# This Fool
*This Fool* is an American half-hour comedy television series created for Hulu by Chris Estrada, Pat Bishop, Jake Weisman, and Matt Ingebretson, set in working-class South Central Los Angeles and loosely based on Estrada's upbringing as a first-generation Mexican American.[1](https://press.hulu.com/shows/this-fool/) • [2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2023-07-28/this-fool-chris-estrada-hulu) Estrada stars as Julio Lopez, a 30-year-old who lives with his mother and grandmother and works at Hugs Not Thugs, a gang rehabilitation nonprofit, alongside his cousin Luis, a former gang member newly released from prison.[3](https://www.tvline.com/news/this-fool-cancelled-hulu-season-3-comedy-chris-estrada-1235168490/) The series ran for two seasons and 20 episodes on Hulu, from its debut on August 12, 2022 until its cancellation in February 2024.[4](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/mix/chris-estrada) • [3](https://www.tvline.com/news/this-fool-cancelled-hulu-season-3-comedy-chris-estrada-1235168490/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Format | Irreverent, cinematic half-hour comedy; 30-minute episodes on Hulu[1](https://press.hulu.com/shows/this-fool/) • [5](https://epguides.com/ThisFool/) |
| Creators | Chris Estrada, Pat Bishop, Jake Weisman, and Matt Ingebretson write and executive produce; Jonathan Groff and Fred Armisen also executive produce[1](https://press.hulu.com/shows/this-fool/) |
| Production | Hulu Original produced by ABC Signature[1](https://press.hulu.com/shows/this-fool/) |
| Run | Season 1 debuted August 12, 2022; Season 2 premiered July 28, 2023; canceled February 2024 after 20 episodes[4](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/mix/chris-estrada) • [3](https://www.tvline.com/news/this-fool-cancelled-hulu-season-3-comedy-chris-estrada-1235168490/) |
| Main cast | Chris Estrada (Julio), Frankie Quiñones (Luis), Michael Imperioli (Minister Payne), Michelle Ortiz (Maggie), Laura Patalano (Esperanza), Julia Vera (Maria), Ivana Rojas (Ruby)[1](https://press.hulu.com/shows/this-fool/) |
| Setting | Hugs Not Thugs, a fictional gang rehabilitation nonprofit in South Central Los Angeles[6](https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/newsletter/2022-08-25/latinx-files-this-fool-comedy-chris-estrada-latinx-files) |
| Basis | Loosely based on Estrada's stand-up and his upbringing in Inglewood and South Central Los Angeles[2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2023-07-28/this-fool-chris-estrada-hulu) |
## Spoilers
### Premise and characters
Julio Lopez is an emotionally repressed, mostly well-meaning 30-year-old who lives in his mother's house in South Central Los Angeles, dates his on-and-off high school girlfriend Maggie, and works as a counselor at Hugs Not Thugs, a nonprofit that rehabilitates former gang members.[4](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/mix/chris-estrada) • [7](https://time.com/6298208/this-fool-season-2-review/) The nonprofit, founded and managed by Minister Payne ([Michael Imperioli](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-imperioli)), gives ex-cons jobs as cupcake bakers and distributors.[2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2023-07-28/this-fool-chris-estrada-hulu)
The engine of the first season is the return of Julio's cousin Luis (Frankie Quiñones), a former gang member released after an eight-year prison sentence who bullied Julio when they were boys. With nowhere else to go, Luis moves into the family home and is made to attend Hugs Not Thugs, where Julio works.[7](https://time.com/6298208/this-fool-season-2-review/) • [8](https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2022/09/09/this-fool-chris-estrada/) The title phrase, "this fool," works as both a pejorative and a term of grudging affection, a mix of exasperation and tough love that defines the cousins' relationship and the show's tone.[7](https://time.com/6298208/this-fool-season-2-review/)
In the second season, the cousins' situations reverse: Julio loses his job after Payne's attempt to sell his services to billionaire benefactors fails spectacularly, and he moves out of his mother's house into the garage apartment Luis rents from a local character, Don Emilio (Ramón Franco). The two roommates pursue new careers and romances, including a plan to open a cafe that would hire and train ex-felons.[7](https://time.com/6298208/this-fool-season-2-review/) • [9](https://www.tpr.org/2023-07-28/hulus-this-fool-gives-a-working-class-perspective-of-life-in-los-angeles)
## Origins and production
Hulu announced a series order for *This Fool* at its 2021 Television Critics Association summer press tour presentation, describing it as inspired by the life of the comedian Chris Estrada, who would write, star, and executive produce.[10](https://press.hulu.com/storage/uploads/88/3D/883DA374-5902-5FBE-7E4A-19E25664547E/press-release-34-1403858.pdf) Estrada had built a following over roughly a decade in stand-up comedy with material about his Mexican American working-class family, and had earlier tried to break into Hollywood as a screenwriter, writing spec scripts for "New Girl" and "Archer" while working warehouse jobs.[2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2023-07-28/this-fool-chris-estrada-hulu) • [4](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/mix/chris-estrada)
