Mary + Jane

Mary + Jane is an American comedy television series created by screenwriters Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont that follows two young women navigating the cannabis delivery business in Los Angeles.^[1] The show premiered on MTV on September 5, 2016, and aired for a single 10-episode season until November 14, 2016.^[2] Starring Scout Durwood as the ambitious Jordan and Jessica Rothe as her laid-back best friend Paige, the series centers on the duo's all-female operation, which specializes in discreet marijuana deliveries to clients including celebrities and influencers.^[3] Their entrepreneurial struggles include competing for inclusion on the "Green 15," a prestigious list of top cannabis providers, amid logistical mishaps, regulatory hurdles, and interpersonal dynamics in California's emerging legal weed market.^[4] Co-produced by rapper Snoop Dogg, known for his advocacy in the cannabis industry, the program incorporates humor derived from delivery scenarios and the characters' personal growth, reflecting broader cultural shifts toward marijuana normalization at the time.^[5] Though it received mixed critical reception for its uneven pacing and reliance on stoner tropes, Mary + Jane garnered a 5.5/10 user rating on IMDb from over 500 votes and was canceled by MTV in February 2017 after failing to build a substantial audience.^[3] The series stands as an early network attempt to depict female-led ventures in the burgeoning recreational cannabis sector, predating wider mainstream acceptance of such themes.^[6]

Premise

Plot overview

Mary + Jane centers on two best friends and roommates in Los Angeles, Jordan and Paige, who co-own and operate an all-female marijuana delivery service named after themselves.^[1][7] The series depicts their efforts to expand the business and achieve recognition by securing a spot on "The Green 15," a coveted list of elite cannabis dispensaries, amid the competitive legal weed market in California.^[3] Jordan, portrayed as tough and fast-talking, contrasts with the bubbly, optimistic Paige, driving much of the comedic tension through their differing approaches to entrepreneurship, customer interactions, and personal lives.^[3][5] The show explores their daily challenges, including sourcing product, navigating regulations, and dealing with quirky clients and rivals, all while incorporating elements of stoner humor and Los Angeles culture.^[8][1] Produced with involvement from Snoop Dogg, the narrative emphasizes female empowerment in the male-dominated cannabis industry, blending workplace comedy with themes of friendship and ambition during the early legalization era in 2016.^[5][9] The single season consists of 10 half-hour episodes, aired on MTV from September 5 to November 14, 2016, focusing on their scrappy pursuit of success without delving into heavy dramatic arcs.^[1][7]

Themes and setting

The series is primarily set in Los Angeles, California, where protagonists Jordan and Paige operate their legal medical marijuana delivery service amid the city's burgeoning cannabis scene following California's Proposition 64, which legalized recreational marijuana sales starting January 1, 2018, though the show aired in 2016 during the medical market's expansion.^[3] The urban, hipster-infused environment of L.A. serves as a backdrop for scenes involving trendy dispensaries, eccentric clients, and competitive industry networking, satirizing millennial lifestyles and local cultural quirks like artisanal food trends and wellness fads tied to cannabis consumption.^[5][3] Core themes revolve around female friendship and empowerment in a male-dominated entrepreneurial landscape, with Jordan and Paige's partnership highlighting resilience, collaboration, and gender dynamics in the cannabis business, which co-creator Deborah Kaplan described as embodying a "future of marijuana is female" ethos due to the plant's biological femaleness and women's growing roles in legalization-era opportunities.^[10] The narrative portrays the weed industry as a viable, lucrative path for young women, emphasizing innovation through an all-female delivery model to differentiate from competitors and secure spots on elite lists like "The Green 15," while underscoring challenges such as regulatory navigation, financial pressures, and work-life balance.^[1][5] Additional motifs include the normalization and social acceptance of marijuana use, depicted through humorous, everyday scenarios that treat cannabis as a commodity akin to other delivery services, co-produced by Snoop Dogg to lend authenticity to industry portrayals without overt advocacy.^[3] The show critiques superficial aspects of L.A.'s wellness culture and stoner stereotypes, using comedy to explore ambition versus personal fulfillment, as the friends' bond is tested by business rivalries and romantic entanglements, reflecting broader tensions in startup environments.^[5][3]

