa and her father experience culture shock when they move out of New York and into a house in the suburbs.
- Directed by Michael Fresco

S01E05
Halloween
Tessa channels her inner "suburban girl" for a Halloween costume, but it ends up spooking her friends and everyone at school since she reminds them of a recently "departed" resident of Chatswin. And George is determined to prove to Halloween-hater Dallas that being scared can be fun, but gets a scare of his own when Steven Royce (guest star Jay Mohr), Dallas' husband, finally comes home from one of his many business trips.
- Directed by Adam Davidson
- Written by Andrew Guest

S01E10
Driving Miss Dalia
When Tessa gets her driver's license, Dalia hires her to drive her around to stalk her crush, Scott Strauss. As a result Tessa realizes that she and Scott might have feelings for each other. Meanwhile George and Noah's relationship is put to the test when George decides he wants to join the local country club.
- Directed by Ken Whittingham

S01E07
Sweet Sixteen
When Tessa tells Dallas that she wants a simple get together for her sixteenth birthday, Dallas convinces her to let Dalia plan the ultimate birthday extravaganza at the country club, complete with a live performance by her favorite band, specialty drinks and go-go cages. Meanwhile George throws his back out and Sheila Shay takes it upon herself to care for him, even though George is terrified of her.
- Directed by Adam Davidson

S01E08
Thanksgiving
Depressed that she has to spend Thanksgiving in the suburbs, Tessa convinces Dallas to take her to the city for a girls' day out. During their fun day, they run across George making out with a woman while he was supposed to be "working." Angry with George for lying to her, Tessa confronts him during the Royces' Thanksgiving dinner. Meanwhile Lisa refuses to wear a special dress Sheila picked out for her, so Sheila decides to literally turn up the heat.
- Directed by Alex Hardcastle
Behind the series
Created by
Showrunners, creators, executive producers and the writers who set the voice of the series.
The craft
Key Crew
Directing, writing, production, camera, music and editing.
Executive production
- Ken WhittinghamExecutive Producer
Writing
- Annie WeismanWriter
- Emily KapnekWriter
- Patricia BreenWriter
- Brian ChamberlayneWriter
- Brian RubensteinWriter
- Adam BarrWriter
Direction
- Alex HardcastleDirector
- Stuart McDonaldDirector
- Ken WhittinghamDirector
- Uta BriesewitzDirector
- Amy HeckerlingDirector
- Rodman FlenderDirector
Where to watch
Streaming
Availability verified against regional listings.
- NetflixStreaming
- Amazon VideoBuy
- Google Play MoviesBuy
- Fandango At HomeBuy
- Netflix Standard with AdsStreaming
If you liked this
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Where to go from here
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