''Alpha House'' is an American

political satire Political satire is a type of satire that specializes in gaining entertainment from politics. Political satire can also act as a tool for advancing political arguments in conditions where political speech and dissent are banned. Political satir ...

television series produced by

Amazon Studios Amazon MGM Studios is an American film and television production and distribution company owned by Amazon, and headquartered at the Culver Studios complex in Culver City, California. Launched on November 16, 2010, it took its current name on O ...

. The show starred

John Goodman John Stephen Goodman (born June 20, 1952) is an American actor. He rose to prominence in television before becoming an acclaimed and popular film actor. Goodman has received List of awards and nominations received by John Goodman, various acc ...

, Clark Johnson, Matt Malloy, and

Mark Consuelos Mark Andrew Consuelos (; born March 30, 1971) is an American actor and talk show host. He rose to prominence as a television actor on the ABC soap opera ''All My Children'' for his portrayal of Mateo Santos (1995–2002, 2010), and subsequently ...

as four Republican U.S. Senators who share a house in

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

It was created by ''

Doonesbury ''Doonesbury'' is a comic strip by American cartoonist Garry Trudeau that chronicles the adventures and lives of an array of characters of various ages, professions, and backgrounds, from the President of the United States to the title character, ...

'' creator

Garry Trudeau Garretson Beekman Trudeau (born July 21, 1948) is an American cartoonist best known for creating the ''Doonesbury'' comic strip. Trudeau won the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning in 1975, making him the first comic strip artist to win a ...

. The show premiered on Amazon Prime Video on April 19, 2013. The series is inspired by several real Democratic Senators who share a row house in Washington D.C. The series has a number of cameos from celebrities such as

Bill Murray William James Murray (born September 21, 1950) is an American actor and comedian, known for his deadpan delivery in roles ranging from studio comedies to independent dramas. He has received List of awards and nominations received by Bill Murra ...

(as Senator Vernon Smits) and politicians such as Chuck Schumer as himself. Amazon Studios offered the first three episodes of ''Alpha House'' for free, with each subsequent episode released weekly thereafter for

Amazon Prime Amazon Prime (styled as prime) is a paid subscription service of Amazon which is available in many countries and gives users access to additional services otherwise unavailable or available at a premium to other Amazon customers. Services inclu ...

members on

Amazon Prime Video Amazon Prime Video, known simply as Prime Video, is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming television service owned by Amazon. The service primarily distributes films and television series produced or co-produced by ...

. On February 11, 2014, the series was renewed for a second season and the production for the second season began filming in July 2014. The entire second season became available on

Amazon.com Amazon.com, Inc., doing business as Amazon, is an American multinational technology company engaged in e-commerce, cloud computing, online advertising, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence. Founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos in Bellevu ...

on October 24, 2014. The series was canceled after the second season.

Cast

Starring

as Gil John Biggs, a Republican U.S. Senator from

North Carolina North Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, South Carolina to the south, Georgia (U.S. stat ...

and former basketball coach of the

North Carolina Tar Heels The North Carolina Tar Heels (also Carolina Tar Heels) are the college sports in the United States, intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The name Tar Heel is a nickname used to refer to ...

. * Clark Johnson as Robert Bettencourt, a Republican U.S. Senator from

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...

who is currently eighth in seniority. * Matt Malloy as Louis Laffer, a Republican U.S. Senator from

Nevada Nevada ( ; ) is a landlocked state in the Western United States. It borders Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. Nevada is the seventh-most extensive, th ...

who owns the house where the four Senators live. *

as Andy Guzman, a Republican U.S. Senator from

Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...

and candidate for

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

. *

Yara Martinez Yara Martínez is an American television actress, born in Puerto Rico, who is best known for her roles as Kelly in '' Hollywood Heights,'' as Dr. Luisa Alver on The CW series '' Jane the Virgin,'' and as Bull's wife Isabella on ''Bull.'' Early ...

as Adriana de Portago, Andy's girlfriend and Cuban-American heiress who runs a super PAC that assists Republican campaigns. * Alicia Sable as Tammy Stackhouse, a legislative assistant to Senator Biggs. * Julie White as Maddie Biggs, Gil John's demanding wife.

