High Desert (TV series)
High Desert is an American comedy television series created and written by Nancy Fichman, Katie Ford and Jennifer Hoppe-House that premiered on Apple TV+ on May 17, 2023. In July 2023, the series was cancelled after one season. Premise
The series follows Peggy (Patricia Arquette), an addict, who decides to make a fresh start after the death of her beloved mother with whom she lived in the small desert town of Yucca Valley, California. She makes a life-changing decision to become a private investigator. Matt Dillon plays Denny, Peggy’s ex, and an undeniably charming parolee and a relentless operator. Rupert Friend plays Guru Bob, a local ex-anchorman, who, after a trauma, rebrands himself as a mystic desert personality. Weruche Opia stars as Carol, Peggy’s closest friend — the bored fiancé of an ER doctor, and a permissive new stepmother — who has a secret of her own. Brad Garrett plays Bruce, a private investigator whose business is circling the drain, and who becomes Peggy’s reluctant employer. Bernadette Peters has a recurring role as Rosalyn, Peggy’s complicated mother. Christine Taylor has a recurring role as Dianne, Peggy’s buttoned-up sister, who tries to make order of Peggy’s chaos

Cast

Main
 Patricia Arquette as Peggy Newman
 Brad Garrett as Bruce Harvey
 Weruche Opia as Carol
 Bernadette Peters as Roslyn / Ginger
 Rupert Friend as Guru Bob

Recurring
 Crystal Coney as Mary
 Matt Dillon as Denny
 Christine Taylor as Dianne
 Eric Petersen as Owen
 Susan Park as Tammy
 Jeffrey Vincent Parise as Roger
 Eden Brolin as Jeannie
 Carmine Giovinazzo as Nick Gatchi
 Carlo Rota as Arman
 Alex Saxon as Ethan

Guest
 Keir O'Donnell as Stewart
 Tracy Vilar as Tina
 Michael Masini as Leo Gatchi

Episodes

Production
The series, created by Nancy Fichman, Katie Ford and Jennifer Hoppe-House, was given a greenlight in September 2020 by Apple TV+, with Patricia Arquette set to star in the series as well as executive produce along with Ben Stiller, who was set to direct the first episode. In November 2021, Matt Dillon, Rupert Friend, Weruche Opia and Brad Garrett were added to the main cast of the series, with Bernadette Peters and Christine Taylor cast in recurring roles. Stiller would no longer be directing the first episode, as Jay Roach had joined the series to direct all eight episodes. Filming began by November 2021 in Long Beach, California. The show depicts a fictionalized Pioneertown, California shot on set with outdoor footage taken at Sable Ranch, as the actual town is an unincorporated landmark with separate private owners. Release
High Desert premiered on May 17, 2023, with the first three episodes available immediately and the rest debuting on a weekly basis. Reception
The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reports a 70% approval rating with an average rating of 5.90/10, based on 27 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "High Desert is so deliberately odd and scattershot that viewers may begin to suspect they're being bamboozled, but Patricia Arquette's whirlwind performance will be enough for many to just sit back and enjoy the ride." Metacritic gave the series a weighted average score of 67 out of 100 based on 17 critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". References

External links
 

Apple TV+ original programming
2023 American television series debuts
2023 American television series endings
2020s American comedy television series
English-language television shows
Television series by 3 Arts Entertainment
Television series by Red Hour Productions
Television shows set in California