Casual

About Casual

Casual is an American television drama series that aired on Hulu from October 7, 2015 to July 31, 2018. The series was created by Zander Lehmann and developed by Jason Reitman. The show follows a brother-sister duo, Alex (Tommy Dewey) and Valerie (Michaela Watkins), who live under one roof again after her divorce. Sharing the same house, they coach each other through the crazy world of dating and relationships while living with their teenage daughter.

Making / Production

Casual was a production of Lionsgate Television and Right of Way Films. The shooting took place in Los Angeles, California, and the series was known for its realistic depiction of modern dating, relationships, and family dynamics. Jason Reitman, Helen Estabrook, Liz Tigelaar, and Zander Lehmann served as executive producers.

Actors

• Tommy Dewey plays the character of Alex Cole, a successful yet emotionally stunted entrepreneur. Dewey excellently played his character's mix of humor and vulnerability.
• Michaela Watkins plays Valerie Meyers, a newly-divorced psychologist. Watkins brilliantly portrayed the character's transformation journey throughout the series.
• Tara Lynne Barr plays Laura Meyers, Valerie's rebellious teenage daughter. Barr embodied the character's angst and complicated nature flawlessly.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The series was created and primarily written by Zander Lehmann. He stated that many of the show's characters were based on his close friends.
• Although Casual is a drama series, it contains many comedic elements. This was a deliberate choice made by the showrunners to mirror the complexities of real life.

Quotes

• "Who knows what you might achieve if you ever left your house? The mind reels." - Alex
• "Smoke weed, rip tags off mattresses; there's nothing I can't do." - Laura
• "We’re not a normal family. It’s not necessarily a bad thing." - Valerie

Music, Soundtrack

• The series features an aclaimed soundtrack by Mateo Messina, an Emmy-winning composer.
• Notable tracks from the series include "It's Casual", "Family Dinner", and "Valerie's Home Cooking".