Sandy Kominsky and his daughter Mindy run a small actor's studio in Hollywood, where his latest group of students includes Lisa, a middle-aged divorcee whom Sandy later asks out on a date. Sandy meets up with his good friend and agent Norman, who gives Sandy the bad news that CBS has passed him over for Ludacris for a role in a new sitcom. At the urging of Mindy, Sandy pays Norman a visit at his home to see his wife Eileen, who is battling cancer. Sandy and Lisa's date is interrupted by a phone call from Mindy, who tells Sandy that Eileen is back in the hospital. When they get there, they learn that Eileen has died.
Sandy brings a grieving Norman home from the hospital. The next morning, Norman sets out to honor Eileen's instructions for her funeral, enlisting Sandy to help. As Sandy tries to arrange to get items such as a driftwood coffin, Lady Marmalade, Jay Leno, and Barbra Streisand, he asks Lisa to be his date at Eileen's funeral, and she accepts. The service sees a late, unexpected guest arriving: Norman and Eileen's prescription drug-addicted daughter, Phoebe.
At Eileen's wake, daughter Phoebe continues to embarrass herself. Norman gets an offer of consolation from widow Dianne, and Sandy is noticed to be taking many trips to the bathroom. Sandy addresses the bathroom issue by seeing a urologist, who diagnoses it to be a prostate issue. Phoebe offers to stay with her father for an extended period, but Norman almost immediately realizes the seriousness of his daughter's drug dependency problem. Sandy catches Norman talking to himself, believing that he is speaking with Eileen.
Students Lisa and Lane act out a scene from Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, with Sandy giving a glowing review of Lane's performance. Sandy is anxious to know about his biopsy results. Phoebe's shenanigans drive Norman to take drastic measures. Lane finds out about Sandy seeing a urologist, offering his support. After offending Lisa, Sandy finds himself alone in a bar on a Saturday night. Sandy and Norman try Kegel exercises.
5
5
"Chapter 5. An Agent Crowns"
Beth McCarthy-Miller
Chuck Lorre
November 16, 2018 (2018-11-16)
Sandy is relieved to finally find out his biopsy results, which indicate that he does not need to be treated for cancer. Norman contemplates returning to work at his talent agency, with one of his priorities being to find Sandy some acting work. With Sandy unavailable, Mindy teaches a class to the actor's studio students. Sandy asks Lisa about taking their relationship to the next level. Elliott Gould pitches a new script to Norman. Sandy and Norman find themselves in a hospital waiting room anxious to hear news about Phoebe, who has once again ODed.
6
6
"Chapter 6. A Daughter Detoxes"
Andy Tennant
Chuck Lorre & Al Higgins & David Javerbaum
November 16, 2018 (2018-11-16)
Sandy and Norman take a road trip in order to drop off Phoebe at a drug rehabilitation facility. On the way there and back, they deal with the subjects of back taxes, suicide, the Pechanga Indian Casino, Eddie Money, Thelma & Louise, churros, bonsai plants, and Lisa breaking up with Sandy.
7
7
"Chapter 7. A String Is Attached"
Donald Petrie
Chuck Lorre & Al Higgins & David Javerbaum
November 16, 2018 (2018-11-16)
Sandy's desperation about owing more than $300,000 in back taxes sees him straining his relationships with Norman, Mindy, and Lisa. Norman decides to pay Sandy's IRS bill, but doesn't want Sandy to repay him, which he knows will infuriate Sandy.
8
8
"Chapter 8. A Widow Approaches"
Andy Tennant
Chuck Lorre & Al Higgins & David Javerbaum
November 16, 2018 (2018-11-16)
Norman reveals to Sandy that Dianne wants to meet for a lunch date. After the date, she and Norman attend a fund-raising event for Eileen's Parkinson's Disease charity, inviting Sandy (who then invites Lisa as they have reconciled). Norman starts to fall apart at the event, and his state of mind progressively worsens afterwards. Sandy forces Lisa to decide between attending his acting classes or remaining lovers, and she quickly chooses his acting classes. After Sandy gets a strange collect call from Norman, he seeks out and supports his longtime friend, which includes divulging the secret of the "Kominsky Method" of acting to Norman.
Sandy visits Norman, only to witness his next phase of grieving over Eileen. As the guys pay their respects at a funeral, Norman meets a woman from his past, Madelyn. At the studio, Mindy tells Sandy a disturbing fact about her latest serious boyfriend while Sandy decides to tell his class the bitter truth about acting as a profession. Norman continues to see Eileen as he starts to date Madelyn. Sandy has an awkward moment with Lisa.
Sandy reaches out to his ex-wife (Kathleen Turner) to discuss Mindy's controversial new boyfriend, Martin. Norman goes horseback riding with Madelyn, which later turns into a stay over at her house. Mindy invites Sandy to dinner so that he can finally meet Martin, but Mindy is irritated by their camaraderie. Norman phones Sandy in the middle of dinner with the jitters of taking the next step with Madelyn.
11
3
"Chapter 11. An Odd Couple Occurs"
Andy Tennant
Chuck Lorre
October 25, 2019 (2019-10-25)
Sandy finally makes a breakthrough with one of his students, Darshani. Mindy is mad at Sandy for getting high with Martin. Norman is overjoyed by how his relationship is progressing with Madelyn, only to find out that Phoebe is coming home. Martin and Sandy deepen their friendship through their common interest. Norman is skeptical about Phoebe being rehabilitated, angering Madelyn. Sandy phones Lisa in a most happy mood.
