Reba McEntire is set for a nostalgic reunion with her former co-star Joanna Garcia Swisher in an upcoming episode of Happy’s Place, and the series is leaning fully into the fun. Executive producer Kevin Abbott is teasing a storyline packed with comedy, character moments, and a few relationship updates that fans won’t want to miss.
Steve steps into the spotlight
Tavern owner Bobbie encourages accountant Steve—played by Pablo Castelblanco—to audition for a local mattress store commercial to keep himself occupied. The role is as quirky as it sounds: a Roaring Twenties time traveler discovering modern sleep. Bobbie gets pulled into helping him rehearse, only to have Steve critique her acting skills with less-than-glowing enthusiasm.
Abbott says Castelblanco’s physical comedy had the entire set in stitches, especially his over-the-top take on the time-traveling character. The cast enjoyed the “acting within the show” concept so much that it inspired even more meta storylines.
Enter an influencer—and a familiar face
That creative spark leads to the episode “Social Discontent,” which brings Garcia Swisher into the mix as a Knoxville influencer who convinces the bar staff to film promotional content for social media. The appearance doubles as a reunion for longtime fans who remember her as Cheyenne on Reba.
Kitchen clashes and relationship shifts
Meanwhile, Isabella critiques chef Emmett’s new appetizer—Armadillo Eggs—much to his irritation, since he doesn’t handle culinary criticism well. On the romance front, Isabella and her professor have officially gone their separate ways, though Abbott hints the door isn’t completely closed.
As for Bobbie and Emmett, viewers can expect their relationship to take some intriguing turns soon. With returning favorites, playful behind-the-scenes humor, and evolving storylines, the upcoming episodes promise both nostalgia and fresh momentum for the series.