Recurring

as Senator Vernon Smits, the Senators' fifth roommate who is arrested in the pilot episode for multiple scandals (3 episodes, 2013–14) *

Haley Joel Osment Haley Joel Osment (born April 10, 1988) is an American actor. Beginning his career as a child actor, Osment's role in the comedy-drama film ''Forrest Gump'' (1994) won him a Young Artist Award. His breakthrough came with the psychological thr ...

as Shelby Mellman, a reporter from

Reno, Nevada Reno ( ) is a city in the northwest section of the U.S. state of Nevada, along the Nevada–California border. It is the county seat and most populous city of Washoe County, Nevada, Washoe County. Sitting in the High Eastern Sierra foothills, ...

(12 episodes, 2013–14) *

Amy Sedaris Amy Louise Sedaris (; born March 29, 1961) is an American actress, comedian, and writer. She played Jerri Blank in the Comedy Central comedy series '' Strangers with Candy'' (1999–2000) and the prequel film '' Strangers with Candy'' (2005), wh ...

as Louise Laffer, Louis's wife (14 episodes, 2013–14) *

Wanda Sykes Wanda Yvette Sykes (born March 7, 1964) is an American stand-up comedian, actress, and writer. She was first recognized for her work as a writer on ''The Chris Rock Show'', for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award in 1999. In 2004, ''Entertainme ...

as Senator Rosalyn DuPeche, the Senators' next-door neighbor from Illinois and the Democratic Chair of the

Senate Armed Services Committee The Committee on Armed Services, sometimes abbreviated SASC for Senate Armed Services Committee, is a committee of the United States Senate empowered with legislative oversight of the nation's military, including the Department of Defen ...

(14 episodes, 2013–14) *

Brooke Bloom Brooke Bloom is an American actress. She is best known for her starring role as Ronah in the drama film '' She's Lost Control'' (2014). Career Her first on-screen appearance was a role as Grunge Girl in the episode "Team Play" of CBS's medical ...

as Julie Carrell, Louis's Chief of Staff (18 episodes, 2013–14) * Kobi Libii as Aaron Stimson, Robert's legislative aide (7 episodes, 2013–14) * Ben Rameaka as James Whippy, Louis's social media aide (17 episodes, 2013–14) * Bjorn Dupaty as Hakeem Agabi, body man to Gil John and one of his former players (5 episodes, 2013) * Willa Fitzgerald as Lola Laffer, Louis's daughter (12 episodes, 2013–14) * Lila Newman as Charlotte "Cee" Biggs, Gil John's daughter (6 episodes, 2014) * Natalie Gold as Katherine Sims, Andy's Chief of Staff (15 episodes, 2013–14) * Sofiya Akilova as Marta Stjepanovi-Majdandzic, the Senators' Croatian housekeeper and Andy's mistress (7 episodes, 2013–14) * Tony Plana as Benito "Benny" López, Adriana's aide (6 episodes, 2013–14) * Richard Cox as Graydon Talbot, a spin doctor counseling Andy (9 episodes, 2013–14) * Owen Campbell as Dilly DeSantis, loosely based on the young data scientists that worked on the Barack Obama presidential campaign in 2012 (3 episodes, 2013–14) * Molly Kate Bernard as Angie Sullivan, a videographer working for the Republican Party Chair (4 episodes, 2013–14) *

Lee Tergesen Lee Allen Tergesen (; born July 8, 1965) is an American actor. He is known for his portrayals of Chett Donnelly on USA Network's '' Weird Science'' (1994–1998), Tobias Beecher on HBO's '' Oz'' (1997–2003), Peter McMillan on the second seas ...

as Col. Eugene Drake, a gay army commander who intrigues Louis (3 episodes, 2014) * William Thomas Evans as Senator Lamar Farkus, a Republican from Delaware (9 episodes, 2013–14) *

Cynthia Nixon Cynthia Ellen Nixon (born April 9, 1966) is an American actress, activist, and theater director. For her portrayal of Miranda Hobbes in the HBO series ''Sex and the City'' (1998–2004), she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supportin ...

