Margo's Got Money Troubles
2026 American comedy-drama television series
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Margo's Got Money Troubles is an American comedy-drama television series created by David E. Kelley, based on the 2024 novel by Rufi Thorpe. It stars Elle Fanning, Nick Offerman, Greg Kinnear, Thaddea Graham, Michael Angarano, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Nicole Kidman. The series premiered on Apple TV on April 15, 2026. It received positive reviews from critics and has been renewed for a second season.
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GenreComedy-drama
Created byDavid E. Kelley
Based on
Margo's Got Money Troubles
by Rufi Thorpe
by Rufi Thorpe
ShowrunnerDavid E. Kelley
| Margo's Got Money Troubles | |
|---|---|
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| Genre | Comedy-drama |
| Created by | David E. Kelley |
| Based on | Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe |
| Showrunner | David E. Kelley |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Nathan Micay |
| Opening theme | |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 8 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producer | Caroline James |
| Cinematography |
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| Editors |
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| Running time | 35–44 minutes |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | Apple TV |
| Release | April 15, 2026 – present |
Premise
Margo's Got Money Troubles centers on Margo Millet (Elle Fanning), the daughter of a Hooters waitress, Shyanne (Michelle Pfeiffer), and a former professional wrestler, Jinx (Nick Offerman). After becoming pregnant by her English professor (Michael Angarano), Margo turns to OnlyFans to financially support herself with the help of her estranged father, who tries to share wisdom gleaned from his wrestling days.[1][2]
Cast and characters
Main
- Elle Fanning as Margo Millet, a 20-year-old aspiring writer and freshman college dropout who turns to OnlyFans to support herself and her newborn after her professor gets her pregnant
- Nick Offerman as James "Jinx" Millet, Margo's estranged father, a former professional wrestler and recovering addict who moves in to assist with childcare and provides wrestling-inspired business advice
- Greg Kinnear as Kenneth "Kenny" Herns, an Episcopalian youth minister who is dating Margo's mother, Shyanne
- Thaddea Graham as Susie, Margo's roommate, an accomplished cosplayer and avid wrestling fan who helps Margo navigate the world of online content creation
- Michael Angarano as Mark Gable, Margo's "spineless" community college professor who fathers her child and then vanishes from her life
- Michelle Pfeiffer as Shyanne, Margo's sassy, appearance-focused mother, a former Hooters waitress working in management at Bloomingdale's, who supports Margo despite disapproving of many of her decisions
- Nicole Kidman as Linda "Lace" Sawkins, a retired female wrestler-turned-lawyer who helps Margo and Jinx in legal disputes with Mark
Recurring
- Sasha Diamond as Becca, Margo's high school best friend, who attends New York University
- Marcia Gay Harden as Elizabeth Gable, Mark's protective mother
- Rico Nasty as KC, an OnlyFans creator under the username "WangMangler"
- Lindsey Normington as Rose, an OnlyFans creator under the username "SucculentRose"
Guest
- Laura San Giacomo as Tessa, Margo's boss at a restaurant
- Caitlin McGee as Sarah Gable, Mark's wife
- Annalise Basso as Kathryn, one of Margo's roommates
- Marisela Zumbado as Katie, another of Margo's roommates
- Kerri Kenney as Dana Lockhart, a job interviewer who rejects Margo
- Geoff Pierson as Lawrence J. Boch, Mark's family lawyer
- Rikishi as himself
- Chris Jericho as himself, Jinx's wrestling partner
- Jon Daly as Steve Thunder, a stage magician in Las Vegas
- Ericka Kreutz as Nadia
- Paul McCrane as Judge Andrew Spence
Episodes
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Hungry Ghost" | Dearbhla Walsh | David E. Kelley | April 15, 2026 | |
