If you’ve been looking for where to watch Kidding, you probably noticed something pretty annoying: it disappeared. One day Jeff Piccirillo (played by a hauntingly good Jim Carrey) was there in his bright red cardigan, and the next, he was scrubbed from the platform that birthed him. It’s a weirdly meta fate for a show about a man whose world is slowly being erased by grief and corporate interests.
I remember when Kidding first dropped on Showtime back in 2018. It felt like a fever dream. Dave Holstein, the creator, teamed up with Michel Gondry—the visionary behind Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind—and they created something that didn’t quite fit into any existing box. It wasn't just a "sad clown" story. It was a brutal, beautiful exploration of a children's television host, Jeff Pickles, who is trying to remain kind while his personal life undergoes a nuclear meltdown.
Then came the "content purge" of 2023.
Paramount+, which had swallowed Showtime, decided to thin the herd. They pulled a bunch of original series off their service to save on residuals and write off some taxes. Kidding was a casualty. Honestly, it felt like a betrayal to fans, but that’s the modern streaming landscape for you. It’s volatile.
Tracking Down Where to Watch Kidding Right Now
Finding the show isn't impossible, but it isn't as simple as clicking a "Play" button on a subscription service you already pay for.
Currently, in the United States, Kidding isn't living on any of the "Big Five" streamers for free. You won't find it on Netflix. It's gone from Paramount+. Hulu doesn't have it. Instead, the show has moved into the "digital storefront" phase of its life. This basically means you have to pay-per-view.
You can buy individual episodes or full seasons on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and Fandango at Home (which used to be Vudu). Usually, a season runs about $15 to $20. If you’re a die-hard Jim Carrey fan, it’s a small price to pay for what is arguably his best work since the early 2000s.
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What About International Viewers?
If you’re outside the States, your luck might be a bit better depending on local licensing deals. In some regions, Sky or Canal+ still hold the rights. However, for the most part, the "buy-to-own" model is becoming the standard for these orphaned Showtime series.
It’s a bit of a bummer.
Streamers are leaning into this strategy where "prestige" content that doesn't pull in Stranger Things numbers gets relegated to the archives. It makes you realize how fragile digital libraries actually are.
Why Is Everyone Suddenly Searching for Where to Watch Kidding?
It’s the Jim Carrey effect.
Carrey has been talking more about retirement lately. Every time he mentions stepping away from the spotlight, people go back and look at his filmography. They see The Truman Show, The Mask, and then they stumble upon Kidding. It’s the missing link in his career. It’s the bridge between his rubber-faced comedy and his deeply philosophical personal life.
There's also the Michel Gondry factor. Gondry’s direction is unmistakable. There’s a scene in Season 1, Episode 3, where they show a character's life changing over several years in a single, unbroken take. They rebuilt the sets in real-time as the camera panned. It’s a technical marvel that went viral on TikTok and Twitter recently, sparking a whole new wave of people asking where to watch Kidding.
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The show deals with themes that feel even more relevant now than they did in 2018:
- The performance of happiness in a digital age.
- How we process tragedy when the world expects us to stay "on brand."
- The weird, parasocial relationships we have with celebrities.
Jeff Pickles is the ultimate "influencer" before that term became a dirty word. He's a man who has to be a saint for the cameras while his soul is screaming. People resonate with that.
The Physical Media Dilemma
Here is a pro tip: if you really love a show that’s been purged from streaming, buy the physical copy.
Kidding Season 1 and Season 2 were released on DVD. They are becoming increasingly rare, often popping up on eBay or secondary markets for higher prices than they originally retailed for. Why? Because fans are realizing that "digital ownership" is a bit of a lie. If Amazon loses the license to host the files, your "purchased" season could theoretically vanish.
A physical disc is yours forever.
I’ve seen copies of Kidding Season 1 go for $25 on Mercari. It’s worth checking your local thrift stores or used media shops like 2nd & Charles. You might get lucky.
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What to Watch If You Can't Find Kidding
If you’re striking out on the streaming front and don't want to drop $40 on two seasons of television, there are some spiritual successors out there.
The Curse on Paramount+ (with the Showtime add-on) has that same "uncomfortable, high-art" vibe. It stars Nathan Fielder and Emma Stone. It’s cringey, surreal, and deeply cynical about human nature.
BoJack Horseman is the obvious comparison. While it's an animation about a talking horse, the exploration of depression and the "cost" of being a celebrity is almost identical to the DNA of Kidding.
Mr. Rogers: It’s You I Like or the documentary Won't You Be My Neighbor? are also essential viewing. Jeff Pickles is clearly modeled after Fred Rogers, but Kidding asks the question: "What if Mr. Rogers had a nervous breakdown and no one let him stop being Mr. Rogers?"
Actionable Steps for the Dedicated Fan
Don't give up on the show just because it's not on Netflix. It’s too good to be forgotten.
- Check your local library. This is the most underrated hack for "deleted" media. Most library systems use an app called Hoopla or Libby, or they have physical DVDs you can rent for free. Search their catalog for Kidding.
- Wait for a Fan-Centric Sale. Platforms like Apple TV (iTunes) often bundle seasons for $9.99 during holiday sales. Put it on your "Watchlist" on an app like CheapCharts to get a notification when the price drops.
- Use JustWatch. This is a tool you should be using anyway. It tracks which services have which shows in real-time. Since licensing deals change overnight, JustWatch will tell you the second Kidding lands on a random streamer like Tubi or Pluto TV.
- Consider a VPN. If you find that the show is streaming for free on a service in the UK or Australia, a VPN can help you access your existing accounts in those regions.
The reality is that where to watch Kidding is a question that highlights a bigger problem in entertainment. We are losing access to mid-budget, high-concept art. Supporting the show by buying it digitally or on DVD sends a signal to studios that this kind of "weird" TV has a permanent audience.
Go find Jeff Pickles. It’s heartbreaking, but it’s the kind of heartbreak that actually makes you feel a little more human.