Exclusive Interview: Annie Weisman on Taking the Reins as Showrunner for ‘Based on a True Story’ Season 2, Raising the Stakes, and What’s Next

Annie Weisman is an acclaimed storyteller celebrated for her ability to craft compelling narratives that explore the complexities of human relationships and personal transformation. Her work has left an indelible mark on television, with contributions to hit series like Desperate Housewives and Physical, where she brought depth and nuance to unforgettable characters.

This November, Annie Weisman steps in as showrunner of the award-winning series Based on a True Story. Now entering its second season, the darkly comedic thriller picks up three months into Ava and Nathan Bartlett’s journey as new parents. Ava is determined to focus on her family, resist her true crime obsession, and restart her career as a real estate agent, while Nathan shifts his focus to coaching private tennis clients. But when a new string of murders hits close to home, old suspicions resurface. Is Matt behind the killings? Is Tory, now in a dangerous relationship with Matt, at risk? For a moment, life seems manageable—Ava’s TikTok habit and her new friend Drew bring some much-needed levity, while Nathan’s renewed tennis ambitions create a sense of normalcy—until a literal knock at the door changes everything.

Pop Culturalist spoke with Annie about taking the reins on Season 2 of Based on a True Story, how her and the creative team raised the stakes, and more.

PC: You’re bringing such a unique perspective as the showrunner for Season 2, having discovered this project as a viewer. What aspect of the series initially resonated with you? What were you most excited to explore and put your creative stamp on?
Annie: I loved the daring tone of the show in Season 1—its realistic portrayal of how obsessed people, particularly women, can become with the grisly aspects of true crime. These very sensible, relatable characters are drawn into something dark and compelling. Then you add the heightened element of taking that obsession to the next level—what if, instead of an escape, it became your reality, and you found yourself connected to a real killer? That felt like such a fun ride to go on. In terms of my approach to Season 2, I aimed to continue the elements I loved as a fan, especially the tone and fearlessness. This season, we’re introducing a new mystery, giving us fresh material to dive into and explore.

PC: Speaking of tone, one of the reasons this show has been so successful is how it juggles comedy, social commentary, and that striking contrast between light and dark. You have a star-studded ensemble that effortlessly plays in these different spaces. How much did their strengths influence their respective characters’ storylines? How does Season 2 double down on that?
Annie: I couldn’t agree more about this cast and their incredible talent. We’ve got Kaley Cuoco and Chris Messina anchoring the series, but we also have Tom Bateman and Liana Liberato. Their range allows us to write to their comedic gifts and the fearlessness they bring to set—whether it’s throwing them into a sex party or the cutthroat world of youth tennis. At the same time, they handle the thriller elements with such authenticity. They’re equally skilled at action-packed storytelling and romantic comedy. This season, we’ve crafted a really compelling marriage storyline where we challenge them, pull them apart, and ultimately bring them back together in ways that showcase their depth and versatility.

PC: That’s the perfect segue. At the heart of this story is the marriage. With the arrival of their son, what can you tell us about how parenthood will impact both of these characters individually and as partners?
Annie: With our lead actress, Kaley Cuoco, becoming a mom in real life this season, we wanted to honor the challenges and realities of returning to work with a new baby, especially later in life, when you’ve already accomplished so much. We also had fun with it and pushed the boundaries—that’s the spirit of the show.

Parenthood introduces a completely new set of stakes. Suddenly, it’s not just about their own safety; they’re driven by an intense instinct to protect their child. We place them in heightened and dangerous situations, where the presence of a serial killer in their world makes things even more complicated and emotionally charged. This shift deepens the story, raising tensions in both their individual journeys and their relationship as a couple.

PC: In television, it’s common to have different directors for each episode. But in Season 2, you and the creative team worked with a core group of three. Walk us through that decision and how having that consistency allowed you to push each other creatively.
Annie: That’s a great question. Our directors are really led by our producing director, Alexander Buono, who anchored last season. He’s an incredible mix of talents, having come from the comedy world with his work on SNL and Documentary Now!, which is where I first worked with him. That background gives him a lot of versatility across genres, but he’s also deeply passionate about genre storytelling.

Alexander really pushes the boundaries with the horror elements of the show, and this season is bigger and bloodier because of it. He anchors that vision while bringing a unique ability to seamlessly shift between tones, which has been essential for the show’s balance of comedy, thriller, and drama. Having a consistent group of directors allowed us to dive deeper and push the creative limits together.

Based on a True Story Season 2 is now available on Peacock.