Production

Development and creation

Mary + Jane was created by screenwriters and directors Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont, whose prior credits include the teen comedies Can't Hardly Wait (1998) and Josie and the Pussycats (2001). The duo conceived the series amid California's evolving cannabis landscape, drawing inspiration from the proliferation of dispensaries and delivery services following medical marijuana legalization in 1996 and recreational efforts gaining momentum. Kaplan and Elfont envisioned a female-led narrative to subvert industry stereotypes, positing that customers might prefer "cute girls" over "shady guys" for discreet deliveries, while exploring entrepreneurial mishaps, romantic entanglements, and cultural shifts around pot consumption.^[11][12] MTV commissioned the pilot script in September 2015 as one of three new scripted comedy pilots, centering on twentysomething protagonists Paige and Jordan as they build their Los Angeles-based delivery business amid client demands and personal chaos. The pilot's approval led to a straight-to-series order for 10 episodes, with Kaplan and Elfont serving as showrunners and executive producers. Rapper Snoop Dogg joined later via his cannabis media brand Merry Jane, contributing as an executive producer, composing the theme song, and guest-starring in a non-self-parody role; his involvement was publicly revealed at the July 31, 2016, Television Critics Association press tour.^[13][14] Development aligned with broader legalization trends, including California's Proposition 64 ballot initiative for recreational use, which Snoop Dogg actively supported; the series aimed to normalize weed-centric humor without heavy reliance on stoner tropes, though critics noted its debt to shows like Broad City. Additional executive producers included Guymon Casady, Marcus Blakely, and Jill McElroy, with production handled under MTV Studios.^[15][16]

Casting and crew

Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont created Mary + Jane, serving as showrunners, head writers, and directors for multiple episodes, drawing on their prior experience directing films such as Can't Hardly Wait (1998).^[1][17] The executive production team included Kaplan, Elfont, Snoop Dogg—who joined later in development, performed the theme song, and guest-starred in an episode—Guymon Casady of Management 360, Marcus Blakely, and Jill McElroy.^[13][18] The series was produced under Television 360, with additional contributions from Snoop's involvement emphasizing the show's cannabis-themed premise amid shifting legalization discussions in California.^[13] Casting details for principal roles were handled internally by the production, with limited public announcements; the leads, Jessica Rothe as Paige and Scout Durwood as Jordan, were selected for their comedic timing in portraying millennial entrepreneurs navigating the legal weed industry.^[1] Supporting roles featured actors like Utkarsh Ambudkar and Kosha Patel, cast to fill ensemble dynamics in the 10-episode first season.^[1]

Filming and production challenges

The production of Mary + Jane involved technical challenges related to cinematography in low-light environments, such as scenes set in dimly lit bars during the first week of filming. Cinematographer Charles Papert addressed this by employing Panasonic VariCam 35 4K cinema cameras, which delivered strong performance under those conditions without requiring extensive supplemental lighting.^[19] No actual marijuana was smoked on set, with depictions relying on props and simulated actions to authentically represent the cannabis delivery business while adhering to legal and safety protocols.^[6] The single season of 10 episodes was completed under a standard network schedule, executive produced by Snoop Dogg and others, but the series did not encounter reported delays or major logistical disruptions during principal photography in Los Angeles.^[20]

Cast and characters

Main cast

Scout Durwood starred as Jordan, the street-smart, experienced co-founder of an all-female marijuana delivery service in Los Angeles, often providing comic relief through her laid-back demeanor and industry savvy.^[3][21] Jessica Rothe portrayed Paige, Jordan's ambitious best friend and business partner, depicted as an enthusiastic newcomer navigating the legal cannabis market with optimism and occasional naivety.^[3][5] The series centered on their roommate dynamic and entrepreneurial efforts to expand their operation amid California's evolving marijuana laws in 2016.^[1]

