United States of Tara
Seen it?2009 | 3 seasons | 30 min | Comedy, Drama
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (63 on Metacritic) and it won 2 Emmys, though it had a lukewarm 7.1 out of 10 from audiences. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who wants a laugh. If you loved Shameless or Malcolm in the Middle, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Funny with heart.
- The pace
- 3 seasons: a few weeks of evenings, short, snackable episodes, about 18 hours in all.
- What might put you off
- Rated TV-MA: meant for adults.
Tara's multiple personalities include "T" the wild-child teenager, "Buck" the rough and tumble biker dude, and "Alice" the type-A homemaker. But with a family that loves her just the way she is, Tara never gives up hope that someday she can just be herself.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
63 on Metacritic
- AudiencesBelow par
7.1 out of 10
- AwardsStrong
Won 2 Emmys: Emmy Award: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, Emmy Award: Outstanding Main Title Design. Won 1 Golden Globe: Golden Globe Award: Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy. Also nominated for 2 more Emmys and 1 SAG Award.
- Reach & staying powerSolid
Ran for 3 seasons and reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 140K people sought it out in the past year
Season by season
The show overall is a Sunday Safe Bet. Here's how each season stacks up; Season 3 is the high point.
- Season 12009 · 12 episodes · 7.5 out of 10Sunday
Season 22010 · 12 episodes · 6.6 out of 10Weeknight
Season 32011 · 12 episodes · 8.0 out of 10Saturday
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Cast & crew
Created by Diablo Cody
- Toni ColletteTara Gregson
- John CorbettMax Gregson
- Rosemarie DeWittCharmaine
- Keir GilchristMarshall Gregson
- Brie LarsonKate Gregson