Hulu: “Fleishman Is In Trouble” starring Jesse Eisenberg and Claire Danes

The Upper East Siders portrayed in “Fleishman Is In Trouble” (Hulu), are materialistic, narcissistic, and competitive—even more so than the usual stereotype.

Toby (Jesse Eisenberg), a hepatologist, and his talent-agent wife Rachel (Claire Danes as a blond) seem to have it all—two smart kids, successful careers, a swanky apartment—till it all falls apart and they get divorced. Toby moves into a single-guy UES apartment with vertical blinds and temperamental AC. He starts surfing the dating apps for a girl-date du jour.

Toby’s handsome buddy Seth (Adam Brody) suffers from Peter Pan syndrome and at the age of 40 still hasn’t found The Right One. A third friend, Libby (Lizzy Caplin), formerly an editor at a men’s magazine, frets over her NJ-married-with-kids existence. “I’m not me anymore,” she complains to the guys on her visits to NYC.

The writing in places is terrific, as is the acting, but IMHO, these have to be the most uninteresting, self-absorbed people in recent television history. The only great episode is the next to the last, when we learn the reason for much of the angst floating around.

What’s this all about? Adults as overgrown teens, refusing to grow up and accept responsibility? The Upper East Side as a neighborhood that attracts toxic people? Don’t ask me, I just live here. Far away from people like this (except when vying for attention at the meat counter at Citarella).

“Fleishman” is based on the 2019 novel by Taffy Brodesser-Ajmer (a writer for GQ), which according one friend was so bad he couldn’t finish it. It took me eight episodes to see why. Besides you’ve got better things to do. Isn’t Anderson Cooper on in a few hours?