‘Happy’s Place’: James Denton Teases His Multi-Episode Reunion With Reba McEntire

Cheers to this: Reba McEntire‘s Bobbie says yes to a hot date in the Friday, November 13, episode of NBC’s bar-based sitcom Happy’s Place.

Guest star James Denton will reunite with McEntire for the first time onscreen since the Reba days, when he played Dr. Jack Morgan, a.k.a. Dr. Hunky. “Her shows have a very unique atmosphere,” Denton says of working with McEntire. “They’re really, really fun. They’re super positive. [And] Reba sets that tone. She’s just so much fun and so down to earth. And, yeah, it’s a great reunion.”

This time, Denton plays a customer named JB, who wanders into Happy’s Place looking for a drink, only to be flirted with by the wrong bartender. “Gabby [Melissa Peterman] hits on him a little bit,” admits Denton. “He just comes in to grab a drink and doesn’t want to talk to anybody — until he sees Bobbie. And of course, he’s immediately smitten, so he decides to hang around.”

Casey Durkin/NBC

Also hanging around is a baby duck, who has imprinted on accountant Steve (Pablo Castelblanco). Steve, naturally, tries to keep the baby duck hidden from Bobbie, but that’s not so easy when it’s waddling around the bar. “The duck kind of moves into the restaurant, which causes a lot of drama,” says Denton. “And yes, it’s hilarious. Steve ties a balloon to the duck to try to keep up with it. And there is an ongoing thing where he [keeps losing] this tiny baby duck.”

Meanwhile, Gabby, along with Bobbie’s half-sister Isabella (Belissa Escobedo), grill JB, says Denton, “because they’re worried about Bobbie going out with him.”

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They might be right to be worried. Bobbie and cook Emmett (Rex Linn) are currently on the outs after some hard truths were revealed in Season 2, but the emotional pull between the coworkers is still present. In the meantime, Bobbie will get to know JB, as will the series’ viewers. “He does have a unique profession,” teases Denton. “You find out some things about him when they do go out in the next episode.”

It’s a date!

Happy’s Place, Fridays, 8/7c, NBC