NATE@NITE: You Should Be Watching “Santa Clarita Diet”

Netflix does a good job of marketing its top original shows, but sometimes others end up getting the short stick, publicity-wise. One of those unlucky shows is Santa Clarita Diet, whose third season was released at the end of March without much fanfare.

But don’t worry, because people like me who have picked up on the Netflix sitcom will have no qualms about ranting and raving to you on the show’s greatness.

Santa Clarita Diet stars Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as a married couple whose lives are turned upside down when Barrymore’s character “dies,” then reanimates only to find herself stricken with an insatiable taste for human flesh.

It sounds gruesome – and at times it definitely is – but the show finds no shortage of humor in its horrifying premise. It blends dark comedy with an upbeat, campy attitude mastered by its two leads.

It’s created by Victor Fresco, the mind behind one-season wonders like Andy Richter Controls the Universe and Better Off Ted. The latter is a personal favorite of mine and features that same dichotomy of dark humor mixed with cheerfulness found in Santa Clarita Diet.

And speaking of Andy Richter, the longtime Conan sidekick is featured in Santa Clarita Diet along with Better Off Ted alum Portia de Rossi. The show boasts quite a nice collection of guest stars including Mary Elizabeth Ellis (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia), Nathan Fillion (Firefly, Castle), Thomas Lennon (Reno 911!), Joel McHale (The Soup, Community), and more.

With only 30 half-hour episodes out so far through three seasons, it makes for a relatively quick binge-watching experience. The show hasn’t yet officially been picked up for a fourth season, and with Netflix showing a willingness to cancel shows with a small but dedicated fan base – like the reboot of Norman Lear’s One Day at a Time – nothing is guaranteed.

Hopefully I can convince even a few people to give this hilarious show a chance! You can find Santa Clarita Diet on Hulu. (Kidding, obviously, it’s on Netflix. Please watch!)