Some shows announce themselves with explosions. DIG announces itself with Amy Poehler shouting at a group of archaeologists about stray dogs, and frankly that is more our speed.
Peacock released the trailer for DIG in late October, and the new comedy arrives with all 10 episodes at once on November 23. It is co-created by Amy Poehler and Mike Schur, which is the Parks and Recreation reunion a lot of us have been quietly waiting for. Schur co-showruns with J.J. Philbin.
What DIG is about
The series is based on Excavations, Kate Myers' 2023 novel, and it is set at an archaeological dig site in Greece. Poehler plays Elise, a work-obsessed veteran of the dig who is hoping for a promotion. Hugh Laurie plays Neville, the leader of the excavation who refuses to retire. You can see the central tension from space, and it is the kind of workplace standoff Poehler and Schur write better than almost anyone.
The rest of the main cast is a strong group of women: Geraldine Viswanathan as Dylan, Antonia Thomas as Clare and Fina Strazza as Patty. Guest stars include Max Greenfield, Jason Mantzoukas, Brennan Lee Mulligan, Noma Dumezweni and Dan Bucatinsky.
What the trailer tells us
The trailer opens with Elise laying down the law: "Listen up guys. There are stray dogs everywhere. Do not feed the dogs. Ever. Ever. Ever!" Then the plot kicks in with a discovery, and someone announces that "nothing like this has been found for hundreds of years."
Our favorite beat is the most relatable one. When the team ends up in front of a camera, one of them says, "I know that this isn't the most important part, but the angles, the lighting, we look awful," followed by an outraged "He's shooting us from below!" Anyone who has seen themselves in a group photo taken by a man knows exactly how that feels.
There is also a sincere thread underneath the jokes. One character admits, "I didn't even know who I was, and now I'm beginning to figure that out," and another sums up the vibe of the whole dig with "the deception, the intrigue, honestly it's kinda hot." That mix of workplace comedy, midlife reinvention and a little mystery is exactly the lane we want Poehler in.
Read the book before the binge
If you like to read it first, you have until November 23. Excavations by Kate Myers follows four women, Elise, Kara, Z and Patty, at the dig site in Olympia, the mythic home of the first Olympics. It was a national bestseller, and Poehler's own blurb calls it "Funny, smart and deeply delicious." HarperCollins currently lists the paperback at $15.20, the hardcover at $22.40, the e-book at $9.99 and the audiobook at $28.99.
With Poehler herself vouching for it, it is an easy pick for a book club that wants something lighter for the holidays. Read it, then host a DIG watch night the weekend after Thanksgiving.
How to watch
All 10 episodes of DIG premiere November 23 on Peacock. You can watch the trailer and find more on the series at Peacock's DIG page.