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Margo Millet is a 20-year-old aspiring writer and freshman at Fullerton College. When her married literature professor, Mark Gable, praises her latest assignment, Margo is flattered and begins an affair with him, despite warnings from her best friend, Becca, who attends college in New York City. Margo gets pregnant and informs Mark, who deduces that she intends to have an abortion. Having conceived Margo during a one-night stand, her mother, Shyanne, worries that the pregnancy will derail Margo's college career, but Margo decides to keep the baby. Some time later, after a trip to Bloomingdale's with Shyanne to buy a stroller, a heavily pregnant Margo spots Mark with his wife and children in the parking lot. Margo privately confronts Mark for ghosting her, and after he questions whether the baby is his, she says she wants nothing from him. Margo is then furious with Shyanne for not celebrating her pregnancy, to which Shyanne responds that life as Margo never got to know it is over. Margo gives birth to a baby boy, with Shyanne by her side. | |||||
| 2 | "Homecoming" | Dearbhla Walsh | David E. Kelley | April 15, 2026 | |
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After giving birth to her son, Bodhi, Margo is overwhelmed by motherhood, particularly struggling to get Bodhi to breastfeed. Shyanne reluctantly agrees to babysit Bodhi so that Margo can return to work. When Shyanne brings a crying Bodhi to the restaurant where Margo works, convinced that she is not cut out to be a grandmother, Margo's boss Tessa fires her. Later, Margo learns that two of her three roommates, annoyed by Bodhi's constant crying, are moving out the next week, leaving Margo with a larger portion of the rent. The next day, Margo stops by Mark's office at Fullerton with Bodhi in tow and demands $3,000 from him. That night, Margo joins Shyanne and her boyfriend, Kenny, an Episcopalian youth minister, for dinner at Applebee's and receives a phone call from Mark's mother, Elizabeth, who arranges a meeting about the $3,000 she demanded. After Margo gives Kenny her blessing, he proposes to Shyanne, who happily accepts. Later that night, Margo's father, Jinx, a former professional wrestler and recovering addict just released from rehab, arrives at her door. | |||||
| 3 | "Jinxed" | Kate Herron | David E. Kelley | April 15, 2026 | |
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Margo introduces Jinx to Bodhi and lets him stay the night at her apartment. After an unsuccessful job interview, Margo meets with Elizabeth and the family lawyer, who suggests setting up a trust fund for Bodhi that will increase to $300,000 by the time he turns 18. Margo agrees to the arrangement, which also stipulates that she is barred from attending Fullerton and must sign a non-disclosure agreement. When Shyanne brings Margo her maid of honor dress, Jinx is shaken by the news of Shyanne's wedding. Margo agrees to let Jinx move in with her and her remaining roommate, Susie. Shyanne disapproves of this, accusing Jinx of nearly destroying Margo's life when he walked out, but Margo defends him. After Jinx mentions that a female professional wrestler made more money in a month on OnlyFans than in a year of wrestling, Margo creates an OnlyFans account under the username "HungryGhost", inspired by a poem Mark wrote for her. She charges subscribers $20 to compare their penises to Pokémon, and soon gains her first subscriber. | |||||
| 4 | "Buddies" | Kate Herron | Eva Anderson | April 22, 2026 | |
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Margo's OnlyFans account reaches nearly 200 subscribers. In order to grow her following, Margo messages KC and Rose, a pair of popular OnlyFans creators based in Orange County, proposing a collaboration. KC and Rose invite Margo to their apartment and agree to try collaborating with her. Inspired by a remark Shyanne made about how Margo trusts Jinx despite barely knowing him, he invites Margo to a wrestling fan convention so she can get a glimpse of his prior life. Shortly afterwards, Jinx accidentally walks in on Susie taking suggestive photos of Margo. When Margo tells Jinx about her OnlyFans account, he is disgusted. At the wrestling convention, Jinx apologizes to Margo for judging her and encounters an old friend, Lace, who challenges him to an impromptu match in the ring. When Lace kicks Jinx to the ground, he is suddenly unable to move. When Jinx asks about Bodhi's father, Margo reveals it is Mark. Jinx goes to Mark's office at Fullerton and breaks his hand with a handshake. | |||||
