Kidding
Hi. Cruel world.
Created by Dave Holstein
On Showtime
A darkly comic character study of a children's television icon whose carefully constructed world collapses into psychological crisis, blending whimsy with genuine despair.
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.
Clusters
Where to watch
Questions people ask
Is Kidding sad? Yes, very. More sad than 98% of series.
Is Kidding one of a kind? Yes, very. More singular than 95% of series.
Is Kidding easy watching? Barely. Less comforting than 88% of series.
Does Kidding leave you hopeful? Barely. Less hopeful than 88% of series.
Is Kidding scary? Somewhat. More frightening than 66% of series.
Is Kidding violent? Not especially. Less violent than 65% of series.
These describe how the series comes across across its whole run, compared with other well-known series. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked episode by episode, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.
Written about
- The Opposite of HBOFinding
- The Shows That Know They EndFinding
Cinnamon Score
How much this series gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.
Familiar shape, done well.
How unlike any other series this one feels
How much more it delivers than it promises
How much audiences actually like it
Ensemble
Everything like Kidding, and what each one shares →
Like Kidding
Nearest across the full emotional profile.
Same Mood as Kidding
Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.
Like Kidding, But Darker
Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.
Like Kidding, But Lighter
Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.
Like Kidding, But Less Popular
Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.
