James Lafferty, known for his role in “Red Right-Hand,” has found success by following a different path from the typical Hollywood rush. Teaming up with fellow “One Tree Hill” alum Stephen Colletti in 2018, Lafferty embarked on a creative journey that led to their collaboration on “Everyone Is Doing Great.” This show, which they wrote, produced, and acted in, explores the lives of actors Seth Steward (played by Colletti) and Jeremy Davis (played by Lafferty), reflecting their real-life experiences.
“It’s a comedy about the cast of a teen drama starting over after their early success,” Lafferty explains to PEOPLE. “It’s based on friendship, love, and nostalgia.”
One of the special additions to the cast is Lafferty’s wife, Alexandra Park, who portrays Andrea, an actress from the fictional show “Eternal” alongside Seth and Jeremy. For Lafferty, the opportunity to work closely with friends and family has been the cornerstone of the show’s success.
“We’re very lucky to have this, and we do everything we can to maintain our working relationship,” Lafferty emphasizes. “Putting friendship first is important, and once you do that, everything else falls into place.”
He believes that this approach brings an authenticity to the show that cannot be replicated. “It gives our show a rare level of authenticity with instant chemistry and nonverbal understanding in scenes,” he adds. “You can’t cast that. It’s the show’s greatest strength, both personally and professionally.”
Season 1 of “Everyone Is Doing Great” is already available on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video, while they are currently seeking a streaming platform for Season 2. Lafferty eagerly anticipates sharing the new season with the world, highlighting how they’ve expanded and developed the characters played by Alexandra Park and Cariba Heine.
“This time, we had more time to develop Alexandra Park and Cariba Heine’s characters,” Lafferty notes. “Now it’s a balanced ensemble between the women and men—the four leads. If Season 1 focused on the guys spiraling and the girls being stable, this season flips that dynamic. Everyone faces their own quarter-life crises.”
As they await the streaming home for Season 2, Lafferty reflects on his personal milestones, including his marriage to Park in Hawaii in May 2022, where Colletti stood as one of his groomsmen. With optimism, Lafferty expects to announce the platform for Season 2 by the end of summer, eager for audiences to see how the series evolves.
