East Bay Actors Shine in 'Sunny Nights' Series

D'Arcy Carden and Will Forte lead the quirky, violent, and surprisingly fun new Stan Original series.

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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Several new films and series with Bay Area connections debut this week, including the Stan Original series 'Sunny Nights'. The show features a casting coup, landing two East Bay comedy greats - Danville native D'Arcy Carden ('The Good Place') and Lafayette native Will Forte (Netflix's 'The Four Seasons') - as enterprising siblings running a spray-tan business out of a grungy motel in Sydney, Australia. While the series switches between chuckles and brutal violence, the dynamic duo's interplay is the highlight, glossing over the show's narrative flaws.

Why it matters

The pairing of Carden and Forte is a major draw for 'Sunny Nights', which blends dark comedy and crime thriller elements in a way that has critics divided. The series showcases the talents of two acclaimed comedic actors with deep Bay Area roots, providing a platform for their skills and the region's entertainment industry.

The details

In 'Sunny Nights', Carden plays Vicki, a hustler with a checkered past who runs the spray-tan business 'Tansform' with her more straight-laced brother Martin, portrayed by Forte. After Martin's one-night stand with the wrong woman leads to the grisly death of a criminal, the siblings find themselves entangled with a ruthless gang leader played by Rachel House. The show's creators stretch the mayhem across eight episodes, resulting in a tonally uneven but often surprising and entertaining ride.

  • All episodes of 'Sunny Nights' dropped on Hulu on March 11, 2026.

The players

D'Arcy Carden

A Danville, California native known for her roles in 'The Good Place' and other comedies.

Will Forte

A Lafayette, California native who has starred in shows like Netflix's 'The Four Seasons'.

Sunny Nights

A new Stan Original series that blends dark comedy and crime thriller elements.

Nick Keetch and Ty Freer

The creators of 'Sunny Nights'.

Rachel House

An actress known for her role in 'Hunt for the Wilderpeople' who plays a ruthless gang leader in 'Sunny Nights'.

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The takeaway

The pairing of Bay Area comedic talents D'Arcy Carden and Will Forte elevates the uneven but often entertaining 'Sunny Nights', showcasing the region's entertainment industry and the ability of local actors to bring a quirky, violent series to life.