About a Boy

Will Freeman lives off a one-hit-wonder and has arranged his life so he never has to grow up. He spends his days with few commitments and plenty of casual romances, until a single mother, Fiona, and her awkward 11-year-old son, Marcus, move in next door and disturb his routine. Marcus begins to show up uninvited, and a pragmatic deal is made: Marcus will pose as Will's son so Will looks desirable to women, and Marcus can hang out at Will's place. The arrangement loosens Will's defenses, and over time he warms to Marcus and reassesses what matters to him, without any major plot reveals.

Created by Nick Hornby and released in 2014, the TV version adapts Hornby's novel and the 2002 film for an American small-screen audience. David Walton stars as Will, with Minnie Driver and Benjamin Stockham as Fiona and Marcus, and the ensemble also includes Al Madrigal and Annie Mumolo.

The show prompted discussion about translating a distinctly British story into a US TV format, sparking comparisons with the original film and novel. It helped keep Hornby's characters in the cultural conversation and served as an example of how tone and casting shift when source material crosses the Atlantic, earning attention from viewers who like adaptations.

Audience and critic reaction was mixed, reflected in a 6.2/10 user vote average. Many reviewers praised the chemistry among the leads, particularly Walton's comic timing and Stockham's awkward honesty, and some appreciated Driver's grounded performance. Critics often pointed to uneven tone and pacing, where sitcom beats clashed with more dramatic moments, yet the show persistently circles themes of maturity, single parenthood, and how relationships reshape identity.

The series did not collect major industry awards or high-profile nominations. While parts of the cast drew favorable notices, the show remained a modestly received network effort and is remembered more by a niche group of fans than as an awards standout.