As a long-time fan who’s seen more sitcoms than I can count sheep at night, let me tell you that the reunion of Reba McEntire, Melissa Peterman, and Steve Howey on NBC’s Happy’s Place was a joy to behold. It’s not every day that you get to see your favorite TV family reunite, especially when they’re not even playing their original characters!
During the 2024 television schedule’s holiday season, NBC broadcasted special episodes, and following the Christmas episode of “Lopez vs Lopez,” they aired “Happy’s Place” on NBC for the first time ever as a special. This comedy series, which already functions as an unofficial reunion, brings back Reba McEntire working alongside Melissa Peterman from their old show “Reba,” and their showrunner Kevin Abbott is also involved. The reunion grew even larger when Steve Howey made an appearance in Episode 7, and as a fan of “Reba,” I’m thrilled he participated.
Known for portraying Van on the sitcom airing on The WB/CW, Howey took on a role in “Happy’s Place” as Danny, a friend of Gabby’s (Peterman) and a businessman aiming to lease a venue for his employees’ holiday party. Naturally, a series of mishaps transpire when Gabby fabricates her identity, pretending to be Bobby (McEntire), the bar’s proprietor.
It’s not unexpected that the three actors got along wonderfully on set, and their comedic camaraderie was contagious, making this one of the funniest episodes in the show’s history so far. Despite receiving mixed opinions from critics during its early stages, this NBC series has episodes like these that demonstrate it’s worth persevering.
It’s not common for sitcom stars to collaborate again, especially in new roles, but as Howey explained to TVInsider, making the decision was straightforward for him. In his own words:
Kevin Abbott, the producer of Reba and currently working on Happy’s Place, contacted me with an intriguing idea for a character and asked if I’d like to join in on the fun. Needless to say, I jumped at the opportunity! It felt right, not awkward or unsettling, and it wasn’t about Van.
The long-running comedy series “Reba” concluded in 2007 with a humorous and emotional finale, making a reboot seem unnecessary. While it’s doubtful that followers of the family sitcom will witness a reboot or revival, their reunion on “Happy’s Place” served as a delightful reminder of the trio’s comedic prowess when performing together on stage.
Despite the holiday episode not bringing back the entire cast of “Reba”, it did provide an opportunity for three key actors to collaborate once more under the guidance of their cherished showrunner. Intriguingly, this was the motivation behind Howey accepting the guest role in the comedy, having predominantly focused on dramas recently.
I enjoyed the chance to reconnect with some dear childhood friends, Reba McEntire and Melissa Peterman. I’ve long admired Reba, calling her the Midas of country music. She’s an exceptional individual and a mentor for me. So, when Kevin invited me, I was thrilled and eagerly replied, “When do I start?
During the show’s episode, any direct references to the actors’ past roles on “Reba” were avoided within the narrative, but this didn’t stop Howey from incorporating a bit of nostalgia during an outtake. A clip from NBC’s official TikTok page features Howey’s character momentarily slipping back into his old “Reba” persona, addressing McEntire as “Mrs. H.” In response, Peterman enters the scene, resurrecting her character Barbara Jean, claiming that she had been hiding in witness protection.
As a dedicated fan, I’m crossing my fingers that Howey’s character will have another opportunity to return in upcoming episodes. With a bit of luck, if Happy’s Place continues for multiple seasons, we might just see more appearances by Reba!
On Fridays at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, you can tune into CBS to watch the latest episodes of “Happy’s Place.” If you miss it, don’t worry! You can stream it the next day with a Peacock subscription. For those who want to revisit the charm of McEntire, Peterman, and Howey, you can access all six seasons of “Reba” on Hulu with a subscription.
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2024-12-09 23:37