as Senator Carly Armiston, a New York Democrat and the chair of the Senate Ethics Committee (6 episodes, 2013) *

Kenneth Tigar Kenneth Tigar (born September 24, 1942) is an Americans, American actor, primarily on United States, American television, and translator. Life Kenneth Leslie Tigar was born into a Jewish family in Chelsea, Massachusetts, and raised in the Great ...

as Senator Paul Mower, an Idaho Republican (5 episodes, 2013–14) * Marylouise Burke as Senator Betty Mower, Paul's widow, who takes his position following his death. (4 episodes, 2013–14) * Janel Moloney as Senator Peg Stanchion, a North Dakota Libertarian activist and member of the Tea Party (4 episodes, 2014) * Bianca Amato as Senator Alice Graves, a Republican from Maine (2 episodes, 2014) *

Bob Balaban Robert Elmer Balaban (born August 16, 1945) is an American actor, director, producer and writer. Aside from his acting career, Balaban has directed three feature films, in addition to numerous television episodes and films, and was one of the pro ...

as Senator Elliot Robeson, a Democrat from California (2 episodes, 2014) * Lucy DeVito as Charity Robeson, Elliot's daughter (4 episodes, 2014) * Anita Petry as Camila Perez, a Spanish Professor visiting from Barcelona (3 episodes, 2013) * Chance Kelly as Bo Carthage, the CEO of a private military contractor (2 episodes, 2013) * Matty Blake as Captain Brandon Carshaw, Ret. (2 episodes, 2013) * Wendy Makkena as Molly P. Andresun (2 episodes, 2014) * Tracy Howe as Colonel Wozniak (2 episodes, 2013) * Ted King as Al Hickok, a Tea Party activist running for Senator Laffer's seat during the primaries (2 episodes, 2013) *

Penn Jillette Penn Fraser Jillette (born March 5, 1955) is an American Magic (illusion), magician, actor, comedian, musician, inventor, television presenter, and author, best known for his work with fellow magician Teller (magician), Teller as half of the t ...

as a fictionalized version of himself, running as the Democratic candidate for Louis's Senate seat (5 episodes, 2014) * Ed Rendell as a fictionalized version of himself, running as the Democratic candidate for Robert's Senate seat (2 episodes, 2014) * Matthew Humphreys as Colonel Leland Grimmel, a war hero and former basketball player running as the Democratic candidate for Gil John's Seat (4 episodes, 2014) * Todd Susman and Lee Wilkof as the Watt Brothers, wealthy casino owners and businessmen from Nevada funding Louis and Gil John (4 episodes, 2013–14) * Tamara Tunie as Eve Bettencourt, Robert's divorced wife (2 episodes, 2014)

Cameos

Stephen Colbert Stephen Tyrone Colbert ( ; born May 13, 1964) is an American comedian, writer, producer, political commentator, actor, and television host. He is best known for hosting the satirical Comedy Central program ''The Colbert Report'' from 2005 to ...

Chris Matthews Christopher John Matthews (born December 17, 1945) is an American political commentator, retired talk show host, and author. Matthews hosted his weeknight hour-long talk show, ''Hardball with Chris Matthews'', on America's Talking and later on M ...

* Joe Scarborough * Mika Brzezinski *

Michael Steele Michael Stephen Steele (born October 19, 1958) is an American politician, attorney, and political commentator who served as the seventh lieutenant governor of Maryland from 2003 to 2007 and as chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC) f ...

Chuck Schumer Charles Ellis Schumer ( ; born November 23, 1950) is an American politician serving as the Seniority in the United States Senate, senior United States Senate, United States senator from New York (state), New York, a seat he has held since 1999. ...

Dick Morris Richard Samuel Morris (born November 28, 1948) is an American author, commentator, and former political consultant. A friend and advisor to Bill Clinton during his time as Governor of Arkansas and since his 1978 run, Morris became a political ...

Anthony Weiner Anthony David Weiner ( born September 4, 1964) is an American politician who served as the United States House of Representatives, U.S. representative for from 1999 until his resignation in 2011. A member of the Democratic Party (United States) ...