12
4
"Chapter 12. A Libido Sits in the Fridge"
Beth McCarthy-Miller
Chuck Lorre
October 25, 2019 (2019-10-25)
Sandy and Lisa go out for drinks, where Lisa suggests them having a friendship with no sex. Sandy praises Darshani for her acting breakthrough, but can see through her gratitude. Norman apologises to both Phoebe and Madelyn separately for his recent outburst: Phoebe is receptive while Madelyn becomes distant. Sandy joins Lisa for an evening of movie watching at her place, complete with free-flowing wine and popcorn. As Lisa's inhibitions wear down, Sandy's night features Cialis, the police, and being a supportive friend.
13
5
"Chapter 13. A Shenckman Equivocates"
Andy Tennant
Chuck Lorre
October 25, 2019 (2019-10-25)
Waiter Alex gives Norman his screenplay, wondering if he would be interested in producing it. Sandy brings Martin along for lunch to meet Norman, only to have to deal with a medical emergency. Sandy visits Martin in the hospital to try to cheer him up. After hearing about Martin, Lisa urges Sandy to get a checkup. Sandy goes through a whole barrage of tests, only to have Dr. Shenckman (Bob Odenkirk) give him both good news and bad news. Sandy confides to Norman about his health, and decides that it should be a secret to be kept between them.
14
6
"Chapter 14. A Secret Leaks, a Teacher Speaks"
Beth McCarthy-Miller
Chuck Lorre
October 25, 2019 (2019-10-25)
Norman accompanies Sandy to start his treatments, only for them to be seen by one of Sandy's acting students. Driving home, Norman urges Sandy to tell Mindy about his condition and then receives a call from Madelyn. Madelyn tells more about her life to Norman over dinner, who then decides to come to a compromise with her. About to teach a class, Sandy gets a new student, Martin. Norman takes Madelyn to see Phoebe at work. After seeing a scene from Two and a Half Men acted out by two of his students, Sandy explains comedy to the class, before wrapping it up by having Martin tell his story on stage.
Sandy starts his new treatment regimen but something goes terribly wrong. Norman and Phoebe visit Eileen's grave so that Phoebe can make amends. She later extends those amends to her father. A concerned Mindy and Martin visit Sandy to a frightening sight. Sandy helps Margaret act out a scene from Doubt in front of the class. Lisa comes over to Sandy's for dinner but later confronts him for lying.
16
8
"Chapter 16. A Thetan Arrives"
Beth McCarthy-Miller
Chuck Lorre & Al Higgins
October 25, 2019 (2019-10-25)
Norman offers Sandy a place to stay while he recuperates. Phoebe surprises Norman with the arrival of his Scientologist grandson, Robby. Mindy informs Sandy of her plans to change how the acting classes are given. Sandy confronts guest teacher Allison Janney about her approach to teaching acting. Robby introduces the concepts of Scientology to Norman. Sandy gets upsetting news from Lisa. With no support from anyone, Sandy turns up at Norman's, only to find that Robby is in trouble.
Note: This episode marks the last appearance of Alan Arkin as Norman Newlander
On August 14, 2017, it was announced that Netflix was finalizing a series order for the production for a first season consisting of ten episodes. The series was set to be written by Chuck Lorre, Al Higgins, and David Javerbaum. Lorre was also set to direct the first episode and executive produce alongside Michael Douglas. Production companies involved with the series were slated to consist of Chuck Lorre Productions and Warner Bros. Television.[6] On July 29, 2018, it was announced during the Television Critics Association's annual summer press tour that the series was to premiere on November 16, 2018.[7] On January 17, 2019, it was announced that the series had been renewed for a second season consisting of eight episodes.[8] The second season was released on October 25, 2019.[9] On July 2, 2020, Netflix renewed the series for a third and final season,[10] which was released on May 28, 2021.[11]
Casting
Alongside the series order announcement, it was confirmed that Michael Douglas and Alan Arkin had been cast in the lead roles of Sandy Kominsky and Norman Newlander, respectively.[6] In January 2018, it was announced that Nancy Travis and Sarah Baker had been cast in main roles and that Susan Sullivan, Emily Osment, Graham Rogers, Ashleigh LaThrop, Jenna Lyng Adams, Melissa Tang, Casey Brown, and Lisa Edelstein would appear in a recurring capacity.[12][13][14]
On February 7, 2019, it was announced that Jane Seymour, Jacqueline Bisset and Paul Reiser had been cast in recurring roles for season two. Bisset was set to play Sandy's ex-wife, but the role was recast with Kathleen Turner, with whom Douglas had previously co-starred in the films Romancing the Stone (1984), The Jewel of the Nile (1985), and The War of the Roses (1989).[15] On September 23, 2020, it was announced that Alan Arkin would not be returning for the show's final season, with Turner's character Dr. Roz Volander instead promoted to a lead role alongside Douglas as Sandy.[3]
Reception
Critical response
The series received a positive critical reception upon its premiere. On the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the first season holds an approval rating of 80% with an average score of 6.6/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Full of humor and heart, The Kominsky Method paints a surprisingly poignant – if a little paint-by-numbers – portrait of life and aging, elevated by two top-notch performances by acting legends Alan Arkin and Michael Douglas."[16]Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the first season a score of 68 out of 100 based on 19 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews."[17]
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
Jenna Lyng Adams, Alan Arkin, Sarah Baker, Casey Thomas Brown, Michael Douglas, Lisa Edelstein, Paul Reiser, Graham Rogers, Jane Seymour, Melissa Tang & Nancy Travis
Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and Animation
Yuri Reese, Sean Madsen & Brian Wittle (for "Chapter 21. Near, Far, Wherever You Are")
Nominated
Home media
The first season was released to general retailers on November 19, 2019 in Region 1, with a Blu-ray version made available exclusively through the Warner Archive Collection.[28]
