HBO Series ‘Somebody Somewhere’ Starts Filming Season Two This Week

It’s shaping up to be a busy summer in Illinois. The HBO comedy series Somebody Somewhere, led by Bridget Everett and executive produced by Mark and Jay Duplass, began filming its second season this week. The series is set in Kansas, but will be filming in the Illinois towns of Lockport, Lemont, and Naperville. Sources tell SCREEN the series is expected to film through the end of July.

The production start was pushed several weeks following the sudden passing of acclaimed Chicago character actor Mike Hagerty at the end of April. Hagerty played Bridget Everett’s father on the show.

“We are very saddened to hear about the sudden passing of Mike Hagerty,” HBO said in a statement back in April. “A member of the HBO family for many years, his most recent role as Bridget Everett’s father in ‘Somebody Somewhere’ showed his special talent for bringing heart to a performance. Mike was a joy to work with and brought warmth and kindness to all who knew him. We send our deepest condolences to his family and friends.”

In addition to his critically acclaimed work in Somebody Somewhere, Hagerty was best known for playing building superintendent Mr. Treeger on the long-running NBC sitcom “Friends.”

Here is a brief clip of Mr. Hagerty and fellow cast members discussing the outstanding first season of the show…

Forging Ahead for Season Two

SCREEN reported in February the series had been renewed for a second season after debuting to rave reviews, garnering praise for its relatable characters and heartfelt message. The comedy from creators and showrunners Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen earned a rare 100 percent rating among critics on Rotten Tomatoes with The Hollywood Reporter’s Angie Han calling Somebody Somewhere an “unassuming gem” in her review.

“Bridget Everett brings such warmth to the screen, it’s been an absolute joy to see audiences share a sense of belonging with this ensemble. We’re delighted to have Hannah and Paul remind us all where we come from in another season of Somebody Somewhere,” said Amy Gravitt, Executive VP of HBO programming.

Somebody Somewhere centers around Sam (played by Everett), born and raised in Kansas and recently grappling with the loss of her sister, while finding her place in her hometown. Discovering solace in singing and in friends, Sam takes on a journey to discover herself and lead a community where people can find their voice.

Take a look at this charming featurette from the first season of Somebody Somewhere:

Who Is Bridget Everett?

Everett leapt from the comedy circuit to the big screen with her performance in Sundance fave PATTI CAKE$, and is now headlining her own hit series. “As a born and bred Kansan, I’m thrilled to share some of the beauty and complexity of the place that I grew up,” shared Everett. “For as long as I can remember, I’ve dreamt of making a show on HBO. I’m so grateful to Amy Gravitt, Casey Bloys and the entire HBO family for their faith in Somebody Somewhere. Special thanks to LL Cool J for the words to live by, ‘DDHD. Dreams Don’t Have Deadlines.’”

If you are just hearing about Bridget Everett for the first time, here is a hilarious clip from her interview with Jimmy Fallon about her star turn in Somebody Somewhere:

Joining the Duplass Brothers in the Executive Producer ensemble are former president of HBO’s entertainment division Carolyn Strauss (HBO’s Chernobyl) and Patricia Breen (HBO’s Betty). The camera team is led by Director of Photography Shana Hagan.

If you have yet to enjoy this comedic gem, click here to catch up on all episodes from the first season.

Photo Credit: Mark Duplass Photo by Vanessa Lua is licensed under the Creative Commons CC BY-SA 2.0 License.

Check back here at Screen Magazine for breaking news and updates as Somebody Somewhere Season Two new cast, crew, and premiere dates are announced. You can also click right here to subscribe to our weekly email newsletter.