* Grover Norquist *

Tom Brokaw Thomas John Brokaw (; born February 6, 1940) is an American author and retired network television journalist. He first served as the co-anchor of Today (American TV program), ''The Today Show'' from 1976 to 1981 with Jane Pauley, then as the anch ...

* Chris Jansing *

Matt Lauer Matthew Todd Lauer (; born December 30, 1957) is a former American television news personality, best known for his work with NBC News. After serving as a local news personality in New York City on WNBC, his first national exposure was as the ne ...

* Jane Pauley *

Kelly Ripa Kelly Maria Ripa (; born October 2, 1970) is an American actress and talk show host. Since 2001, she has been the co-host of the syndicated morning talk show '' Live! with Kelly and Mark'' in various formats. Her co-hosts have included Regis ...

Michael Strahan Michael Anthony Strahan ( ; born November 21, 1971) is an American television host, journalist, and former professional American football, football player. He played his entire 15-year professional career as a defensive end for the New York Gian ...

Rachel Maddow Rachel Anne Maddow ( ; born April 1, 1973) is an American television news program host and liberal political commentator. She hosts '' The Rachel Maddow Show'', a weekly television show on MSNBC, and serves as the cable network's special event ...

* Jon Ralston *

Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth Ann Warren (née Herring; born June 22, 1949) is an American politician and former law professor who is the Seniority in the United States Senate, senior United States senator from the state of Massachusetts, serving since 2013. A mem ...

John McCain John Sidney McCain III (August 29, 1936 – August 25, 2018) was an American statesman and United States Navy, naval officer who represented the Arizona, state of Arizona in United States Congress, Congress for over 35 years, first as ...

* David Axelrod *

Bradley Whitford Bradley Whitford (born October 10, 1959) is an American actor and producer. He is best known for his portrayal of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman in the NBC television political drama ''The West Wing'' (1999–2006), for which he ...

Jake Tapper Jacob Paul Tapper (born March 12, 1969) is an American journalist. He is the lead Washington anchor for CNN, hosts the weekday television news show ''The Lead with Jake Tapper'', and co-hosts the Sunday morning public affairs program ''State of ...

Andy Cohen Andrew Joseph Cohen (born June 2, 1968) is an American radio and television talk show host, producer, and writer. He is the host and executive producer of ''The Real Housewives'' Multimedia franchise, franchise and Bravo (American TV network), B ...

Episodes

Season 1 (2013–14)

Season 2 (2014)

On February 11, 2014, the series was renewed for a second season. Production for the second season began filming in July 2014, and the entire season premiered on

on October 24, 2014.

Production

Filming took place on stages at

Kaufman Astoria Studios The Kaufman Astoria Studios is a film studio located in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens in New York City. The studio was constructed for Famous Players–Lasky in 1920, since it was close to Manhattan's Theater District. The property was ...

Queens Queens is the largest by area of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Queens County, in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. Located near the western end of Long Island, it is bordered by the ...

. ADR recording was done at Cherry Beach Sound in

Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

Broadcast

In Australia, where Prime Video was not yet available, the series premiered on

SoHo SoHo, short for "South of Houston Street, Houston Street", is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York City. Since the 1970s, the neighborhood has been the location of many artists' lofts and art galleries, art installations such as The Wall ...

on July 14, 2014, and returned for season two on February 26, 2015.

Reception

Reaction to ''Alpha House'' has been generally positive.

Metacritic Metacritic is an American website that aggregates reviews of films, television shows, music albums, video games, and formerly books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted average). Metacritic was created ...

gives season 1 an average rating of 68/100 based on reviews from 21 critics.

Rotten Tomatoes Rotten Tomatoes is an American review aggregator, review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee ...

gives season 1 a score of 76% based on reviews from 38 critics.

gives season 2 a score of 83% based on reviews from 6 critics.

Awards and nominations

References

External links

*
''Alpha House''
on

{{Amazon Video original series 2010s American political comedy television series 2010s American satirical television series 2010s American workplace comedy television series 2013 American television series debuts 2014 American television series endings Amazon Prime Video original programming American English-language television shows Television shows filmed in New York City Television shows set in Washington, D.C. Television series by Amazon MGM Studios