The show came together when Pat Bishop, Jake Weisman, and Matt Ingebretson, the comedians behind [Comedy Central](https://www.edgepedia.org/comedy-central)'s *Corporate*, worked with Estrada to develop a series based on his comedy about where he grew up. [Fred Armisen](https://www.edgepedia.org/fred-armisen) and [Jonathan Groff](https://www.edgepedia.org/jonathan-groff) joined as executive producers. The creators pitched the series as "If Friday was directed by the Coen brothers."[4](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/mix/chris-estrada) *This Fool* marked Estrada's acting debut.[4](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/mix/chris-estrada)
The series was filmed in South Central Los Angeles, which Estrada said was intended to give viewers a real look into the lives of its residents, gang members included. He noted that where television and film usually present gang members, mostly minority men, doing bad things, his show's characters are earnestly trying to change their lives, a portrayal he and the other creators wanted to subvert; he cited the real organization Homeboy Industries as an influence he did not want to belittle or satirize.[4](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/mix/chris-estrada) • [6](https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/newsletter/2022-08-25/latinx-files-this-fool-comedy-chris-estrada-latinx-files)
## Reception and cancellation
The series drew strong reviews. The Washington Post called it a singular, authentic depiction of [South Los Angeles](https://www.edgepedia.org/south-los-angeles), singling out the episode "Los Botes" ("The Cans") and noting that it was conspicuously one of few series centering on Latinos, arriving amid a resurgence of working-class sitcoms.[8](https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2022/09/09/this-fool-chris-estrada/) Time named it one of the funniest shows on television and described its second season as capitalizing on the first season's character development, remixing the ensemble and devoting whole episodes to individual supporting players.[7](https://time.com/6298208/this-fool-season-2-review/)
Despite the critical reception, Hulu canceled the series in February 2024 after two seasons. According to reporting by [The Hollywood Reporter](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-hollywood-reporter), the show failed to find an audience large enough to justify a third season, even after a large marketing push behind both seasons; it remains available on Hulu's platform.[3](https://www.tvline.com/news/this-fool-cancelled-hulu-season-3-comedy-chris-estrada-1235168490/) • [11](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/fool-canceled-hulu-exclusive-004500825.html) The Los Angeles Times reported that the show received widespread critical acclaim but struggled to build an audience through the COVID-19 pandemic and the writers' and actors' strikes.[12](https://www.latimes.com/delos/story/2024-02-23/this-fool-canceled-hulu-chris-estrada-blame-julio-tambien)
## References
1. [This Fool, Hulu Press](https://press.hulu.com/shows/this-fool/)
2. [In Season 2 of 'This Fool,' Chris Estrada ramps up the crises and dark jokes, Los Angeles Times (July 28, 2023)](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2023-07-28/this-fool-chris-estrada-hulu)
3. [This Fool Cancelled At Hulu, TVLine (February 14, 2024)](https://www.tvline.com/news/this-fool-cancelled-hulu-season-3-comedy-chris-estrada-1235168490/)
4. [Chris Estrada's Home Again, Television Academy / emmy magazine (September 29, 2022)](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/mix/chris-estrada)
5. [This Fool, a Titles & Air Dates Guide, epguides.com](https://epguides.com/ThisFool/)
6. [Latinx Files: A conversation with 'This Fool' co-creator and star Chris Estrada, Los Angeles Times (August 25, 2022)](https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/newsletter/2022-08-25/latinx-files-this-fool-comedy-chris-estrada-latinx-files)
7. [Hulu's Sleeper Hit This Fool Is One of the Funniest Shows on TV, Time (July 28, 2023)](https://time.com/6298208/this-fool-season-2-review/)
8. ['This Fool' is a singular, authentic TV depiction of South Los Angeles, The Washington Post (September 9, 2022)](https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2022/09/09/this-fool-chris-estrada/)
9. [Hulu's 'This Fool' gives a working class perspective of life in Los Angeles, TPR (July 28, 2023)](https://www.tpr.org/2023-07-28/hulus-this-fool-gives-a-working-class-perspective-of-life-in-los-angeles)
10. [Hulu 2021 TCA Summer Press Tour press release](https://press.hulu.com/storage/uploads/88/3D/883DA374-5902-5FBE-7E4A-19E25664547E/press-release-34-1403858.pdf)
11. ['This Fool' Canceled at Hulu (Exclusive), The Hollywood Reporter via Yahoo (February 15, 2024)](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/fool-canceled-hulu-exclusive-004500825.html)
12. [Hulu canceled 'This Fool.' We spoke to creator Chris Estrada about it, Los Angeles Times De Los (February 23, 2024)](https://www.latimes.com/delos/story/2024-02-23/this-fool-canceled-hulu-chris-estrada-blame-julio-tambien)
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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