Keeping it weird: 'Life & Beth' returns for a second season

Mar. 9—Kevin Kane and Amy Schumer have a long history of collaboration.

The two worked on "Inside Amy Schumer" for years and are now working on the TV series, "Life & Beth."

The 10-episode second season is currently streaming on Hulu.

"Amy and I had conscious discussions of trying to expand on some of the characters we got to know in the first season because we had so much fun, and there was just so much to kind of unpacked with those actors that we're working with," Kane says. "But it was just something we were excited to explore."

In the second season, Beth, played by Schumer, and John, played by Michael Cera, see their relationship grow more serious.

Beth begins to examine the possibilities of marriage and having a family as she and John seek answers for their communication problems.

Beth is diving into her traumatic history with men and the relationships with people she trusted from her youth.

She's also searching for what is triggering her fears as she tries her best to keep her relationships alive while struggling to support friends and family who are all facing their own problems while entering their fourth decade.

Kane is a director, executive producer and stars as Matt on the series.

The season has a slate full of guest stars including Jennifer Coolidge, Amy Sedaris, Beanie Feldstein, Big Freedia, Colin Quinn, Jemima Kirke, Margaret Cho, Maria Dizzia and Tim Meadows.

In addition to Schumer, recurring cast includes Cera, Susannah Flood, Violet Young as well as recurring guest stars, Kane, Yamaneika Saunders, Laura Benanti, Michael Rapaport, LaVar Walker, Sas Goldberg, Arielle Siegel and Rosebud Baker.

Kane says the second season came around easier than the first.

"With the first season, you're trying to get something out of the gate," he says. "There was pressure with that. We were originally going to shoot in April 2020 and we had to sit on production for a year. We also had never done a narrative television series before, so there was pressure for that. I think season one kind of graduated us into feeling comfortable and able to take some swings like we did in the new season."

Kane also gives credit to the writers for being able to weave together the story, as well as give a deeper dive into each character.

"We don't say that the series is autobiographical, but inspired by life," he says. "We were able to share our stories in the writer's room. It was fun to watch everybody tell the truth about themselves and see where it goes with that. Me included."

Kane and Schumer often talk and are realizing that the series is speaking to audiences in a different way.

"I was just with Amy yesterday and we were commenting on the feedback that we've been getting from audiences," he says. "The responses we've been getting are very specific to the nuances that we thought only we were checked into. We feel really connected to everybody watching it because we feel like they are in touch with all the themes that we had in our heads."

Kane says the responses shows that a series like "Life & Beth" can tell a weird story with all the specific details.

He says it makes audiences feel less alone, because deep down we're all a little weird.

"We just feel like we're just a band of weirdos and I couldn't love our set and our crew more," he says. "Amy has this way of keeping the weirdos on board. Like they're gonna stay with us long term."