Bless the Harts

Did You Know?

• The show's title is based on the Southern phrase 'bless your heart'.
• The fictional town Greenpoint is located in northeast Forsyth County according to a map in the episode 'The Last Supper'.
• In India, the series is simulcast on Disney+ Hotstar due to 20th Television's output deal with Star India.

Premise

The series follows a working-class family in North Carolina, centered on waitress Jenny Hart, who struggles financially while living with her artistically talented daughter Violet and mother Betty. Jenny's boyfriend Wayne has been with her since Violet was a toddler and acts as a father figure. Jenny works at a religious-themed restaurant called The Last Supper alongside her best friend Brenda. Creator Emily Spivey based the show on her upbringing in High Point, North Carolina, setting it in the Triad region's fictional town of Greenpoint—a portmanteau of Greensboro and High Point. The show loosely shares a universe with King of the Hill, including appearances by the Mega Lo Mart.

Cast

Kristen Wiig voices Jenny Hart, a single mother and waitress who left her wealthy ex Don Reynolds at the altar while pregnant with his daughter; Wiig also voices newscaster Maykay Bueller. Maya Rudolph plays Betty Hart, Jenny's 53-year-old widowed mother, and also voices mail lady Norma and Dr. Chakrabarti. Jillian Bell voices Violet Hart, Jenny's sarcastic yet caring daughter who is either 13 or a preteen; Bell also voices Cherish and various background characters. Ike Barinholtz plays Wayne Edwards, Jenny's well-meaning boyfriend who struggles to win Violet's approval and voices various background characters. Kumail Nanjiani voices Jesus Christ, a figment of Jenny's imagination that Violet also sees in one episode. Fortune Feimster voices Brenda Clemmons (season 2, recurring season 1) and Bobbie-Nell. Emily Spivey voices Louise, Jenny's boss. Drew Tarver voices Randy, Charles Lee, and various background characters. Jeremy Rowley voices Jimmy Lee, Uncle Tommy, Mayor Webb (season 1), and others; Jon Hamm took over as Mayor Webb in "Dead Mall". Oscar Montoya voices David Brito. Andy Bobrow voices Bud. Gary Anthony Williams voices Leonard, who has no lines in season 2.

Production

Fox ordered a straight-to-series first season of thirteen episodes on September 25, 2018, with Emily Spivey as creator and executive producer alongside Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Kristen Wiig, and Seth Cohen. Production companies included 20th Century Fox Television and Lord Miller Productions; after the Disney acquisition of 21st Century Fox, Fox Corporation was added. The series debuted on September 29, 2019, and was renewed for a second season on October 18, 2019. Showrunner Andy Bobrow confirmed on November 27, 2019 that three season 1 episodes would air as holdovers in season 2. The show participated in the AniDom Beyond Show on Caffeine starting April 22, 2020. The second season premiered on September 27, 2020, produced during the COVID-19 pandemic with animators working from home. A Comic-Con@Home panel promoted the season. On April 1, 2021, cancellation was announced due to low ratings. Guest stars for season 2 included Ken Jeong, Kristen Schaal, and Natasha Lyonne.

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an 82% approval rating based on 11 reviews, with an average rating of 6.5/10 and a critical consensus noting its exceptional cast and big heart. Metacritic gives a weighted average score of 70 out of 100 from 10 critics, indicating generally favorable reviews. Bubbleblabber rated the first season 6 out of 10, stating it had more misses than hits but praised Fox for renewing it. The Parents Television Council gave the first episode a negative review.