# Netflix Presents: The Characters
**Netflix Presents: The Characters** is an American sketch comedy anthology series released on Netflix on March 11, 2016, in which eight up-and-coming comedians each write and star in their own half-hour episode with complete creative control[1](https://media.netflix.com/en/only-on-netflix/80073289). Netflix promoted the format as "outlaw comedy": no rules, no limits, with sketches ranging from Bachelor parodies to music videos to biblical spoofs[1](https://media.netflix.com/en/only-on-netflix/80073289).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Format | Eight comedians, each given a 30-minute episode to write and star in their own sketches[1](https://media.netflix.com/en/only-on-netflix/80073289) |
| Premiere | March 11, 2016, all eight episodes released on Netflix[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/netflix_presents_the_characters) |
| Episodes | 8, average runtime 33 minutes; status ended after one season[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/12567/netflix-presents-the-characters) |
| Featured comedians | Lauren Lapkus, Kate Berlant, Dr. Brown, Paul W. Downs, John Early, Tim Robinson, Natasha Rothwell, Henry Zebrowski[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/12567/netflix-presents-the-characters) |
| Cameos | Cecily Strong, Bobby Moynihan, Tyson Beckford, Abbi Jacobson[4](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-netflix-orders-sketch-comedy-series-the-characters-20160201-story.html) |
| Rating | TV-MA[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/netflix_presents_the_characters) |
| Reception | 100% Tomatometer from 12 critics; 57% audience score; IMDb 5.5/10[5](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/netflix-presents-the-characters) |
## Spoilers
### Episodes
All eight episodes were released on March 11, 2016[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/netflix_presents_the_characters):
1. In her episode, **Lauren Lapkus** mocks reality dating programs, adopts the character of an adolescent boy, and dances as a stripper to unconventional music[8](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/netflix_presents_the_characters/s01).
2. **John Early** takes on three roles: one half of an engaged pair given to excessive theatrics, a not-so-bright guy suffering through a rough first date, and a nostalgic Southern mother who does comedy.[9](https://www.netflix.com/in/title/80073289)
3. **Henry Zebrowski** is mistaken for comic [Jim Gaffigan](https://www.edgepedia.org/jim-gaffigan), has an encounter with a food cart owner, and observes his past lives[8](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/netflix_presents_the_characters/s01).
4. **Kate Berlant** explores a pretentious, eccentric artist who must justify her work on a corporate campaign[8](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/netflix_presents_the_characters/s01).
5. **Natasha Rothwell** livens up a jury waiting room, poses as a well-read homeless man, and portrays a doctor teaching a lesson about race[8](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/netflix_presents_the_characters/s01).
6. **Paul W. Downs** plays a monster truck meathead, a blind cop on a Segway, and a man on a distressing date[8](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/netflix_presents_the_characters/s01).
7. **Tim Robinson** plays a frenzied wannabe, an unsettling limo worker, and a gun shopper with bathroom issues[8](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/netflix_presents_the_characters/s01).
8. **Dr. Brown** is filmed in a single shot, playing three different characters who persuade strangers to attend a birthday celebration[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/12567/netflix-presents-the-characters).
## Format
Each half-hour episode was turned over wholly to a single comedian, who was given complete creative control to write and star in a set of sketches[6](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/the-characters/umc.cmc.5kfvtfywy6idfgf5khhvj30wd). [TV Guide](https://www.edgepedia.org/tv-guide) described the concept as a sort of sketch comedy *Masters of Horror*, where each episode lets a different comedian indulge whatever ideas they come up with[7](https://www.tvguide.com/news/netflix-announces-sketch-comedy-series-the-characters/).
The characters created for the show were intentionally wide-ranging and included, among others, a toddler who, despite being bratty, oddly offers wisdom to the colleagues of her mother, plus a Christian comedian and full-time mother who turns the fabric of her jacket into a catchphrase, as well as a stripper dealing with clinical depression[6](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/the-characters/umc.cmc.5kfvtfywy6idfgf5khhvj30wd).
