"Happy's Place" is an American comedy television series that first aired on October 18, 2024, on NBC. The show was created by Kevin and Julie Abbott and features actors Reba McEntire, Melissa Peterman, Belissa Escobedo, and Rex Linn. The story follows a woman who receives a bar from her father after his death and later learns she has a younger half-sister who also inherits part of the bar. In February 2025, the series was given a second season, which began on November 7, 2025. In February 2026, the show was renewed for a third season.

Plot

Bobbie McAllister receives half of the ownership of a bar in Knoxville, Tennessee, called "Happy's Place," from her father, Happy. A young woman named Isabella is discovered to be Bobbie's half-sister. Isabella was born from a relationship between Happy and a woman named Maritza Sanchez. Because they both own the bar, Bobbie and Isabella begin managing it together while learning to work as family members.

Cast and characters

• Reba McEntire plays Bobbie, a woman who inherits half of a tavern in Knoxville, Tennessee, called Happy's Place. The tavern was started by her father, Happy. Bobbie is also the half-sister of Isabella from their father's side.
• Belissa Escobedo plays Isabella, Bobbie's Mexican American half-sister from their father's side. Isabella also inherits half of Happy's Place after Happy's death.
• Melissa Peterman plays Gabby, a bartender at Happy's Place. Peterman and McEntire both appeared in the show Reba (2001–2007).
• Rex Linn plays Emmett, a quiet cook at Happy's Place and a long-time friend of Happy.
• Pablo Castelblanco plays Steve, an accountant at Happy's Place who is very careful about germs and has habits that are hard to change. Steve is Colombian American.
• Tokala Black Elk plays Takoda, a Native American waiter at Happy's Place.

• Michael O'Neill plays Jim Jackoway, Happy's lawyer who tells Bobbie and Isabella they are related.
• Steve Howey plays Danny, Gabby's friend. Howey appeared with McEntire and Peterman in Reba (2001–2007).
• Christopher Rich plays Maverick, a tattoo artist who had a stroke. Rich also appeared with McEntire and Peterman in Reba (2001–2007).
• Justina Machado plays Maritza Sanchez, Isabella's mother and Happy's former lover.
• Carol Kane plays Theresa (season 2).
• Christopher Lloyd plays Clive (season 2).
• JoAnna Garcia Swisher plays Kenzie (season 2), a local influencer and actress. Swisher appeared with McEntire and Peterman in Reba (2001–2007).
• Jane Lynch plays Val (season 2), Gabby's mother.

Production

The series was created by Kevin Abbott, who is the head of the show and an executive producer. Other executive producers include Michael Hanel, Pamela Fryman, Mindy Schultheis, and Julie Abbott. Reba McEntire is also an executive producer. On January 29, 2024, NBC agreed to develop a pilot episode for the series. On May 7, 2024, NBC approved the series to be made and named it Happy's Place. Universal Television produces the series. On November 15, 2024, the series received more scripts, increasing the season’s total to 13 episodes. On November 21, 2024, the series added 5 more episodes, giving it a full first season of 18 episodes. On February 20, 2025, NBC renewed the series for a second season. On February 2, 2026, NBC renewed the series for a third season.

Reba McEntire, who helped create the first episode, plays the main character, Bobbie. On March 18, 2024, Melissa Peterman and Belissa Escobedo were cast in main roles for the pilot. Later the same day, Rex Linn, Tokala Black Elk, and Pablo Castelblanco were also cast in main roles for the pilot. McEntire and Peterman previously appeared together on the TV show Reba.

Happy's Place is filmed at Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City, California, but the story takes place in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Broadcast

The show Happy's Place first aired on October 18, 2024, on NBC in the United States. The second season of the show began on November 7, 2025. In Canada, new episodes of the show air one day before they air in the United States on CTV.

Reception

The website Rotten Tomatoes collected reviews and reported a 73% approval rating, with an average score of 5.8 out of 10 based on 11 critic reviews. Metacritic, which calculates scores using a weighted average, gave a rating of 60 out of 100 based on 8 critics, showing that reviews were mixed or average.

Reba McEntire, who plays Bobbie on Happy's Place, was nominated for Favorite Female TV Star (Family) at the 2025 Kids' Choice Awards.