What is Based On a True Story on Peacock about?

There’s been a new trend in television on shows about amateur detectives stumbling onto murder cases. From Only Murders in the Building to Poker Face, viewers can’t get enough of these types of shows. Now Peacock is throwing another into the fray with Based On a True Story. So what does this quirky crime comedy involve?

What is Based on a True Story about?

The eight-episode series focuses on Ava Bartlett (Kaley Cuoco), a pregnant housewife obsessed with true-life crime podcasts and programs. It’s a distraction from her life with her husband Nathan (Chris Messina) out of work and bills piling up.

So when Ava sees a murder committed by a serial killer stalking the city, she hits upon the idea of not only figuring out who the guy is but tricking him into being on a planned podcast about his crimes and exposing him, thus making the couple rich. It’s not long before Ava and Chris’ search gets wildly out of hand and puts both in danger.

Speaking to Variety, series creator Crais Rosenberg (Ozark) talked of how he sees the show as much a family drama as a crime caper.

"“I became fascinated with the idea of a relatable married couple whose youthful dreams hadn’t come to fruition and who saw the true crime tidal wave as an opportunity to change their lives and save their marriage. Our Los Angeles setting – the city where everybody wants to be famous – became a vivid backdrop to our story of fame, ambition, aspiration and murder.”"

Based on a True Story cast

The key star of the show is Kaley Cuoco, and it’s notable that the actress was truly pregnant when filming the role, so that’s not a fake belly seen on screen. The Emmy-nominated star of The Big Bang Theory and The Flight Attendant has the comedic chops needed for the role.

Chris Messina also knows comedy from The Mindy Project and looks to match Cuoco as the husband trying to handle this insanity.

Tom Bateman is the guy Ava is convinced is the killer as the cast also includes Priscilla Quintana, Liana Liberato, Natalia Dyer, Alex Alomar Akpobome, Aisha Alfa, Annabelle Dexter-Jones and Li Jun Li.

When does Based On a True Story air?

Rather than weekly installments, all eight episodes of Based On a True Story will be available to stream on Peacock on Thursday, June 8. The mix of comedy and true crime thrills looks to turn this into a great comedic crime show.

Based On a True Story premieres on Peacock on Thursday, June 8.