Kidding (2018)
A darkly tender Showtime drama where America's most beloved children's TV host quietly loses his grip on the world he was built to comfort.
Kidding - Series Information
- First Air Year: 2018
- Last Air Year: 2020
- Created by: Dave Holstein
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Drama, Comedy
- Content Rating (US): TV-MA
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (30 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 2
- Number of Episodes: 20
- Status: Canceled
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: September 9, 2018 (United States - TV-14), September 9, 2018 (Canada - 14+), September 9, 2018 (Germany - 18), September 9, 2018 (France - 18), September 9, 2018 (Mexico - B-15), September 9, 2018 (Spain - 16), September 9, 2018 (South Korea - 19)
- Networks: Showtime
- Production Companies: Aggregate Films, Some Kind of Garden
- Production Countries: United States of America
Kidding - Plot
Jeff, aka Mr. Pickles, is an icon of children's TV. But when his family begins to implode, Jeff finds no fairy tale or fable or puppet will guide him through this crisis, which advances faster than his means to cope. The result: a kind man in a cruel world faces a slow leak of sanity as hilarious as it is heartbreaking.
Kidding - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see Mr. Pickles's world begin to unravel:
Hi. Cruel world.
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Kidding - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Dave Holstein
Main Cast
- Jim Carrey
- Frank Langella
- Judy Greer
- Cole Allen
- Juliet Morris
- Catherine Keener
- Justin Kirk
- Bernard White
- Alex Barrios
- Coda Boesel
Writers
- Dave Holstein
- Mike Vukadinovich
- Jas Waters
- Roberto Benabib
- Joey Mazzarino
Executive Producers
- Raffi Adlan
- Michael Aguilar
- Jim Garavente
- Jim Carrey
- Jason Bateman
Kidding - FAQs
What is Kidding about?
Kidding follows Jeff Piccirillo, better known as Mr. Pickles, a beloved children's TV host whose wholesome public image begins to crack when his family falls apart. As grief and dysfunction close in, Jeff struggles to hold onto his kindness in a world that keeps punishing him for it.
Why was Kidding cancelled after two seasons?
Showtime cancelled Kidding in 2020 after two seasons, citing viewership numbers that didn't justify renewal. Despite a passionate fanbase and strong critical praise, the show never broke through to mainstream audiences at the scale the network needed. The cancellation left several storylines unresolved.
Is Kidding based on a true story?
Kidding is not based on a true story, though Mr. Pickles draws loose inspiration from real-life children's TV icons like Fred Rogers of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. Creator Dave Holstein used that archetype as a springboard for an entirely original, darkly comic exploration of grief, identity, and human fragility.
How many seasons and episodes does Kidding have?
Kidding ran for two seasons on Showtime, with ten episodes each, totalling twenty episodes. Season 1 premiered on September 9, 2018, and Season 2 followed in 2020. The series was cancelled after its second season concluded.
Who are the main actors in Kidding?
Jim Carrey leads the cast as Jeff Piccirillo, aka Mr. Pickles. He's joined by Frank Langella, Judy Greer, Cole Allen, Juliet Morris, Catherine Keener, Justin Kirk, Bernard White, Alex Barrios, and Coda Boesel in key supporting roles.
Did Kidding receive a satisfying ending?
The Season 2 finale offered some emotional closure but left multiple storylines open, as the writers hadn't anticipated cancellation. Many fans found the ending bittersweet rather than satisfying — a fitting descriptor for a show that always lived in the space between heartbreak and absurd hope.
Where can you watch Kidding?
Kidding is available to purchase or rent digitally through Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home. It is not currently available on a subscription streaming platform, so purchasing individual seasons or episodes is the primary way to watch.
How was Kidding received by critics?
Critics responded warmly to Kidding, with particular praise for Jim Carrey's restrained, emotionally layered performance — widely considered some of his finest dramatic work. The show earned acclaim for its tonal balance of absurdist comedy and genuine pathos, though some felt its pacing could be uneven across seasons.
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