Happy Face: Is Ivy Based on a Real Producer?

Paramount+’s ‘Happy Face‘ is centered on the life and exploits of Melissa Reed, a woman whose past comes back to haunt her when her serial killer father, Keith Hunter Jesperson, reemerges in the public eye following a period of silence. When Keith, AKA the Happy Face Killer, decides to confess his role in a never-before-heard ninth murder, Melissa must figure out whether to run away for the sake of her family or to do her utmost duty and find answers for a family victimized by her father’s actions. To that end, the protagonist is compelled to take the difficult steps by her work colleague, Ivy, a producer on the daytime talk show ‘The Dr. Greg Show.’ With Ivy’s moral support, Melissa begins to take some steps toward confronting her past, making the producer an integral part of her journey.

Ivy is a Fictional Character Who Adds to Melissa’s Moral Dilemma

Despite being based on the real-life experiences of Melissa Moore, the daughter of serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson, ‘Happy Face’ takes liberties with its narrative, blending elements of fiction into its complex thriller plot. The actual root of the story can be complex to parse when looking through a simple lens of truth vs lie. Instead, the show is a mix of both and largely delves into an original tale crafted by creator Jennifer Cacicio. To that end, even some characters featured within the series are fictional in conception. This extends to Ivy, the fictional producer brought to life by Cacicio. She is Melissa’s partner in her investigation into Keith’s ninth murder confession. Ivy pushes Melissa to step beyond herself and help find answers for a dead girl’s family, even if it comes at the cost of her anonymity.

The show also features a variety of other fictional characters, such as Dr. Greg, the charming host of ‘The Dr. Greg Show,’ Melissa and Ivy’s workplace. Upon learning that Melissa is related to Keith, Ivy takes it upon herself to investigate the matter thoroughly and urges Melissa to take a more active role in the process. She gets frustrated by the fact that the protagonist has decided to hide rather than confront her past demons. However, an element of professional leverage also comes into the picture. At times, the question is raised whether Ivy is doing this for the benefit of others or the benefit of her job, basically taking advantage of Melissa’s parentage for some shallow clicks on the internet and popularity via ‘The Dr. Greg Show.’

Regardless of the true purpose behind her actions, Ivy’s push for the truth can sometimes feel like a muddled clash between morality and exploitation. It touches upon some of the central themes of the series and the precarious position Melissa holds in society owing to her father’s identity. She has hidden her parentage to avoid dirty looks from passers-by and folk who might want revenge against her for her father’s actions. However, Ivy blows it all out of the water by compelling Melissa to stop running away and embrace her duty as a responsible citizen. While it may be born from good intentions, it still leaves a confusing taste in the mouth. As such, the character may have been designed to raise these complex questions with no easy answers. It shows her prominence narratively, even if she is a fictional character with no connections to reality.