Camping (HBO 2018, David Tennant, Jennifer Garner)

Based on a UK original by the fabulous Julia Davis, Camping follows a group of old friends as they arrive at the underwhelming Brown Bear Lake campsite to celebrate a landmark birthday, sparking heightened emotions, latent tensions (sexual and otherwise) and memories they’d rather forget.

Kathryn McSorley-Jodell (Jennifer Garner) is a controlling LA mom who is far less cheerful than her Lululemons imply. She directs the weekend’s proceedings with an iron grip, until she’s faced with a woman who undoes all her best-laid plans. Walt (David Tennant) is an obedient husband and a loving father, the reliable lynchpin of his male social group, but below that reality lurks a subtle but growing discontent about what he’s just signed up for.

Jandice (Juliette Lewis) is a woman of many talents: a DJ, a reiki healer and a certified public accountant. Her life may seem ideal, but the reality is far less. Smack dab in the middle of a midlife crisis, the recently separated Miguel (Arturo Del Puerto) now expresses his instability through a youthful wardrobe and very strange life choices.

Carleen (Ione Skye) has spent her life in the shadows as Kathryn’s sister. Timid and terrified, she must rely on her own strange passions, such as crocheting, to get her through the lonely days. Nina-Joy (Janicza Bravo) is the friend you go to for everything: best massage, best jeans, best oatmeal. But her tension with Kathryn over a breach of confidence threatens to topple the weekend.

George (Brett Gelman) is loyal, goofy and infinitely game. He’s as obsessed with his best friend, Walt, as he is with his wife, Nina-Joy, and just under the surface of this affable boom operator simmers barely repressed rage that can stop any singalong. Harry (Bridget Everett) is the tough-talking, nature-loving queen of the campsite; her passion for her wife, Nan, is surpassed only by her passion for all other women and an assortment of arms.

‘When we saw Julia Davis’ hilarious U.K. ‘Camping,’ we knew this was the most fun concept for writers and actors,’ observe Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner. ‘We are so excited by our cast. We are so excited by this story. We are so excited to make you never want to go to the woods again.’

production details
USA | HBO – Baby Cow Productions – Casual Romance Productions, A – Hush Ho0 minutes | 8×30 minutes | 2018

Adam Countee as Co-Executive Producer
Christine Langan as Executive Producer
Ilene S. Landress as Executive Producer
Jenni Konner as Creator/Executive Producer/Director of Pilot
John Riggi as Creator/Executive Producer
Julia Davis as Executive Producer/CRTR (U.K. Series)
Lena Dunham as Creator/Executive Producer
Tom Lassally as Executive Producer

cast
Jennifer Garner as Kathryn
David Tennant as Walt
Ione Skye as Carleen
Brett Gelman as George
Arturo del Puerto as Miguel
Cheyenne Haynes as Sol
Duncan Joiner as Orvis
Juliette Lewis as Jandice