# High Desert
**High Desert** is an American dark comedy television series created by Nancy Fichman, Katie Ford, and Jennifer Hoppe for Apple TV+, starring [Patricia Arquette](https://www.edgepedia.org/patricia-arquette) as Peggy Newman, an addict in Yucca Valley, California, who decides to become a private investigator after the death of her mother.[1](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2023/04/apple-tv-sets-may-17-global-premiere-for-high-desert-and-unveils-a-glimpse-at-new-dark-comedy-series-starring-patricia-arquette-matt-dillon-bernadette-peters-and-more/) • [2](https://www.apple.com/ca/tv-pr/originals/high-desert//) The eight-episode half-hour series premiered globally on May 17, 2023, with three episodes followed by weekly releases, and was canceled after one season on July 1, 2023.[1](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2023/04/apple-tv-sets-may-17-global-premiere-for-high-desert-and-unveils-a-glimpse-at-new-dark-comedy-series-starring-patricia-arquette-matt-dillon-bernadette-peters-and-more/) • [3](https://www.tvline.com/news/high-desert-cancelled-season-2-apple-tv-plus-1235002888/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Format | Eight-episode half-hour dark comedy, Apple TV+[1](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2023/04/apple-tv-sets-may-17-global-premiere-for-high-desert-and-unveils-a-glimpse-at-new-dark-comedy-series-starring-patricia-arquette-matt-dillon-bernadette-peters-and-more/) |
| Premiere | May 17, 2023, with the first three episodes, then one new episode weekly[1](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2023/04/apple-tv-sets-may-17-global-premiere-for-high-desert-and-unveils-a-glimpse-at-new-dark-comedy-series-starring-patricia-arquette-matt-dillon-bernadette-peters-and-more/) |
| Creators | Nancy Fichman, Katie Ford, and Jennifer Hoppe, who also wrote and executive produced[1](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2023/04/apple-tv-sets-may-17-global-premiere-for-high-desert-and-unveils-a-glimpse-at-new-dark-comedy-series-starring-patricia-arquette-matt-dillon-bernadette-peters-and-more/) |
| Director | Jay Roach directed all eight episodes[4](https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/may/10/how-high-desert-brought-patricia-arquette-matt-dil/) |
| Lead cast | Patricia Arquette (Peggy), Brad Garrett (Bruce Harvey), Weruche Opia (Carol), Bernadette Peters (Rosalyn), Rupert Friend (Guru Bob), Matt Dillon (Denny), Christine Taylor (Dianne)[5](https://epguides.com/HighDesert/) |
| Setting | Yucca Valley, California, in the high desert east of Los Angeles[2](https://www.apple.com/ca/tv-pr/originals/high-desert//) |
| Cancellation | Announced July 1, 2023, twelve days after the season 1 finale aired[3](https://www.tvline.com/news/high-desert-cancelled-season-2-apple-tv-plus-1235002888/) • [6](https://www.techradar.com/streaming/apple-tv-plus/apple-tv-plus-pulls-a-netflix-by-canceling-one-of-its-acclaimed-tv-shows-in-record-time) |
## Spoilers
### Premise
Peggy Newman (Patricia Arquette) is an on-again-off-again addict who lived with her beloved mother in the small desert town of Yucca Valley, California. After her mother's death, she decides to make a new start and becomes a private investigator.[2](https://www.apple.com/ca/tv-pr/originals/high-desert//) Working alongside a burned-out private investigator played by [Brad Garrett](https://www.edgepedia.org/brad-garrett), Peggy follows leads that entangle her with shady art collectors and a self-styled guru, Guru Bob ([Rupert Friend](https://www.edgepedia.org/rupert-friend)), a former TV news anchor turned sketchy spiritual leader.[7](https://www.tvinsider.com/show/high-desert/) • [4](https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/may/10/how-high-desert-brought-patricia-arquette-matt-dil/) [Bernadette Peters](https://www.edgepedia.org/bernadette-peters) plays Peggy's dead mother and a stranger who bears an uncanny resemblance to her, which may or may not be one of Peggy's hallucinations.[7](https://www.tvinsider.com/show/high-desert/)
