What Happened to Close Enough?

Close Enough, an adult animated sitcom from Emmy Award-winning creator J.G. Quintel, offered a surreal and comedic look at the challenges of transitioning into one's thirties, including parenthood, friendship, and adult responsibilities. Originally ordered to series by TBS in 2017, the show faced several delays before finally premiering on HBO Max on July 9, 2020. It quickly garnered positive reviews, with critics often drawing favorable comparisons to Quintel's previous hit, 'Regular Show', for its unique blend of mundane slice-of-life scenarios and bizarre, fantastical elements [4, 5]. The series explored the lives of Josh and Emily, a married couple with a young daughter, living in Los Angeles with their divorced best friends. [2]

The show's trajectory took a significant downturn in 2022. On July 15, 2022, HBO Max announced the cancellation of 'Close Enough' after three seasons, just months after its third season debuted in April [9, 12]. This decision was widely attributed to the broader content restructuring and cost-cutting measures implemented by Warner Bros. Discovery following its merger. The new corporate strategy led to a significant purge of animated and unscripted content from the HBO Max platform [1, 3].

A key turning point occurred in August 2022 when 'Close Enough' was abruptly removed from HBO Max entirely, alongside dozens of other titles, as part of Warner Bros. Discovery's efforts to reduce content licensing costs and clear the way for the rebranded 'Max' streaming service [10, 11]. This removal sparked considerable outrage and frustration within the animation community and among fans, who found themselves unable to access the series through their subscriptions. Internationally, where Netflix had acquired streaming rights for seasons 1 and 2 in May 2021, the show also faced removal, departing the platform in May 2023 [6, 10].

The consequences of these decisions have left 'Close Enough' in a state of limbo. While the series is no longer available on major subscription streaming services, it can still be accessed through digital purchase platforms such as Apple TV, Google Play/YouTube, Prime Video, and Vudu [11]. Despite the lack of official news, fan communities continue to express interest in a potential revival, with discussions on platforms like Reddit in late 2025 speculating about Netflix potentially bringing the show back, particularly after hypothetical or actual content acquisition deals with Warner Bros. Discovery [8].

As of September 15, 2026, 'Close Enough' remains officially canceled, and there have been no concrete announcements or developments regarding its return to production or a new streaming home. The show's current status is that of a completed series, available for digital purchase, with its future largely dependent on potential interest from other platforms or a shift in strategy from Warner Bros. Discovery, which has not materialized in the years following its cancellation. Retrospective analyses of the show's 'downfall' continue to appear on platforms like YouTube, reflecting its cult status and the disappointment surrounding its premature end [7].