| 5 | "Flamingoes" | Dearbhla Walsh | Boo Killebrew | April 29, 2026 | |
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Margo and Shyanne go to Las Vegas for Shyanne's wedding to Kenny. Jinx tags along to look after Bodhi. When Kenny realizes he has forgotten his tie for the wedding ceremony, Margo offers to help him pick a new one, and they begin to bond. That night, while Kenny is asleep, Shyanne takes Margo and Jinx to a local bar for a proper bachelorette party. Shyanne reminisces about the time she and Jinx had sex in the bathroom of that bar before remarking that he ruined his chance to be with her. After Jinx leaves, Margo and Shyanne have a wild night out in the city. As they share a tender moment, Margo tells Shyanne about her OnlyFans account, and Shyanne lashes out in anger. The next day, Shyanne and Kenny marry in front of an Elvis impersonator and Margo toasts the newlyweds. Outside the chapel, Jinx cries after observing the ceremony. Margo and Jinx decide to leave Las Vegas together. | |||||
| 6 | "Grudge Match" | Alice Seabright | Keiko Green | May 6, 2026 | |
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With assistance from Jinx and Susie, Margo collaborates with KC and Rose on a series of videos to promote her HungryGhost persona, a blue-skinned alien, which are posted on HungryGhost's TikTok and Instagram accounts. Mark files a restraining order against Jinx, who pays a visit to Lace, now a lawyer. Lace advises Jinx to stay away from Mark and implies that she might still be interested in Jinx. Margo's videos as HungryGhost go viral, resulting in a surge in OnlyFans subscribers. Margo and the visiting Becca attend a New Year's Eve party. Some partygoers recognize Margo as HungryGhost, and she receives harassing messages. Having learned of Margo's OnlyFans, Becca questions her life choices, and the two part ways after a heated argument. The next morning, Margo and Jinx visit Shyanne after Margo's OnlyFans is exposed. Margo comes clean to Kenny, who is sympathetic and offers his support. Margo is notified that Mark has filed for full custody of Bodhi on the grounds that she is an unfit mother. | |||||
| 7 | "Lariat Takedown" | Alice Seabright | Eva Anderson & David E. Kelley | May 13, 2026 | |
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During a mediation session, with Lace acting as Margo's attorney, Mark expresses concerns about how Margo's job as a sex worker will affect her life, including Bodhi's upbringing. In the reception area, Elizabeth enrages Shyanne by claiming Margo targeted Mark in order to exploit him. Shyanne punches Elizabeth in the face, breaking her jaw. Jinx is hospitalized after Margo and Susie find him passed out in the bathtub with a heroin needle in his arm. At the hospital, Lace instructs Margo to throw Jinx out of her apartment, as Mark has requested a home inspection and a psychiatric evaluation. Jinx checks into a methadone clinic and Shyanne allows him to stay at her former apartment. Before Jinx can move out of Margo's apartment, a child protective services (CPS) agent and a public health nurse pay a surprise visit to inspect the apartment, having received a complaint. Due to Jinx's history of drug abuse, the agent requires that Margo, Jinx, and Susie all take drug tests. | |||||
| 8 | "Lock and Load" | Dearbhla Walsh | Eva Anderson & David E. Kelley | May 20, 2026 | |
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Jinx's drug test is positive. Lace instructs Margo to prepare for her psychiatric evaluation and tells Shyanne to apologize to Elizabeth. Elizabeth, whose jaw is wired shut, accepts Shyanne's apology, then remarks how disappointed Shyanne must be in Margo. During a second mediation session, Margo is declared psychologically fit to retain full custody of Bodhi, but Mark demands joint custody and requests that Margo's interactions with Bodhi be supervised for the first two years. Enraged, Margo lunges at Mark, forcing the case into Superior Court. At the court hearing, Judge Andrew Spence evaluates Margo's family by having each member hold Bodhi. When Mark holds Bodhi for the first time, the baby immediately cries for Margo. Margo maintains primary custody while Mark is allowed to have Bodhi two weekends a month. Margo makes peace with Mark, who reveals he never reported her to CPS. Kenny admits to calling CPS because he was worried about Bodhi after Jinx's relapse, leaving Shyanne hurt. Margo continues to expand her career as an OnlyFans creator. | |||||
