Three Busy Debras
GenreSurreal humor
Created by
Written by
  • Sandy Honig
  • Alyssa Stonoha
  • Mitra Jouhari
Directed byAnna Dokoza
Starring
  • Sandy Honig
  • Alyssa Stonoha
  • Mitra Jouhari
Narrated by
Theme music composerJoshua Moshier
Composers
  • Joshua Moshier
  • Steve Pardo
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes16 (and 1 unaired pilot) (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Jonathan Caso
  • Lacey Leavitt
  • Ingrid Lageder[c]
CinematographyNathan M. Miller
Editors
  • Jonathan Kramer
  • Brendan Walsh
  • Martine Charnow
  • Rylan Rafferty
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time11 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkAdult Swim
ReleaseMarch 30, 2020 (2020-03-30) –
May 23, 2022 (2022-05-23)

Three Busy Debras is an American surreal comedy television series created, written by, and starring Sandy Honig, Alyssa Stonoha, and Mitra Jouhari. It premiered on Cartoon Network's late-night programming block, Adult Swim on March 30, 2020[1][2][3] and ended on May 23, 2022, with a total of 16 episodes over the course of two seasons.

Premise

Three Busy Debras follows "the surreal day-to-day lives of three deranged housewives, all named Debra, in their affluent suburban town of Lemoncurd."[3]

Cast

Production

The concept originally began as a play which was created by and starred Mitra Jouhari, Sandy Honig, and Alyssa Stonoha.[5][6] It was later extended to a web series.[5]

On May 8, 2018, Adult Swim announced that it had ordered a pilot of the show, written by Sandy Honig and directed by Anna Dokoza.[2] On May 7, 2019, Adult Swim gave the quarter hour comedy a series order.[3]

On February 12, 2020, it was announced that the series would premiere on March 29, 2020.[7]

The show is executive produced by Amy Poehler and Kim Lessing through Paper Kite Productions. Show creators Sandy Honig, Mitra Jouhari, Alyssa Stonoha and director Anna Dokoza also serve as executive producers through Mail Lizard.[1] Alive and Kicking, Inc. produces the series.

The creators have cited a number of influences on the show including SpongeBob SquarePants, The Real Housewives, Garth Marenghi's Darkplace, Clue and Looney Tunes.[8]

On May 31, 2020, Adult Swim renewed the series for a second season.[9] On July 26, 2022, it was announced that the show would not be returning for a third season.[10]

Episodes

Series overview

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
PilotUnaired
16March 30, 2020 (2020-03-30)May 4, 2020 (2020-05-04)
210April 25, 2022 (2022-04-25)May 23, 2022 (2022-05-23)

Pilot

TitleDirected by [2]Written by [11]Original air date
"Pilot"Anna DokozaSandy Honig, Alyssa Stonoha & Mitra JouhariUnaired

Season 1 (2020)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten by [11]Original air date [12]U.S. viewers
(millions)
11"A Very Debra Christmas"Anna DokozaSandy Honig, Alyssa Stonoha & Mitra JouhariMarch 30, 2020 (2020-03-30)0.525[13]
The ladies set out to do damage control after killing Debra's pool boy.
22"Cartwheel Club"Anna DokozaSandy Honig, Alyssa Stonoha & Mitra JouhariApril 6, 2020 (2020-04-06)0.549[14]
Debra, Debra, and Debra all try out for a club, and only Debra and Debra get in.
33"Sleepover!"Anna DokozaSandy Honig, Alyssa Stonoha & Mitra JouhariApril 13, 2020 (2020-04-13)0.515[15]
Debra and Debra have a sleepover at Debra's house.
44"Barbra"Anna DokozaSandy Honig, Alyssa Stonoha & Mitra JouhariApril 20, 2020 (2020-04-20)0.552[16]
Debra and Debra befriend Debra's sister Barbra.
55"ATM (All the Money)"Anna DokozaSandy Honig, Alyssa Stonoha & Mitra JouhariApril 27, 2020 (2020-04-27)0.502[17]
A naturally occurring ATM starts erupting free money into the Lemoncurd economy. Everyone is thrilled, except for the Debras.
66"Debspringa"Anna DokozaSandy Honig, Alyssa Stonoha & Mitra JouhariMay 4, 2020 (2020-05-04)0.618[18]
Each Debra lives a different life for a day per their annual tradition of "Debspringa" (their take on the Amish tradition of Rumspringa). Debra becomes a politician, Debra becomes a high school student and Debra has a romantic fling with her brother.

