At ATX TV Festival, I had the opportunity to sit down with the team behind Everyone Is Doing Great, including James Lafferty, Stephen Colletti, Michelle Lang, and composer Michael Grubbs. The conversation covered everything from the evolution of Season 2 and its deeper emotional storylines to fatherhood, directing, and what it takes to keep an independent television series moving forward.
One of the biggest takeaways from Season 2 was how much the series expanded creatively, particularly through its music. I mentioned to Grubbs that the show’s score felt elevated compared to the first season, helping bring a new energy and emotional depth to the story.
Grubbs explained that while he contributed to Season 1, he joined the process much earlier for Season 2. That allowed him to approach the series more as a composer from the ground up rather than stepping into an already established process.
“I got to really spread my wings,” Grubbs said. “It was just the dream job.”
That creative expansion mirrored what happened with the characters themselves.
I specifically brought up Jeremy’s storyline and how his struggles with addiction felt more nuanced this season. Lafferty explained that the writers wanted to explore the complicated reality of accountability, friendship, and sobriety without offering easy answers.
“We wanted Jeremy to be straddling the line between taking responsibility and not really admitting to himself and everyone else how deep the problem really is,” Lafferty said.
According to Lafferty, the team felt they had earned the opportunity to explore more emotionally complex material after establishing the show’s comedic foundation in Season 1.
The cast also discussed one of the show’s greatest strengths: its natural chemistry.
I noted that Everyone Is Doing Great often feels less like a traditional television series and more like viewers are simply dropping into the lives of real friends. Director Michelle Lang laughed at the comparison to reality television but embraced the compliment.
“You want to feel like you’re just on the couch with your friends,” Lang said.
Lafferty added that shows like The Trip and Better Things served as inspirations because of how authentic and lived-in those worlds felt. The goal was always to create a series where audiences questioned whether the relationships they were watching extended beyond the screen.
Composer Michael Grubbs, who has known Lafferty and Colletti for years, joked that while the friendship is real, the performances are very much acting.
That playful exchange quickly became one of the funniest moments of the interview.
The conversation then shifted to life away from the camera as both Lafferty and Colletti reflected on becoming first-time fathers.
Colletti spoke honestly about how humbling parenthood has been and how much he is still learning each day.
“I’m humbled in how much I have to learn as a father,” he said.
Lafferty echoed those sentiments while joking that after five months of fatherhood he obviously had everything figured out. He quickly admitted the opposite was true, explaining that becoming a parent has already unlocked a deeper level of vulnerability that he expects will eventually influence his creative work.
The discussion also highlighted the realities of independent production. As someone who operates independently in the podcasting space, I could relate to the challenge of constantly wearing multiple hats while still trying to grow a project.
The cast acknowledged the balancing act that comes with independent television. While they now have strong partners helping bring the series to wider audiences, the team remains deeply involved in promoting and championing the show themselves.
Lang also spoke candidly about balancing motherhood, directing, acting, and entrepreneurship, sharing stories from her own podcast and discussing the emotional challenges that often come with pursuing creative careers.
The result was a conversation that felt very much like the series itself—funny, honest, and surprisingly heartfelt.
If Season 1 established the world of Everyone Is Doing Great, Season 2 demonstrates just how much room there is for the show to grow while maintaining the authenticity that has resonated with audiences from the beginning.
Watch the full interview with the entire crew above in the player.
Everyone is Doing Great seasons 1 and 2 are streaming now on Netflix.
