Happy Face release schedule: When do new episodes of the crime drama drop?

Happy Face premiered on Paramount+ on March 20, 2025, and has already impressed the audience with its intriguing storyline. The show is based on a true story and chronicles the journey of Melissa Moore, the daughter of a serial killer named Keith Hunter Jesperson, who works in a talk show.

When Keith starts to open up about another of his victims in his prison cell, Melissa is convinced by her fellow producers to dive into the case and confront her past. She then reluctantly reconnects with her estranged father, leading to the revelation of some heinous crimes.

Paramount+ does not drop all episodes of its shows at once, which makes the audience wonder when new episodes of the true-crime drama will come out. Here is all you need to know about the Happy Face release schedule.

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Happy Face release schedule

Happy Face debuted on Paramount+ on Thursday, March 20, 2025. The show is set to feature eight episodes, out of which two were dropped together on the premiere day. The rest of the season will now follow a weekly schedule, airing one episode every Thursday.

The finale is scheduled to air on May 1, 2025. Paramount+ generally drops new episodes at 12 AM PT / 3 AM ET. Check out the complete release schedule below:

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What is Happy Face about?

The show revolves around Keith Hunter Jesperson, famous by the name Happy Face Killer, who murdered eight women in the 1990s. The story is told through the perspective of his estranged daughter, Melissa Moore, who lives a normal life with her family after cutting ties with her father.

However, Keith tries to return to his daughter’s life when he reveals he had a ninth victim as well. Meanwhile, another man has been convicted of the murder of the supposed ninth victim and is facing a death sentence.

Melissa then has to race against time to uncover if her father actually killed the woman and save the innocent man from death row. Meanwhile, she is pressured by the producers of her talk show to delve into her father’s past so they can have an episode about him, which could lead to better television ratings.

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Who stars in Happy Face?

Annaleigh Ashford stars in the lead role of Melissa Moore, and Dennis Quaid plays her father, Keith Hunter Jesperson. James Wolk portrays Melissa's husband, Ben Reed; Khiyla Aynne plays her daughter, Hazel Reed; and Benjamin Mackey plays her son, Max Reed.

The cast also includes Tamera Tomakili as Ivy Campbell, Jennifer Spence as Renee, David Harewood as Dr. Greg, Kathleen Duborg as June Jesperson, Michael O'Neill as Craig Calloway, Damon Gupton as Elijah, Philip Ettinger as Shane Jesperson, and Momona Tamada as Eva.

Created by Jennifer Cacicio, Happy Face is based on real-life Melissa Moore’s podcast of the same name and also her autobiography named Shattered Silence. She executive produces the show along with Conal Byrne, Michael Showalter, Jordana Mollick, Michelle King, Jennifer Cacicio, Will Pearson, Liz Glotzer, and Robert King.

For more news and updates about the show, stay tuned to Soap Central.