Suburgatory

George Altman, a devoted single father, moves his sixteen year old daughter Tessa from the bustle of the city to a quiet suburb hoping to shield her from the chaos of adolescence and the temptations that come with city life. Instead he discovers a new set of pressures that come with perfect lawns, trophy moms, and social pecking orders. Tessa, smart, outspoken and craving honesty, balks at the glossy veneer of her new community and finds herself at odds with the suburban etiquette she’s asked to adopt. As they navigate a neighborhood full of competing families, George learns parenting a smart independent teen in a place that values appearances is its own kind of challenge.

Created by Emily Kapnek, Suburgatory premiered on ABC in 2011. The show follows a city raised teen and her single father as they adjust to life in the suburbs, offering sharp humor about class, expectations, and everyday family dynamics resonate.

Suburgatory turns suburbia into a lens for social satire. It riffs on frenzied parent culture, visible in the so called Franken-moms and meticulously curated lives, while letting Tessa and George challenge the narrow scripts of the neighborhood with honesty, humor, resilience, and unexpected warmth that keeps the show humane throughout.

Reception & Themes: Critics noted the show's witty premise and its balance of sharp social observation with warm character moments. It examines parenting choices, teenage independence, and the pressure to conform while celebrating individuality, offering a relatable take on identity, belonging, and the complexities of family life in suburbia today.

Awards: No major award nominations are listed in the available data. The series built a devoted audience with strong performances from Jane Levy and Cheryl Hines, and its sharp writing earned praise in reviews. Yet it did not achieve notable recognition from the major TV award bodies during its run.