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Peacock’s ‘The ‘Burbs’ blends comedy and horror in suburbia

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NEW YORK (AP) — The suburbs are anything but dull in the new Peacock series “The ‘Burbs,” where strange things are going on. Like how jokes mix with horror.

inspired by 1989 led by tom hanks The film of the same name, “The ‘Burbs” follows a new mother as she navigates an alien world of white picket fences and manicured lawns while also investigating a possible murder.

Creator, writer and executive producer Celeste Hughey says, “It’s got comedy, it’s got drama, it’s got mystery, it’s got horror, adventure, suspense – it’s all there.” All eight episodes dropped on Friday.

Hanks is replaced by KK Palmer, Jo plays a newlywed and new mother who moves into her husband’s family home in fictional Hinckley Hills, where everyone is in everyone else’s business. “Suburbia is a spectator sport,” he is told.

Across the street is an abandoned house, where a local teenager disappeared decades ago. Palmer’s Samira soon teams up with a band of off-beat suburbanites to help solve the case, even though her own husband has some kind of role to play.

“I really wanted to focus on that fish-out-of-water feeling, centering Samira as a black woman in a white suburbia who is a new mom, a new wife — new everything — and trying to figure out where she belongs in the environment,” Hughey says.

Jokes and social commentary

This image released by Peacock shows Jack Whitehall, left, and Keke Palmer, left, in a scene "The Burbs." (Elizabeth Morris/Peacock via AP)
Jack Whitehall and Keke Palmer. (Elizabeth Morris/Peacock via AP)

The cast includes Jack Whitehall as Samira’s husband and the trio of Julia Duffy, Mark Proksch and Paula Pell as her wine-swilling, investigating neighbors who form a kind of found family.

Hughie says, “This movie came out when I was quite young, but I remember watching it as a kid and it was such a scary movie to me.” “But watching it again as an adult, it’s like the most timely movie.”

This combination of album covers shows "sunday best" By Nick Jonas, left, and "Downfall" J. By Cole. (Republic Records/via AP, left, and Cole World Inc./Interscope via AP)
Additional added first name: FILE - Rob Reiner and Michelle Singer Reiner arrive on the red carpet at the State Department for the Kennedy Center Honors Gala Dinner on December 2, 2023 in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf, File)

The script ranges from Marie Kondo references to witty humor “Baby Reindeer,” And the jokes are often improvised by the actors. Chocolate brownies have been described as the “Beyoncé of desserts” and are a joke about how much white women love salads.

“The ‘Burbs’ also touches on more serious issues across its eight episodes — microaggressions, racial profiling, bullying and childhood trauma — but takes a quirky, offbeat approach.

“I always approach things with a sense of humor,” Hughey says. “I think comedy is a way to be able to examine all these heavy topics, but in a way that’s accessible, in a way that’s candid.”

Palmer says she grew up watching norman lear shows and praised his ability to entertain and address social tensions – something he found in “The ‘Burbs”.

“When I first read this script, as soon as we started doing the show, it became clear that we had an opportunity to do the same thing,” says Palmer. “We can highlight clichés, we can lean into things, which in itself is the greatest means of satire and comedy, and also horror, because horror can serve as a good metaphor for issues in our lives.”

‘Play both styles’

Jack Whitehall, from left, Julia Duffy, Keke Palmer, Celeste Hughey, Paula Pell and Kapil Talwalkar "'burbs" Pose backstage after a screening at The 92nd Street Y on Monday, February 2, 2026 in New York. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP)
Jack Whitehall, from left, Julia Duffy, Keke Palmer, Celeste Hughey, Paula Pell and Kapil Talwalkar. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP)

Whitehall, who grew up in the London suburb of Putney, says he appreciated that the social commentary never felt heavy between comedy and horror: “It was great to be able to play in both genres.”

There are various nods to the original film, such as choosing the last name Fisher after him. Late actor Carrie Fisher Appeared in the Joe Hanks-led version, and named a dog Darla after the puppy who starred in the 1989 version. Hanks himself appears in a blink-or-you’ll-miss-it image.

There is a scene where Samira steps on her neighbor’s grass and leaves suddenly swirl dangerously around her feet, echoing the original. And there’s a moment when sardines and pretzels are served, which is a bit of a departure from the classic moment in the movie. The creators also asked original actor Wendy Schaal to return to play the town librarian.

Hughie says, “I really wanted to honor the original fans of the film and make sure they see that the film is in the hands of someone who respects the original material and loves the film.” “I look at the fans.”

Hughey said that she wrote the series with Palmer’s voice in mind, which really came in handy when she met Palmer for the first time a year later.

ranging from music Bill Withers’ From “Lovely Day” to Steve Lacy’s “Dark Red” to Douche’s “Anxiety” and Big Pun’s “I’m Not a Player”.

“Music is a part of my creative process and I wanted it to stand out in the show as well,” says Hughie. “I got to pull a lot of my inspirational songs.”



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