Supporting and guest roles

Utkarsh Ambudkar portrayed Bentley, a laid-back associate who frequently assists protagonists Jordan and Paige with their marijuana delivery operations across multiple episodes.^[3] Kosha Patel played Jenée, a recurring friend providing comic relief and involvement in the leads' social and business antics.^[3] Dan Ahdoot appeared as Robbie, a rival figure in the competitive cannabis scene, contributing to plot conflicts in several installments.^[3] H. Michael Croner depicted Chris, another recurring team member handling logistics for the delivery service.^[3] The series featured notable guest stars to enhance its episodic humor tied to weed culture. Snoop Dogg, an executive producer, guest-starred as Ganja Claus in one episode, aligning with the show's thematic focus on cannabis.^{[22] [3]} Other guests included Seth Green, Leonard Roberts, Missi Pyle, and Andy Daly, each appearing in single episodes to portray clients, rivals, or eccentric figures interacting with the main characters' enterprise.^[23] These appearances, spanning the ten-episode run from September 5 to November 14, 2016, added variety to the narrative without establishing long-term arcs.^[24]

Episodes

Season 1 episode list

The first season of Mary + Jane consists of 10 episodes, which aired weekly on MTV from September 5, 2016, to November 14, 2016, typically on Monday nights at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.^[25][24]

Episode reception highlights

The pilot episode, aired on September 5, 2016, received a user rating of 6.1/10 on IMDb based on 51 votes, reflecting initial mixed audience response to the series' introduction of protagonists Jordan and Paige navigating their cannabis delivery business. Subsequent episodes showed variability, with "Girl on Gurl" (September 12, 2016) earning 7.6/10 from 31 votes, praised in user feedback for its exploration of competitive dynamics in the weed industry. The third episode, "Sn**chelorette" (September 19, 2016), achieved the season's highest rating of 8.2/10 from 32 votes, highlighting stronger comedic elements in its bachelorette party-themed plot involving client antics. Later episodes like "Neighborhood Watch" drew specific commentary for its handling of interpersonal tensions, with one review noting the protagonists' college backstory revelation as a narrative pivot, though overall execution remained inconsistent per audience scores.^[27] The season finale, "No Girl Left Behind," garnered 7.8/10 from 23 votes, indicating a modest uptick in approval amid critiques of the series' uneven humor compared to influences like Broad City.^[8] User reviews on IMDb frequently cited the core concept's appeal tied to cannabis culture but lamented underdeveloped characters and formulaic plotting across episodes.^[28]

Broadcast and distribution

Premiere and airing schedule

Mary + Jane premiered on MTV on September 5, 2016, with its pilot episode airing at 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time.^{[24] [1]} The series featured a single season of 10 episodes, broadcast weekly on Monday evenings in the same time slot.^{[4] [25]} Episode air dates followed a consistent pattern: September 5 (Pilot), September 12 (Girl on Gurl), September 19 (Sn**chelorette), September 26 (Loopholes), October 3 (The Comeback), October 10 (Weed Itself), October 17 (Noachella), October 24 (MarijuanaCon), November 7 (Neighborhood Watch), and November 14 (The Network).^{[24] [29]} The finale marked the end of the series, which was not renewed for a second season.^[30]

International availability

Mary + Jane experienced limited distribution outside the United States after its MTV premiere on September 5, 2016. The series, which concluded after one season on November 14, 2016, has not been reported as airing on linear television in other countries via MTV international channels or local broadcasters. Digital availability is restricted primarily to purchase or rental options on video-on-demand platforms. In Canada, episodes can be bought on services like Amazon Video and Apple TV, with no free streaming reported as of recent checks.^[31] Similar purchase options exist in the US, but broader European or Australian markets show no streaming or broadcast access, reflecting the show's modest domestic viewership and subsequent cancellation.^[32] Physical media, such as DVDs, appears in select international retailers, though without widespread theatrical or syndication release.^[33]