The first episode, "Pain Management," runs 37 minutes and shows Peggy grieving her mother's recent death and, under pressure from her siblings to get a job, finding a new vocation in private investigating.[8](https://tv.apple.com/na/show/the-desert/umc.cmc.1c4fnxk415p7l3eumcqholxn8) In episode two she is accused of stealing money from the Pioneertown safe and takes it upon herself to find the culprit.[8](https://tv.apple.com/na/show/the-desert/umc.cmc.1c4fnxk415p7l3eumcqholxn8)
## Production
The series was created and written by Nancy Fichman (*Nurse Jackie*, *Damages*), Katie Ford (*Miss Congeniality*), and Jennifer Hoppe (*Grace and Frankie*, *Nurse Jackie*, *Damages*), who also served as executive producers.[1](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2023/04/apple-tv-sets-may-17-global-premiere-for-high-desert-and-unveils-a-glimpse-at-new-dark-comedy-series-starring-patricia-arquette-matt-dillon-bernadette-peters-and-more/) It was produced in-house by Apple Studios, Red Hour Films, 3 Arts Entertainment, and Delirious Media, with [Jay Roach](https://www.edgepedia.org/jay-roach) directing and [Ben Stiller](https://www.edgepedia.org/ben-stiller) executive producing.[1](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2023/04/apple-tv-sets-may-17-global-premiere-for-high-desert-and-unveils-a-glimpse-at-new-dark-comedy-series-starring-patricia-arquette-matt-dillon-bernadette-peters-and-more/) The project reunited Stiller with Arquette after *Severance*, *Escape at Dannemora*, and *Flirting with Disaster*.[1](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2023/04/apple-tv-sets-may-17-global-premiere-for-high-desert-and-unveils-a-glimpse-at-new-dark-comedy-series-starring-patricia-arquette-matt-dillon-bernadette-peters-and-more/)
**Origins of the story.** The showrunners initially wanted to set the series in [Tucson, Arizona](https://www.edgepedia.org/tucson-arizona), where Fichman's sister lives; Peggy is based on her.[9](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/yucca-valley-gets-spotlight-apple-233737759.html) Arquette advocated for the show to take place in and around Joshua Tree instead.[10](https://www.palmspringslife.com/arts-culture/new-apple-tv-series-was-filmed-in-the-high-desert/) As the rest of the series was written, the showrunners said Arquette's collaboration was informative to what her character goes through.[9](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/yucca-valley-gets-spotlight-apple-233737759.html)
Arquette read the script in 2016, a year after winning an Oscar and a Golden Globe for *Boyhood*. She said the creators' voice was clear and that they were "incredible with comedy and black comedy, and that sort of weird sense of humor that I have."[4](https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/may/10/how-high-desert-brought-patricia-arquette-matt-dil/) AppleInsider reported the additions of [Matt Dillon](https://www.edgepedia.org/matt-dillon), Bernadette Peters, and [Christine Taylor](https://www.edgepedia.org/christine-taylor) to the cast in November 2021.[11](https://appleinsider.com/articles/21/11/02/apple-tv-adds-matt-dillon-bernadette-peters-others-to-high-desert-cast/amp/)
**Filming locations.** The series was filmed in the high desert, and the first episode opens with characters played by Arquette and Matt Dillon celebrating [Thanksgiving](https://www.edgepedia.org/thanksgiving) in a midcentury home in the Indian Canyons neighborhood of Palm Springs.[10](https://www.palmspringslife.com/arts-culture/new-apple-tv-series-was-filmed-in-the-high-desert/) • [12](https://www.palmspringslife.com/arts-culture/movies-filmed-in-palm-springs-through-history/)
## Release and cancellation
Apple TV+ announced the May 17, 2023 premiere date and a first look at the series on April 5, 2023.[1](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2023/04/apple-tv-sets-may-17-global-premiere-for-high-desert-and-unveils-a-glimpse-at-new-dark-comedy-series-starring-patricia-arquette-matt-dillon-bernadette-peters-and-more/) The season ran weekly through the finale, "I Need a Hero," on June 21, 2023.[5](https://epguides.com/HighDesert/)
On July 1, 2023, twelve days after the finale, Arquette announced on Instagram that the show would not return for a second season, calling it "a sad bummer for all of us" and adding "you can't win 'em all."[3](https://www.tvline.com/news/high-desert-cancelled-season-2-apple-tv-plus-1235002888/) • [6](https://www.techradar.com/streaming/apple-tv-plus/apple-tv-plus-pulls-a-netflix-by-canceling-one-of-its-acclaimed-tv-shows-in-record-time) Ben Stiller confirmed the cancellation on Twitter, praised the cast, and wrote that Arquette gave "an awards worthy performance."[13](https://appleinsider.com/articles/23/07/01/apple-tv-cancels-high-desert-after-only-one-season/amp/)
