How often do we see that the people dispensing the most life advice are the ones whose lives are the most messed-up? Such is the case with Hulu’s upcoming series, Tiny Beautiful Things, with Kathryn Hahn as an advice columnist whose personal life is in freefall.
The series is based on the book by Wild author Cheryl Strayed, and it’s a collection of essays written by her as part of her “Dear Sugar” advice column for The Rumpus. Hahn plays Clare, a struggling writer who takes over the column while her own life is in turmoil, and through it learns to not only help herself, but also her readers.
Joining Hahn in the cast are Sarah Pidgeon, Quentin Plair, Tanzyn Crawford, Owen Painter, Merritt Wever, Elizabeth Hinkler, and Michaela Watkins. The series was created by Liz Tigelaar, showrunner for Hulu series Little Fires Everywhere. That show co-starred Reese Witherspoon, who is also a producer on Tiny Beautiful Things, and of course, she also played Strayed in the movie adaptation of Wild. It’s a circle, people.
Tiny Beautiful Things premieres on Hulu on April 7th.
“Based on the best-selling collection by Cheryl Strayed, ‘Tiny Beautiful Things’ follows Clare (Kathryn Hahn) a floundering writer who becomes a revered advice columnist while her own life is falling apart. When we first meet Clare, her marriage to her husband Danny is barely limping along; her teenage daughter, Rae, is pushing her away; and her once-promising writing career is non-existent. So when an old writing pal asks her to take over as the advice columnist Dear Sugar, she thinks she has no business giving anyone advice. After reluctantly taking on the mantle of Sugar however, Clare’s life unfurls in a complex fabric of memory, exploring her most pivotal moments from childhood through present day, and excavating the beauty, struggle, and humor in her unhealed wounds. Through Sugar, Clare forms a salve for her readers – and for herself – to show us that we are not beyond rescue, that our stories can ultimately save us. And, perhaps, bring us back home.”
