F is for Family is an American adult animatedweb television series created by Bill Burr and Michael Price for Netflix. The show is produced by Gaumont International Television and Vince Vaughn's Wild West Television. The show follows a dysfunctional suburban Irish-American family, and is set in the fictional town of Rustvale, Pennsylvania in the early-mid 1970s. The show premiered on December 18, 2015, to generally favorable reviews. Season 2 premiered May 30, 2017. On June 28, 2017, the show was renewed for a third season. On July 1, 2018, Burr confirmed season three. On November 30, 2018, the third season was released. On January 24, 2019, the show was renewed for a fourth season, which was released on June 12, 2020.
Cast and characters
Main
Bill Burr as Francis "Frank" Murphy: a 39-year-old disillusioned, short-tempered, foul-mouthed, Korean War veteran and father of four who works as a baggage handler at the local airport.
Justin Long as Kevin Murphy: Frank's slightly dim-witted 15-year-old oldest son, juvenile delinquent, and struggling guitarist. Kevin almost drowned in a motel pool as a child, an event that traumatizes him to this day.
*Long also voices Chuck Sawitzki & Phineas
Haley Reinhart as Bill Murphy: Frank's meek, neurotic 12-year-old middle son who is cursed by multiple bullies.
*Haley Reinhart also voices Frank Murphy as a child.
Debi Derryberry as Maureen Murphy: The 9-year-old second youngest child and eldest daughter of Frank and Sue Murphy, whom Frank always refers to as "princess." She's an intelligent and inquisitive young girl with a passion for computers. Despite her sweet demeanor around her parents she is very unruly and often engages in reckless behavior and constantly antagonizes and tortures Bill.
*Debi Derryberry also voices:
**Philip Bonfiglio: Babe and Marie's 11-year-old son, and best friend of Bill. He has a complex caused by his controlling mother and shows subtle signs of repressed homosexuality. He also seems to be repressing his anger with violent and gruesome drawings.
** Kenny: a 10-year-old friend of Bill and Maureen and is the younger brother of Ben.
** Bridget Fitzsimmons: Jimmy Fitzsimmons' 11-year-old younger sister and Bill's former love interest.
** Others
Sam Rockwell as Vic Reynolds: A 30-year-old wealthy radio disc jockey who is addicted to cocaine. Despite his hedonistic lifestyle, he admires Frank for having a wife and children, and is sincerely cordial towards him. Unbeknownst to him, however, his earnest attitude and way of life tends to rub Frank the wrong way.
* Jim Jeffords: a smooth-talking television personality
* Reid Harrison: an aging overweight Robert Blake-esque TV star
* Hobo Jojo : a hobo clown on the show to compete in the ring-toss game, only to fail because of Jeffords' cheating.
* Mr. Durkin : Kevin Murphy's summer school teacher who was known for abusing his students anytime they misbehave. After his car derailed the train to Pittsburgh, he was later arrested.
* Lou Gagliardi: the president of the International Brotherhood of Baggage Handlers, Skycaps, Roadies and Circus Roustabouts. He is also the current owner of Captain Chucklethrust's.
* Others
John DiMaggio as Scoop Dunbarton: Roger Dunbarton's racist, brain-damaged, and moronic nephew. He was originally a minor league baseball player until one night in St. Louis when he got drunk after pitching a no-hitter and got kicked in the head while trying to carve his name onto the back end of a clydesdale horse.
Allison Janney as Henrietta Van Horne: the founder of Plast-A-Ware
T.J. Miller as Randy: Bill's boss for his paper route
Michael K. Williams as Smokey: a vending machine product distributor
Josh Adam Meyers as "Howlin'" Hank Howland: a radio DJ who works with Vic at WKWOK 109.5.
Vince Vaughn as Chet Stevenson: a new neighbor of the Murphys'.
Matt Jones as Nuber, Kevin's summer school classmate.
*Nguyen-Nguyen Stevenson: Chet's Vietnamnese wife and neighbor of the Murphys'
Jessica DiCicco as Haircut Girl, a teenage girl only ever referred to as Haircut Girl, due to the fact that she gives out free haircuts.
Jonathan Banks as William "Big Bill" Murphy: Frank's 73-year-old father who had relentlessly bullied and abused Frank, which caused Frank to resent him greatly as an adult. Although, he seemed nicer as an old man.
Alex Moffat as Sandy Calabases: Vic's new boss at the radio station.
Phil LaMarr as Curtis Higgins: The new television personality.
* Others
Cree Summer as Darryl Roosvelt, Rosie and Georgia's son.
The series was announced in October 2014 as part of a partnership between Netflix, Gaumont International Television, and Wild West Television. The show is a "family comedy" based on the standup of Bill Burr. Moreover, the show takes place in the 1970s, "a time when you could smack your kid, smoke inside, and bring a gun to the airport". Burr voices the Murphy family patriarch, with Laura Dern as his wife, Justin Long as his eldest son, Debi Derryberry as his daughter Maureen, and Haley Reinhart as his young son. The first season consists of six episodes, shown in a serial manner, written by Bill Burr and Michael Price. Price is best known for his Emmy and Writers Guild award-winning work on The Simpsons. The series is directed by Ben Marsaud.
Reception
The series has received generally positive reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes the first season holds a rating of 84% based on 19 reviews, with an average score of 6.56/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "While the humor relies on vulgarity, the strength of F Is for Family is its substantial heart." The second season holds a rating of 89% with an average score of 7.32 based on 9 reviews. The site's critical consensus reads, "F Is for Family is a little grouchier and wiser in its second season, evoking an era of American decay with warm pastel hues and articulating blue collar angst through Bill Burr's blustery delivery." On Metacritic, the first season holds a score of 75 out of 100, based on 14 reviews, indicating "Generally favorable reviews".
