This past week, Netflix released a new eight-episode series from Emmy and Peabody Award-winning writer/creatorTimothy GreenbergtitledLiving with Yourself. The show starsPaull RuddandAisling Beaas Miles and Kate Elliot, a couple drifting towards divorce until Miles makes a drastic decision to shake things up in his life that leads to reality shattering consequences. The show was motivated by a recurring childhood dream of Greenberg’s and he was influenced to write the series because of his very real experiences while aging and getting married. It’s a sweet, funny, and thought-provoking series that works on numerous levels as Miles confronts a younger, more perfect version of himself and decides to take back his life and his marriage from this self-created competition.
On the heels of the show’s debut, I sat down with Greenberg to ask him about what motivated him to write and create this show at this time in his life. We also discuss how long he had Paul Rudd in mind to play the Miles character and how the chemistry between Rudd and Bea was essential to the success of the show. Greenberg also discusses some of the themes, symbolism, and statements he wanted to make in the show about confronting yourself in a relationship. Look below to see what questions I asked him about the show and click on the video above to see his answers. All eight episodes of Living with Yourself were directed byJonathan DaytonandValerie Farisand it also starsAlia Shawkat,Desmin Borges,Karen Pittman,Zoe Chao,James SeolandRob Yang.
Here’s the official synopsis forLiving With Yourself:
The Netflix original series LIVING WITH YOURSELF is an inventive existential comedy that asks: do we really want to be better? Miles (Paul Rudd) is a man struggling in life. When he undergoes a novel spa treatment that promises to make him a better person, he finds he’s been replaced by a new and improved version of himself. As he deals with the unintended consequences of his actions, Miles finds he must fight for his wife (Aisling Bea), his career, and his very identity.
Told from multiple perspectives, the eight-episode series was created and written by Emmy® Award winner Timothy Greenberg (The Daily Show with Jon Stewart), directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris (The Battle of the Sexes, Little Miss Sunshine) and stars Paul Rudd and…Paul Rudd. Greenberg executive produces with Anthony Bregman and Jeff Stern for Likely Story, Tony Hernandez for Jax Media, Dayton, Faris, Rudd, and Jeff Blitz.