Reception

Critical response

Critics gave Mary + Jane a mixed reception, with a Metacritic score of 56 out of 100 based on four reviews, reflecting divided opinions on its execution as a stoner comedy.^[34] Many reviewers highlighted its attempts to emulate the success of Broad City but critiqued it for lacking originality and sharp wit, describing it as a "reverse-engineered" version that failed to capture the same irreverent energy.^{[1] [8]} Positive aspects noted included the chemistry between leads Scout Durwood and Jessica Rothe, who portrayed the entrepreneurial friends Jordan and Paige, bringing potential and endearing moments to the series despite uneven scripting.^[1] One review praised its female-centric humor and high potential at its funniest, positioning it as a noteworthy entry in cannabis-themed comedies, though it struggled to sustain laughs across episodes.^[35] The show's celebration of marijuana culture was seen as edgy and socially relevant, aligning with shifting legalization attitudes, but often at the expense of deeper narrative substance.^[5] Criticisms centered on formulaic plotting, forced edginess, and a polished corporate feel that avoided raw authenticity, making it feel derivative rather than innovative.^[34] Comparisons to films like Pineapple Express underscored occasional charm but emphasized its shortfall from benchmarks like High Maintenance or Broad City, with reviewers noting it prioritized weed-fueled antics over compelling character development or consistent comedy.^[9] The series' reliance on stereotypes in portraying the cannabis trade was flagged as superficial, contributing to its perception as entertaining but ultimately forgettable.^[36]

Viewership ratings and audience metrics

Mary + Jane's first season, which aired from September 5 to November 14, 2016, averaged 368,000 viewers per episode in Live + Same Day Nielsen ratings.^[37] These figures represented underwhelming performance for MTV, particularly when compared to the network's stronger scripted offerings like Teen Wolf or reality staples, contributing directly to the series' cancellation after 10 episodes.^[37] The modest numbers aligned with broader industry trends in 2016, where linear TV viewership for new cable comedies struggled amid rising competition from streaming platforms and on-demand consumption, though specific delayed-viewing lifts for the show remain unreported in available metrics.^[37] Post-cancellation demand metrics from Parrot Analytics indicated audience interest at 1.4 times the average U.S. TV series level in recent measurements, suggesting some enduring but niche appeal beyond traditional broadcast audiences.^[38]

Accolades and nominations

Mary + Jane did not receive any major awards or nominations during its single-season run from 2015 to 2016.^[39] No entries appear in records from prominent ceremonies including the Primetime Emmy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, or Critics' Choice Television Awards.^[39] The absence of recognition aligns with the series' modest critical reception and limited viewership on MTV, which did not elevate it to contention in comedy or niche categories related to its cannabis-themed content.^[39] Independent verifications, such as IMDb's awards database, confirm no wins or nominations were documented for the cast, crew, or production.^[39]

Controversies and criticisms

Portrayal of cannabis culture

The series depicts cannabis culture primarily through the lens of an all-female medical marijuana delivery service operated by protagonists Paige and Jordan in Los Angeles, framing the trade as a competitive yet glamorous entrepreneurial pursuit amid trendy clientele such as celebrities and foodies.^[5][3] This portrayal emphasizes the normalization of cannabis as both a recreational staple and professional vocation, with narratives centered on delivery mishaps, business rivalries, and infused products like a marijuana-lubricant that induces hallucinatory effects, including characters conversing with their genitals.^[1][5] Executive producer Snoop Dogg's involvement underscores a shift toward mainstream acceptance, aligning the show's lighthearted tone with California's impending recreational legalization via Proposition 64 in November 2016.^[40] Critics, however, faulted the show for superficial and stereotypical representations that prioritize comedic exaggeration over realistic insight into the cannabis industry or user demographics.^[41] References to cannabis as a recreational drug and business element were described as clumsy and ill-informed, relying on lowest-common-denominator humor rather than reflecting the operational complexities faced by actual "ganjapreneurs" in Southern California during the 2016 legalization debates.^[41] Portrayals of users and cultural environs, such as over-the-top hipster stereotypes in East L.A. involving banjo-playing and forced street art motifs, were seen as cartoonish and inauthentic, potentially reinforcing a sanitized, white-female-centric view of stoner life as harmlessly silly without deeper exploration of diverse or professional realities.^[41][42] Endless pot-centric gags, while celebrating social acceptability, were critiqued for becoming repetitive and failing to transcend basic tropes, contributing to a sense that the show treats cannabis more as a comedic prop than a culturally nuanced phenomenon.^[5][8]

