Reba McEntire returns to network TV with Happy’s Place, and she’s bringing along one of her former Reba castmates, whose new character has one glaring issue. The NBC sitcom, created by Kevin Abbott, features McEntire (who is also an executive producer) as Bobbie, the new owner of Happy’s Place. Bobbie’s father, the tavern’s former owner, died, and she inherited it following his death. However, the twist in Happy’s Place is that Bobbie has a long-lost half-sister, Isabella, who shows up at the bar as their father left the spot for both of them to co-own.

Aside from Bobbie and Isabella, the new co-owners of the tavern, the other characters in Happy’s Place are those who work at Happy’s Place. From its accountant to the chef, the NBC sitcom seemingly has every job covered at the bar. One of the bartenders in Happy’s Place should look familiar to those who have watched Reba as she is played by one of the older TV show’s main cast members.

Happy’s Place Stages An Exciting Reba Reunion

Reba McEntire & Melissa Peterman Star In Happy’s Place

Melissa Peterman, who played Barbra Jean Hart in Reba, reunites with her former costar, Reba McEntire, 17 years after Reba ended in Happy’s Place. Peterman stars as Gabby, one of the bartenders at Happy’s Place, in the main cast of the NBC sitcom. Gabby is a side character since she is one of Bobbie’s employees, and McEntire’s character is (unsurprisingly) the face of the comedy series, similar to the two actresses’ dynamic in their former TV show. Nevertheless, Happy’s Place sets the stage for a thrilling reunion between two of the most notable cast members from Reba​​​​​.

As those who watched Reba will remember, Peterman’s Barbra Jean and McEntire’s Reba Hart had a special relationship in the 2000s sitcom. The series begins with Reba learning that her estranged husband, Brock Hart, had an affair with another woman, who consequently became pregnant. Barbra Jean is the other woman (who Brock later married), so, it’s easy to see why the two characters have a unique dynamic. Now, 23 years after the sitcom Reba ended, McEntire and Peterman join forces again in Happy’s Place on NBC.

Melissa Peterman’s Happy’s Place’s Gabby Is Too Similar To Barbra Jean

Gabby Shares Many Traits With Reba’s Barbra Jean

While seeing Reba McEntire and Melissa Peterman share the screen again is exciting, their Happy’s Place characters’ dynamic feels similar to Reba and Barbra Jean in Reba​​​​​​. This is likely because Gabby and Barbra Jean are almost identical. Sure, Happy’s Place is McEntire’s Reba replacement sitcom, but that doesn’t mean that the two shows have to share certain qualities. Instead, it should be the opposite. The newer comedy TV series should be doing as much as it can to separate itself from Reba, since many will be comparing the two shows upon arrival.

It’s easy to compare Gabby to Barbra Jean, which is a major and disappointing problem for McEntire’s new sitcom.

In Happy’s Place, Peterman’s Gabby is a bit airheaded, gullible, and desperate to be Bobbie’s best friend, similar to the actress’ character in Reba​​​​​​. Of course, their situations are quite different. Barbra Jean is Reba’s ex-husband’s wife, and Gabby is Bobbie’s worker, who she seems to tolerate. Bobbie is much more friendly towards Gabby in Happy’s Place than Reba is towards Barbra Jean in Reba (which isn’t saying a lot). However, McEntire’s characters are both distant from Peterman’s characters to varying degrees. As a result, it’s easy to compare Gabby to Barbra Jean, which is a major and disappointing problem for McEntire’s new sitcom.

How Happy’s Place Can Fix Gabby

There’s Still Time To Differentiate Gabby From Barbra Jean

It’s still early on in NBC’s Happy’s Place season 1, meaning that change is possible. Gabby doesn’t have to be a completely different person than who she is in the pilot, but adjustments need to be made to her character. For starters, the writers can easily fix the dynamic between Bobbie and Gabby. Instead of making it seem like Bobbie is annoyed by Gabby (while Gabby wants to be close to her boss), the sitcom can reframe their relationship so that the two are actually great friends who can more than tolerate one another.

Happy’s Place Cast
Role

Reba McEntire
Bobbie

Melissa Peterman
Gabby

Belissa Escobedo
Isabella

Rex Linn
Emmett

Pablo Castelblanco
Steve

Tokala Black Elk
Takoda

Happy’s Place should also make Gabby less ditzy and more self-aware. It would be wise for the writers to instill a bit more intelligence and agency into Gabby to separate her from Barbra Jean, who, while lovable, wasn’t the smartest character in Reba. Ultimately, viewers have only seen a glimpse at Peterman’s Gabby in Reba McEntire’s new sitcom, meaning there is time for the writers and producers to fix this character problem.