**Availability after cancellation.** Stiller noted that, unlike other streamers at the time, Apple was not removing underperforming shows from its platform, so the first season would remain available to stream indefinitely on the Apple TV app. The comment referred to cost-cutting catalog removals by [HBO Max](https://www.edgepedia.org/hbo-max) and Disney+.[14](https://9to5mac.com/2023/07/01/apple-tv-high-desert-cancelled-pull-shows-streaming/?extended-comments=1)
## Reception
Reviews were mixed. RogerEbert.com's review was titled "Great Cast Elevates Inconsistent High Desert on Apple TV+," crediting the cast while finding the series uneven.[15](https://www.rogerebert.com/streaming/high-desert-tv-review) 9to5Mac reported that the show seemingly never charted high on the Apple TV+ rankings and was not the kind of series likely to attract awards attention.[14](https://9to5mac.com/2023/07/01/apple-tv-high-desert-cancelled-pull-shows-streaming/?extended-comments=1)
## References
1. [Apple TV+ sets May 17 global premiere for "High Desert" (Apple TV Press, April 5, 2023)](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2023/04/apple-tv-sets-may-17-global-premiere-for-high-desert-and-unveils-a-glimpse-at-new-dark-comedy-series-starring-patricia-arquette-matt-dillon-bernadette-peters-and-more/)
2. [High Desert, Apple TV Press](https://www.apple.com/ca/tv-pr/originals/high-desert//)
3. [High Desert Cancelled At Apple TV+ — No Season 2, TVLine (July 1, 2023)](https://www.tvline.com/news/high-desert-cancelled-season-2-apple-tv-plus-1235002888/)
4. [How 'High Desert' brought Patricia Arquette, Matt Dillon and Bernadette Peters together, The Spokesman-Review (May 10, 2023)](https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/may/10/how-high-desert-brought-patricia-arquette-matt-dil/)
5. [High Desert, a Titles & Air Dates Guide, epguides.com](https://epguides.com/HighDesert/)
6. [Apple TV Plus pulls a Netflix-style move by canceling one of its acclaimed TV shows in record time, TechRadar (July 3, 2023)](https://www.techradar.com/streaming/apple-tv-plus/apple-tv-plus-pulls-a-netflix-by-canceling-one-of-its-acclaimed-tv-shows-in-record-time)
7. [High Desert, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/show/high-desert/)
8. [Watch High Desert, Apple TV+](https://tv.apple.com/na/show/the-desert/umc.cmc.1c4fnxk415p7l3eumcqholxn8)
9. [Yucca Valley gets spotlight in Apple TV+ show 'High Desert', Palm Springs Desert Sun via Yahoo (May 5, 2023)](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/yucca-valley-gets-spotlight-apple-233737759.html)
10. [New Apple TV+ Series Was Filmed in the High Desert, Palm Springs Life (May 25, 2023)](https://www.palmspringslife.com/arts-culture/new-apple-tv-series-was-filmed-in-the-high-desert/)
11. [Apple TV+ adds Matt Dillon, Bernadette Peters, others to 'High Desert' cast, AppleInsider (November 2, 2021)](https://appleinsider.com/articles/21/11/02/apple-tv-adds-matt-dillon-bernadette-peters-others-to-high-desert-cast/amp/)
12. [Movies Filmed in Palm Springs Through History, Palm Springs Life](https://www.palmspringslife.com/arts-culture/movies-filmed-in-palm-springs-through-history/)
13. [Apple TV+ cancels 'High Desert' after only one season, AppleInsider (July 1, 2023)](https://appleinsider.com/articles/23/07/01/apple-tv-cancels-high-desert-after-only-one-season/amp/)
14. ['High Desert' cancelled at Apple TV+, but unlike other streamers Apple won't pull shows off its platform, 9to5Mac (July 1, 2023)](https://9to5mac.com/2023/07/01/apple-tv-high-desert-cancelled-pull-shows-streaming/?extended-comments=1)
15. [Great Cast Elevates Inconsistent High Desert on Apple TV+, RogerEbert.com (May 15, 2023)](https://www.rogerebert.com/streaming/high-desert-tv-review)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Scripted television and comedy series › Sitcom and comedy series › American sitcoms and comedy series › 2020s cable and streaming comedies*
*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license