Season 2 (2022)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten by [11]Original air date [12]US viewers
(millions)
71"The Milk Drought"Kati SkeltonMitra JouhariApril 25, 2022 (2022-04-25)0.265[19]
The Debras learn that Lemoncurd is experiencing a milk drought and head to the milk reservoir to take all the milk they deserve.
82"The Great Debpression"Maegan HouangMitra JouhariApril 25, 2022 (2022-04-25)0.195[19]
Debra wakes up Debpressed, which doesn’t work for Debra and Debra.
93"The Honorable Order of the Debras"Maegan HouangAlyssa StonohaMay 2, 2022 (2022-05-02)0.201[20]
When Debra goes missing, Debra and Debra must step in to save her before it's too late, or worse.
104"To Have Debra, To Hold Debra"Kati SkeltonAlyssa StonohaMay 2, 2022 (2022-05-02)0.153[20]
A story in three brunches.
115"Operation: Seal Team Debra"Kati SkeltonSarah ShermanMay 9, 2022 (2022-05-09)0.225[21]
Debra gets a hobby, and Debra and Debra really don't like that for her.
126"Who Has Done It?"Jake HonigSandy HonigMay 9, 2022 (2022-05-09)0.165[21]
It was a dark and stormy night. Or was it? Find out on this week's episode of Three Busy Debras. Or will you?
137"Debra Gets a Boyfriend"Sandy HonigEvan WaiteMay 16, 2022 (2022-05-16)0.221[22]
Debra falls in love while Debra and Debra take a well-deserved day off.
148"Women's History Hour"Sandy HonigMitra Jouhari & Diana TayMay 16, 2022 (2022-05-16)0.181[22]
It's Women's History Hour, and the children of Lemoncurd aren't happy about it.
159"Nonna"Jake HonigAlyssa StonohaMay 23, 2022 (2022-05-23)0.221[23]
Debra, Debra, and Debra meet Nonna at Nonna's Nonnaria. Mamma mia!
1610"The Meteor"Jake HonigMitra JouhariMay 23, 2022 (2022-05-23)0.206[23]
Debra, Debra, and Debra come to terms with their own mortality as a very rude meteor hurtles toward Lemoncurd.

Notes

  1. ^ Mark Costa is executive producer for Alive and Kicking, Inc.
  2. ^ a b Keith Crofford and Walter Newman are executive producers for Williams Street.
  3. ^ Lageder is co-producer.

References

  1. ^ a b Petski, Denise; Andreeva, Nellie (8 May 2018). "Adult Swim Orders Comedy Pilot 'Three Busy Debras' From Amy Poehler". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  2. ^ a b c "Amy Poehler Comedy Pilot 'Three Busy Debras' Ordered by Adult Swim". The Hollywood Reporter. 8 May 2018. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  3. ^ a b c Petski, Denise (May 7, 2019). "Adult Swim Picks Up To Series 'Three Busy Debras' Comedy Produced By Amy Poehler". Deadline. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  4. ^ "Is It Still Funny to be Jewish?". 21 June 2019.
  5. ^ a b Erbland, Kate (March 30, 2020). "'Three Busy Debras' Review: Bite-Sized Absurdist Comedy Upends Suburban Boredom, but It Needs More Zing". IndieWire. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  6. ^ Marotta, Jenna (July 9, 2015). "'Three Busy Debras' Is a Play About Psychopaths with an Interest in Incest and Brunch". Vice. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  7. ^ "Hilarious New Series Light Up Sundays on Adult Swim". The Futon Critic. December 12, 2020.
  8. ^ "How 'SpongeBob' and 'The Real Housewives' Inspired 'Three Busy Debras'". Thrillist. Retrieved 2022-08-31.
  9. ^ Porter, Rick (20 May 2020). "Adult Swim's 'Three Busy Debras' Renewed for Season 2". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  10. ^ "Three Busy Debras on Instagram: "Hi everyone. We are so sad to share with you that there will not be a third season of Three Busy Debras on Adult Swim. We are so proud and lucky to have gotten to make two seasons of our documentary series. When we started this over seven years ago we could have never imagined getting to make two seasons of a show with some of the most talented, kind, funny people we have ever met. It is impossible to overstate how lucky we feel. Thank you for watching Three Busy Debras. Please drink a glass of milk with a lemon garnish in our memory (we are being shot into space tomorrow morning). -Debra, Debra, & Debra"". Instagram. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
  11. ^ a b c "Three Busy Debras". Writers Guild of America West. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  12. ^ a b "Three Busy Debras – Listings". The Futon Critic. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  13. ^ Metcalf, Mitch. "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 3.29.2020| Showbuzz Daily". www.showbuzzdaily.com. Show Buzz Daily. Archived from the original on 2 April 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  14. ^ "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.5.2020". Showbuzz Daily. 2020-04-07. Archived from the original on 2020-04-07. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
  15. ^ Metcalf, Mitch. "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.12.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on 15 April 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  16. ^ Metcalf, Mitch. "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.19.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on 21 April 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  17. ^ "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.26.2020". Showbuzz Daily. 2020-04-28. Archived from the original on 2020-04-28. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  18. ^ "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.3.2020". Showbuzz Daily. 2020-05-05. Archived from the original on 2020-05-05. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  19. ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (April 24, 2022). "Updated: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Sunday 4.24.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals UPDATED". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  20. ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (May 1, 2022). "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Sunday 5.1.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals UPDATED". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  21. ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (May 10, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 5.8.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  22. ^ a b Salem, Mitch (May 17, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 5.15.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  23. ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (May 24, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 5.22.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved May 24, 2022.

External links

Adult Swim original programming
Writers Guild of America Award for Best Short Form New Media
Categories