## Cast
The eight featured comedians were [Lauren Lapkus](https://www.edgepedia.org/lauren-lapkus) (*Orange Is the New Black*, *Jurassic World*), Kate Berlant (*The Meltdown*), Dr. Brown, [Paul W. Downs](https://www.edgepedia.org/paul-w-downs) (*Broad City*), John Early (*Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp*), Tim Robinson (*Saturday Night Live*), Natasha Rothwell (writer at *SNL*), and [Henry Zebrowski](https://www.edgepedia.org/henry-zebrowski) (*Heroes Reborn*)[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/12567/netflix-presents-the-characters). Cameos came from *SNL*'s Cecily Strong and Bobby Moynihan, model Tyson Beckford, and *Broad City*'s Abbi Jacobson[4](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-netflix-orders-sketch-comedy-series-the-characters-20160201-story.html).
## Context within Netflix's comedy slate
Netflix announced the series on February 1, 2016, and billed it as the streaming service's second foray into original sketch comedy, after the previous year's *With Bob & David*[7](https://www.tvguide.com/news/netflix-announces-sketch-comedy-series-the-characters/). The *Los Angeles Times* noted that Netflix had sponsored stand-up specials before, but that this series represented a more involved investment in comedy, functioning as a collection of comedians and content united in humor rather than a single narrative[10](https://archives.nd.edu/observer/v50/2016-03-17_v50_107.pdf).
## Reception
Critics rated the season highly on aggregate: Rotten Tomatoes recorded a 100% Tomatometer from 12 reviews, with the critics consensus reading that some episodes prove funnier than others but they cumulatively add up to a showcase for a new generation of comedic talent[5](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/netflix-presents-the-characters) • [8](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/netflix_presents_the_characters/s01). Audience measures were cooler, at 57% on the Popcornmeter and 5.5/10 on IMDb[5](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/netflix-presents-the-characters).
Individual reviews were mixed but positive in tone. Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya of The A.V. Club scored the series 91/100, writing that it is weird without trying too hard to be weird, with high production value that never feels overproduced[11](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-characters/). David Sims of The Atlantic (70/100) found its comedic voice immediately distinct, with every episode devoted to the idiosyncrasies of its host[11](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-characters/). Mary McNamara of the *Los Angeles Times* called it a concept with mixed but consistently interesting results, and observed that the show is not built for binge-watching, since moving from one artist to another requires a jarring shift in tone and expectation[12](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-flaked-and-characters-review-20160312-column.html).
## References
1. [Netflix Presents: The Characters, Netflix Media Center](https://media.netflix.com/en/only-on-netflix/80073289)
2. [Netflix Presents: The Characters, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/netflix_presents_the_characters)
3. [Netflix Presents: The Characters, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/12567/netflix-presents-the-characters)
4. [Netflix orders sketch comedy series 'The Characters', Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-netflix-orders-sketch-comedy-series-the-characters-20160201-story.html)
5. [Netflix Presents: The Characters, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/netflix-presents-the-characters)
6. [The Characters, Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/the-characters/umc.cmc.5kfvtfywy6idfgf5khhvj30wd)
7. [Netflix Announces Sketch Comedy Series The Characters, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/news/netflix-announces-sketch-comedy-series-the-characters/)
8. [Netflix Presents: The Characters: Season 1, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/netflix_presents_the_characters/s01)
9. [Netflix Presents: The Characters, Netflix Official Site](https://www.netflix.com/in/title/80073289)
10. [The Characters of 'The Characters', The Observer (University of Notre Dame), March 17, 2016](https://archives.nd.edu/observer/v50/2016-03-17_v50_107.pdf)
11. [The Characters Reviews, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-characters/)
12. [Review: The fresh 'The Characters' and the stale 'Flaked', Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-flaked-and-characters-review-20160312-column.html)
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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 › Sketch comedy series*
*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license