Get to Know: The ‘Playing House’ Crew

As with any small town on TV, the one on USA Network’s new comedy series, Playing House (premiering Tuesday, April 29th at 10/9c on USA Network), is filled with a fantastic crew of adorable characters. From a creator of Old School and Road Trip, Playing House is the story of a mother-to-be who gets her single best friend to give up her job, move back home and help her raise her baby. It’s two friends with one baby—and absolutely no clue.

The two lead roles of Emma and Maggie are played by Jessica St. Clair and Lennon Parham. There are so many wonderful things about this show, and that includes the rest of the cast. Emma and Maggie’s close friends and family are a gang that you’re about to love in an instant.

Zach (played by Zach Woods)

Zach is Maggie’s oddball brother. Emma still isn’t certain that Zach’s not gay except for the fact that he has been overtly and rather lewdly flirting with her ever since high school. He has an affinity for female activities (planning baby showers) and fashion (capri pants) but claims he’s all man. With his sister’s husband Bruce out of the picture, he’ll soon have his opportunity to prove his manhood.

Mark (played by Keegan-Michael Key)

Mark, who has lived in this small town his whole life, is now a local cop, a job that he takes very seriously despite Emma’s constant teasing. Mark and Emma had a thing in high school (she lost her virginity to him) but their relationship ended badly when Emma ditched their hometown — and him — as fast as she could. He’s now happily married to Tina, a high school classmate Emma and Maggie used to call “Bird Bones,” and not about to let Emma belittle his choices, especially when she has clearly made some questionable decisions of her own through the years.

Gwen (played by Jane Kaczmarek)

Gwen is Emma’s perfectly coiffed and extremely opinionated mother who finds herself in the midst of a midlife renaissance of sorts — writing beat poetry, wearing open-toed sandals, and discovering the joys of fro-yo. But now that Emma is back in town, mother and daughter must navigate their estrangement and figure out if (and how) they can make their relationship work.

It’s almost enough to make you want to go back home. Tune in to Playing House on Tuesday, April 29th at 10/9c on USA Network and join this crazy/amazing family.