Production
Development
It was announced in October 2023 that Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman would star in and executive produce the series, of which David E. Kelley would serve as showrunner.[3] In February 2024, Apple TV+ landed the rights to the series and gave it a straight-to-series order.[4] In April 2025, Dearbhla Walsh, Kate Herron, and Alice Seabright were announced as the series' directors. Walsh directed four of the eight episodes, including the pilot, and Herron and Seabright directed two episodes each. Walsh also served as executive producer of the series.[5] In May 2026, Apple TV renewed the series for a second season.[6]
Casting
In September 2024, Michelle Pfeiffer joined the cast and became an executive producer. It is the first time she has collaborated with Kelley, her husband.[7] Nick Offerman and Thaddea Graham were added to the cast in the following months.[8][9] In February 2025, Marcia Gay Harden and Michael Angarano were cast in guest roles.[10][11] In March 2025, Greg Kinnear, Lindsey Normington, Rico Nasty, and Michael Workéyè joined the cast.[12][13]
Filming
In November 2024, principal photography was set to begin in January 2025 in New York.[14] It began instead in Los Angeles in February, and was expected to conclude in May.[15] On June 24, 2025, Pfeiffer announced that filming had wrapped.[16]
Release
Margo's Got Money Troubles premiered at the 2026 SXSW Film & TV Festival on March 12, 2026, in Austin, Texas.[17] It released its first three episodes on April 15, 2026, with new episodes to drop weekly thereafter through May 20.[18]
Reception
Critical response
Metacritic review
breakdown (unweighted)
Positive
25 (86%)
Mixed
4 (14%)
Negative
0 (0%)
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 96% based on 70 critic reviews, with an average rating of 7.9/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "Rich in character and dramatic antics, Margo's Got Money Troubles succeeds because of its attention to emotional detail, authentic performances, and brilliant storytelling."[19] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 79 out of 100, based on 29 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[20]
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Astra TV Awards | August 15, 2026 | Best Comedy Series | Margo's Got Money Troubles | Pending | [21] |
| Best Actress in a Comedy Series | Elle Fanning | Pending | ||||
| Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series | Nick Offerman | Pending | ||||
| Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Michelle Pfeiffer | Pending | ||||
| Best Streaming Comedy Ensemble | Margo's Got Money Troubles | Pending | ||||
| Best Book to Screen Series | Pending | |||||
| Celebration of LGBTQ+ Cinema & Television | May 30, 2026 | Director Award | Dearbhla Walsh | Honored | [22] | |
| Dorian TV Awards | August 15, 2026 | Best TV Performance – Comedy | Elle Fanning | Pending | [23] | |
| Best Supporting TV Performance – Comedy | Michelle Pfeiffer | Pending | ||||
| Gotham TV Awards | June 1, 2026 | Outstanding Lead Performance in a Comedy Series | Elle Fanning | Nominated | [24] | |
| Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Comedy Series | Michelle Pfeiffer | Nominated | ||||
| Set Decorators Society of America TV Awards | August 9, 2026 | Best Achievement in Décor/Design of a One Hour Contemporary Series | Linette McCown Richard Bloom |
Pending | [25] | |
| TCA Awards | Summer 2026 | Outstanding Achievement in Comedy | Margo's Got Money Troubles | Pending | [26] | |
| Individual Achievement in Comedy | Elle Fanning | Pending | ||||
| Outstanding New Program | Margo's Got Money Troubles | Pending |
