“DINKS” is officially happening at Prime Video, and it’s a genuine “Friends” reunion of sorts behind the camera: co-creator Marta Kauffman is returning to multi-camera comedy for the first time since her landmark 1990s sitcom, teaming with Hannah K.S. Canter on a new improvised series starring real-life married couple June Diane Raphael and Paul Scheer.
What Is DINKS About?
“DINKS” stands for “Dual Income No Kids,” and it follows Josh (Paul Scheer) and Charlie (June Diane Raphael), a couple who aren’t tied together by marriage or children but decide to build a life together anyway — literally, by renovating what’s been described as their “nightmare of a dream house.” The premise leans into a very 2026 relationship dynamic that hasn’t gotten much sitcom real estate before: a long-term couple defining commitment on their own terms rather than through the traditional markers of a wedding or kids.
Marta Kauffman’s Return to Multi-Cam Comedy
Kauffman, who co-created “Friends” alongside David Crane and also created “Grace and Frankie,” hasn’t worked in the multi-camera format — filmed in front of a live audience with multiple cameras, the style that defined “Friends” — since that show ended its decade-long run. “DINKS” marks a genuine return to that format for her, co-created with Hannah K.S. Canter and produced through Kauffman’s Okay Goodnight banner alongside Lionsgate Television and Amazon MGM Studios. For longtime “Friends” fans, Kauffman going back to the multicam sitcom format she helped define is a big part of why this order is generating so much attention.
June Diane Raphael and Paul Scheer Lead — And Executive Produce
Raphael, known for “Grace and Frankie” and “Elle,” and Scheer, known for “The League” and “Black Monday,” aren’t just starring — the real-life married couple are also executive producing the series. Casting an actual married pair as an unmarried couple figuring out commitment gives the show a layer of lived-in chemistry that’s difficult to fake, and it’s already a talking point in early coverage of the announcement. Both actors have deep roots in improv and sketch comedy, which lines up directly with the show’s largely improvised format.
A Largely Improvised, Multi-Camera First for Prime Video
“DINKS” is notable on the format side too: it’s Prime Video’s first multi-camera series, and it’s largely improvised rather than working from a fully scripted format — an unusual combination for a studio comedy. The show also arrives with a novel financing structure, bringing together Lionsgate Television, Amazon MGM Studios, and advertising agency Publicis from the outset, a setup that points to how streaming comedies are increasingly being financed collaboratively rather than through a single studio footing the whole bill.
Release Date and Where to Watch
No premiere date has been announced yet for “DINKS.” The series is confirmed to stream exclusively on Prime Video once it’s ready, and given the show is still in its early ordering stage, a premiere is unlikely before sometime in 2027. Expect casting announcements for the supporting ensemble and a full trailer to follow as production ramps up.
Why This Announcement Is a Big Deal
Multi-camera sitcoms have become increasingly rare on streaming platforms, which tend to favor single-camera comedies without a live studio audience. Kauffman returning to the format that made “Friends” a global phenomenon — on a new platform, with a fresh premise, and an improvised structure she hasn’t worked in before — makes “DINKS” one of the more unusual comedy bets of the year. Combined with Raphael and Scheer’s real-life chemistry and the show’s unconventional financing model, it’s shaping up as one of the more closely watched new comedy orders heading into 2027.
How DINKS Fits Into Prime Video’s Comedy Slate
Amazon has leaned heavily into single-camera comedies and dramedies in recent years, making a multi-camera, largely improvised sitcom a notable departure for the platform. Landing a project from a creator with Kauffman’s track record — “Friends” remains one of the most-watched sitcoms in television history and continues to rack up streaming numbers years after it ended — gives Prime Video a recognizable creative pedigree to build the show’s marketing around, even with plot details still relatively thin at this early stage. It also signals that Amazon is willing to bet on format experimentation rather than sticking strictly to what’s already proven to work on the platform.
What We Still Don’t Know
Beyond the core premise and leads, plenty of details remain unconfirmed: there’s no supporting cast announced yet, no episode count, and no word on whether the series will air weekly or drop as a full season at once. The “largely improvised” format also raises questions about how the show will be structured episode to episode, since fully improvised multi-camera comedy in front of a live audience is a difficult needle to thread compared to more traditional scripted sitcoms. Expect those specifics to firm up as production moves forward and Prime Video begins building out a marketing campaign.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does DINKS stand for?
“DINKS” stands for “Dual Income No Kids,” describing the central couple’s relationship status in the show.
Is DINKS related to Friends?
Not directly in story, but it’s created by “Friends” co-creator Marta Kauffman, marking her first return to multi-camera comedy since that show ended.
When does DINKS premiere on Prime Video?
No premiere date has been announced yet. The series was only just ordered, so a release is unlikely before 2027.
For more new comedy series news, check out our coverage of Paramount+’s Clueless sequel series starring Alicia Silverstone. Source: Variety, exclusive DINKS series order report.
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