Comparisons to similar shows and originality debates

Mary + Jane has drawn comparisons to other cannabis-centric comedies like High Maintenance, which similarly normalizes marijuana use through vignettes of diverse characters and everyday scenarios rather than overt stoner tropes.^[42] While High Maintenance employs an anthology structure centered on a dealer's clients, Mary + Jane adopts a traditional sitcom format tracking the professional and personal entanglements of its protagonists in a Los Angeles delivery business.^[11] Critics have also likened it to Broad City for its emphasis on female camaraderie amid irreverent humor and cannabis culture, though Mary + Jane leans more toward workplace antics in the legal weed economy than the aimless urban escapades of its predecessor.^[9][1] In contrast to the edgier, less scripted feel of Broad City and High Maintenance, reviewers noted Mary + Jane's polished, network-style execution, which some argued diluted its potential for sharper satire.^[1] Debates on the show's originality center on its place within a burgeoning wave of post-legalization programming, including later entries like Disjointed, which similarly explored dispensary settings but arrived after Mary + Jane had already highlighted retail pot dynamics.^[43] Creators Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont stated they intentionally avoided framing it as a "weed show" dominated by smoking scenes, prioritizing relational conflicts over substance-focused gags to differentiate from predecessors.^[6] Nonetheless, some outlets critiqued it for occasionally resorting to clichéd humor, questioning whether it innovated the genre or simply rode cultural shifts toward marijuana acceptance without transcending familiar formulas.^[41]

Cultural and industry impact

Influence on cannabis media representation

Mary + Jane contributed to the normalization of cannabis in television by depicting it as an integral element of entrepreneurial and everyday life, rather than confining portrayals to comedic excess or deviance. The series, which premiered on MTV on September 5, 2016, and consisted of 10 episodes, followed protagonists Mary and Jane as they managed a marijuana delivery service in Los Angeles, striving to secure a spot on the influential "Green 15" list of top dispensaries.^[1][3] This focus on business challenges in the nascent legal market mirrored real-world developments, as the show aired during a pivotal period leading to California's Proposition 64 approval for recreational cannabis on November 8, 2016. By integrating cannabis into professional and social narratives, it helped shift media representations toward viewing the substance as a legitimate industry commodity.^[41] The program's emphasis on female leads advanced portrayals of women in cannabis entrepreneurship, aligning with co-creator Deborah Kaplan's assertion that "the future of marijuana is female," even noting the plant's biological femininity. Produced with input from Snoop Dogg, whose involvement lent authenticity from hip-hop's longstanding association with cannabis culture, the series featured diverse cameos and storylines that showcased varied consumer demographics and product varieties, from edibles to strains.^[10] This approach contrasted with earlier depictions often dominated by male stoner archetypes, contributing to a broader, more inclusive media lens on the industry.^[11] Alongside contemporaries like High Maintenance, Mary + Jane underscored the ordinariness of cannabis use, presenting it as a harmless, routine activity integrated into urban lifestyles, which critics credited with mainstreaming the "weed experience."^[42] Such representations coincided with increasing legalization efforts, potentially reinforcing public perceptions of cannabis as socially acceptable, though the show's brevity—canceled after one season—tempered its direct catalytic role in favor of reflecting contemporaneous cultural momentum.^[41]

Legacy post-cancellation

Mary + Jane concluded after its single 10-episode season, with MTV announcing the cancellation on February 9, 2017, alongside fellow comedy Loosely Exactly Nicole.^[37][44] The network's move reflected a pivot away from scripted comedies in its original programming slate at the time.^[45] No official reasons such as viewership metrics were publicly detailed by MTV, though the show's premiere amid rising cannabis-themed content did not translate to renewal.^[11] Post-cancellation, the series has not cultivated a cult following, retrospective reevaluation, or revival campaigns, remaining a minor entry in early mainstream depictions of the cannabis industry.^[37] As of 2025, episodes are available solely for digital purchase or rental on platforms like Amazon Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home, with no presence on subscription streaming services.^[32][46] The production's ties to executive producer Snoop Dogg, a prominent cannabis advocate, did not spur ongoing cultural discourse or adaptations beyond its initial run.^[6] Creators Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont, known for prior works like the cult film Josie and the Pussycats, shifted focus away from television following the series, with no major subsequent TV projects documented. Lead actresses Jessica Rothe (Jane) and Scout Durwood (Mary) pursued other opportunities, though the show itself has not factored prominently in their career retrospectives or industry analyses of cannabis media evolution.^[37]