Photo by Kara Hudgens taken at Knoxville’s Bijou Theatre for The Hollywood Reporter
Leanne Morgan (’92), celebrated stand-up comedian, debuted her new sitcom, Leanne, on Netflix on July 31, serving as its star, co-creator, and executive producer. Set in Knoxville, the show captures the story of a woman whose husband leaves her after 33 years of marriage, following familiar topics of her comedy acts. The series is co-created by illustrious comedy writers and producers Chuck Lorre, best known for The Big Bang Theory, and Susan McMartin of Mom.
Morgan adds sitcom star to several major accomplishments of recent years. Her stand-up special on Netflix, I’m Every Woman, sits in the streaming platform’s top-10 comedy specials. She made her first film appearance with You’re Cordially Invited in 2023 and penned a New York Times best-selling memoir last year. She has made multiple news and talk show appearances, including the TODAY show and Late Night with Seth Meyers.
Photo by Patrick McElhenney for Netflix, depicting a scene from Leanne
Out of college, Morgan sold jewelry. Her charisma struck a chord with customers, so much so that they would book her more than a year in advance. She later moved from Tennessee to Texas, where she started performing live comedy shows. She regularly shares her love for her rural Tennessee upbringing and for UT in her stand-up routines.
You can stream all 16 episodes of Leanne on Netflix now or catch her live on her current comedy tour, Just Getting Started. Read more about the Netflix sitcom.
