Reba McEntire’s new NBC sitcom Happy’s Place was a crowd pleaser in its first week on air.
Deadline reports that the show raked in 10 million cross-platform viewers in the week that followed its debut last Friday (Oct. 18.) Fans turned in both to the live premiere on NBC and via on-demand streaming on Peacock.
The live and same-day window accounts for 4 million of those 10 million views. That’s a jump of 90 percent in viewership during the 8-8:30PM Friday night time slot on NBC. The show then continued to be a Peacock draw throughout the week. Based on three-day viewership, the pilot episode has now become the network’s best new comedy launch in Peacock history.
On Saturday (Oct. 26), McEntire took a break from filming to share a social media video thanking her fans for helping crack the 10-million-view mark.
“Couldn’t have done it without you and we wouldn’t have wanted to,” McEntire said. “Y’all are the best loyal fans ever in the world. Everybody here wanted me to tell y’all thank you, thank you, thank you. Let’s continue this ride together, okay?”
Happy’s Place stars Reba McEntire as Bobbie, a woman who takes over her father’s bar after his death.
She learns that her new business partner is Isabella — played by Belissa Escobedo — a half-sister she never knew she had.
There are some familiar faces in the supporting cast, including McEntire’s real-life boyfriend, actor Rex Linn, and Melissa Peterman, who co-starred on McEntire’s beloved 2000s sitcom Reba.
The show is a Reba reunion in more ways that one. Several of the producers who worked on the original sitcom also signed on to work on the new show.
What Happened To the Cast of ‘Reba’?
See the cast of Reba McEntire’s TV show Reba, then and now with updates on where each of the primary actors ended up.
2024 update: Several producers and at least two stars are teaming up for a new NBC sitcom called Happy’s Place in 2024. McEntire is the star of the show.
Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes
Then: Reba Hart
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Then: Reba Hart
Reba Nell Hart is a single mother recently divorced from a dentist, Brock Hart. She is the star of the show and her no-nonsense, wise-cracking ways drove ratings.
Now: Reba McEntire (Or Just “Reebs”)
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Now: Reba McEntire (Or Just “Reebs”)
She’s Reba! The television series and its eventual cancelation didn’t slow McEntire’s music career. While she’s not getting rewarded with radio airplay, the Hall of Famer keeps creating great albums while she maintains a high profile as host of shows like the ACM Awards.
Within the last five years, McEntire’s acting resume has really grown as the star of shows like Big Sky: Deadly Trails on ABC and (in fall 2024) Happy’s Place on NBC.
Then: Barbara Jean Booker Hart
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Then: Barbara Jean Booker Hart
Barbara Jean was a stereotypical dumb blonde, but her big heart and affection for Reba — despite being the one who broke up the marriage — was charming. The new Mrs. Hart found out she was pregnant on early on during the series. She remained on the show to the end.
Now: Melissa Peterman
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Now: Melissa Peterman
Peterman and McEntire remain very good friends, with the actress and comedian often appearing during specials like the ACM Awards. They’re a peanut butter and jelly kind of duo, but on her own Peterman has been very successful. Most notably, for six seasons she starred as Bonnie, the mother on Baby Daddy on ABC Family.
Beginning in fall 2024, Peterman will join McEntire on Happy’s Place on NBC.
Then: Brock Hart
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Then: Brock Hart
Reba’s ex-husband is Brock Hart, a dentist who has an affair with his hygienist. The tension between the two ex-lovers was both relatable and a great source of comedy.
Now: Christopher Rich
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Now: Christopher Rich
Unlike many of the stars of Reba, Christopher Rich had TV experience prior to the show and he kept trucking after it was canceled. He divorced in real life, as well. In this picture he’s seen with wife Eva Halina Rich. They were married in 2003.
Professionally, Rich has slowed way down in the last decade.
Then: Van Montgomery
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Then: Van Montgomery
Van Montgomery matched wits with Barbara Jean on the show. He got Reba’s daughter pregnant and later moved in with the family when he was thrown out of his own house. The show’s star and the football player become very close.
Now: Steve Howey
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Now: Steve Howey
Howey burst out of any notion of typecasting after wrapping the show. These days he’s anything but a dolt, with his best role post-show being as Kevin in Shameless since 2011. He’s now married to actress Sarah Shahi and together the couple have three kids.
In 2023, Howey starred in CBS’ True Lies. The show has been canceled.
Then: Cheyenne Hart (Eventually Montgomery)
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Then: Cheyenne Hart (Eventually Montgomery)
As a character, Cheyenne enjoyed the largest arc. She gets pregnant as a senior in high school, marries, tries to become a dentist, realizes she’s an alcoholic and decides to help others with addiction by the end. While at times selfish, fans grew to love the big, caring heart beneath the surface.
Now: Joanna Garcia Swisher
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Now: Joanna Garcia Swisher
Joanna Garcia added the Swisher when she married MLB star Nick Swisher in 2010, but she’s also remained very busy in film and television, starring as the lead role in two-short lived programs and earning recurring roles on several others. Most recently she was on Kevin (Probably) Saves the World on ABC.
Then: Kyra Hart
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Then: Kyra Hart
Reba’s second daughter Kyra has a quick wit like her mother, which is a great source of humor and perhaps some hurt feelings. The middle child is also a child with challenges, and she disappeared completely for most of the fifth season. There was a real-life reason for that …
Then: Scarlett Pomers
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Then: Scarlett Pomers
Reba was Pomers’ last television role, but she tried music as frontwoman for the Scarlett Pomers Band for awhile after the show (the Facebook page was last updated in 2014). Sadly she battled an eating disorder while on the show. The depth of her battle with anorexia came out only after the show was through. It’s something she was treated for when she was 16.
2024 update: Pomers’ has pulled further back from the public eye by deleting her Instagram page.
Then: Jake Hart
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Then: Jake Hart
Jake was the sensible little kid on the show while his older siblings and parents often acted very un-adultlike. His role grew as the show went on.
Now: Mitch Holleman
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Now: Mitch Holleman
Holleman has had a few Hollywood roles since Reba ended in 2007, including that of “Max” in the movie The Hangover (2009). We don’t remember who Max was, either, but the kid is only 29 today so his future is still bright.
On social media, he identifies as a musician, actor, writer and comedian but his profiles have been pretty quiet for the last few years. We can confirm he got married in 2020.
