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Dave Season 2 release date, trailer, and plot for Lil Dicky's Hulu/FX comedy

Is Lil Dicky in for his big break? Here's what we know so far about the next season of Dave on FX.

by Eric Francisco and Mike Bloom
Updated: 
Originally Published: 

"What's your name?" The question lingers as the Season 1 finale of Dave comes to an end, but the semi-autobiographical comedy about Lil Dicky and his unlikely rise to fame in hip-hop will return in summer 2021.

Here's everything we know so far about Dave Season 2. Bookmark this page and come back often as we’ll update it with new information including new cast announcements, its trailer, plot details, and when exactly you can catch it on Hulu.

When is Dave Season 2 airing on FX or streaming on Hulu?

Dave Season 2 will begin airing on FX on June 16, 2021 at 10 p.m. The premiere will feature the first two episodes of the season.

The show will also be available on the streaming service Hulu thanks to an exclusive agreement between FX and Hulu that has been active since 2020.

While it’s unclear when Dave specifically will end up on the Hulu platform (it could be before, during, or after its premiere on FX), it’s still good news to anyone subscribed to Hulu.

Wait, what is Dave?

Dave is a half-hour, live-action comedy series produced by and starring Jewish-American rapper Lil Dicky, real name David Burd. The show tells a fictionalized version of Lil Dicky's real-life rise to prominence as a rapper in Los Angeles.

Characterized by self-deprecating humor (just look at Dave’s stage name) and the opportunities and challenges that come from viral internet fame, Dave is a hero's journey unlike any other in which an aspiring, redheaded rap artist overcomes critics, hostile naysayers, and even himself.

In 2017, Lil Dicky first mentioned he dreamed of having his own TV show in an interview with Inverse. "More than anything, I’d like to be a Larry David, have my own TV show and be in movies," Lil Dicky said.

What happened at the end of Dave Season 1?

Warning: Spoilers for Dave Season 1 ahead.

Dave Season 1 ends at a pivotal moment for its protagonist and mirrors a real-life incident.

On November 2, 2015, months after the July 2015 release of his debut album Professional Rapper and popular music videos like "$ave Dat Money" (more on that later), Lil Dicky appeared on The Breakfast Club hosted by DJ Envy, Angela Yee, and Charlamagne tha God. The interview is remembered for Charlamagne’s explicit hostility towards Lil Dicky, only for Dicky to weaponize a sense of humor to relax the room.

The appearance is known for solidifying Lil Dicky as a real, non-satirical talent in hip-hop. The season finale of Dave mimics the real-life interview, including Charlamagne tha God and Angela Yee playing themselves onscreen. The episode ends with Lil Dicky crushing the interview (to Charlamagne's approval) before leaving viewers on a cliffhanger.

Though Charlamagne was still suspicious of Lil Dicky for "Freaky Friday" in 2018, Charlamagne expressed his enthusiasm for Dave on Instagram, calling it "the smartest, funniest new show."

When was Dave Season 2 confirmed?

Because of the series' high digital viewership, FX renewed Dave in 2020 for a new season.

“Co-Creators Dave Burd and Jeff Schaffer, along with their entire creative team have delivered one of television’s best comedies series while becoming FX’s most-watched comedy ever,” said FX's Nick Grad, President of Original Programming in a statement. “That is an extraordinary achievement for Dave, the cast and crew as they teamed to make a memorable and brilliant season of television.”

Who is joining the cast of Dave Season 2?

In December 2020, Deadline reported that actress Meagan Holder will join Dave in its second season. Holder will play Tessa, which Deadline reported is an “executive at the label who’s responsible for Dave. That means championing him, indulging him and cajoling him — into doing exactly what she needs him to do.”

Like last season, Dave Season 2 will feature a slew of celebrity cameos. This season includes appearances from Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber, Benny Blanco, Kyle Kuzma, Doja Cat, J Balvin, Rae Sremmurd (Swae Lee & Slim Jxmmi), CL, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Lil Yachty, Lil Nas X, Kevin Hart, and more.

Where can I watch the trailer for Dave Season 2?

There is no trailer yet for Dave Season 2. While the show’s renewal was announced in mid-2020, it happened during the still-ongoing Covid-19 pandemic that is still complicating Hollywood production timetables. As of March 1, 2021, it is unknown if Season 2 even started filming.

Lil Dicky and GaTa, in 'Dave.'

FX

What is the plot of Dave Season 2?

While Dave is a semi-autobiographical series, it does deviate from real life in several ways. Still, tracing the trajectory of Lil Dicky's life provides insight into how and where Season 2 may go.

Namely, the music video "$ave Dat Money" was a big deal for Lil Dicky. (And in real life, it happened before the Breakfast Club interview.) But the TV show Dave has yet to introduce anything resembling the making of "$ave Dat Money" taking place, which means the music video could influence the plot and story of Season 2.

One of the most interesting things about "$ave Dat Money” is its subversion of hip-hop’s fetishizing for luxury lifestyles. The music video memorably features Lil Dicky rapping in lavish mansions, clubs, yachts, and even in front of major crowds. But the music video had a next-to-nothing shooting budget. It was all possible only because Lil Dicky asked total strangers (on camera) to borrow their property for a few hours to get the shots they need.

That some agreed because it was the very white, Jewish David Burd asking and not anyone else that exposed the white privilege afforded to Lil Dicky other rappers of color do not have.

In Lil Dicky's first album Professional Rapper, the 20-track album featured collaborations with mainstream artists like Snoop Dogg, T-Pain, Fetty Wap, and Brandon Urie of Panic! at the Disco. Should Season 2 explore the making of his first album, Dave s bound to have people like Snoop Dogg and T-Pain appear in a guest role capacity.

The recording of the song "Molly" may also be a big deal in Season 2. In Season 1, Lil Dicky breaks up with his girlfriend, school teacher Ally (Taylor Misiak). But before that, the two recorded a preliminary autotune track.

In real life, Lil Dicky wrote "Molly" to express his heartbreak from losing his ex-girlfriend. Because of the IRL story of "Molly," their recording in Dave foreshadowed their split in the penultimate episode. Laying down the final version of the song may also be an important scene in Dave Season 2.

Dave Season 2 premieres on June 16, 2021 on FXX.

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