There are graveyard populations that are more active than NBC’s current comedy output, which basically consists of Undateable and the forgettable Mr. Robinson, with The Carmichael Show premiering soon. Thankfully, they’re aiming to boost things back up in the future, and they’re bringing in some of the biggest comedic names in the network’s recent history to do it, with projects in the works from 30 Rock’s Tina Fey and Parks and Recreation’s Mike Schur. Make this work, NBC!
For a project currently in the untitled pilot stage, Fey will be re-teaming with Robert Carlock in executive producing a concept created by Tracey Wigfield, an Emmy-winning writer/producer from 30 Rock and The Mindy Project. (She plays Lauren on Mindy Project, if you want to put a face to her name.) That comedy will be an autobiographical take on Wigfield’s life and will center on a relationship between a mother and daughter that gets complicated when the mother starts interning at the cable news network where the daughter is employed. If Fey and Carlock are involved, you can bet that the cable network will be as ridiculous as possible.
This project, announced by NBC Entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt, hasn’t been ordered to series yet, but is predicted to move past the pilot-production order at some point in the near future, according to THR. Considering how much critical success Fey and Carlock have seen from Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, a series that NBC ordered and then passed on, it’s likely that the network will try to streamline the production process here.
Meanwhile, the Schur-created project is currently being called A Good Place, and it’ll tell the high-concept story of a woman having troubles with what it means to be good. Greenblatt said that the series, like Parks and Rec before it, will utilize a “strong and very complicated lead female character.” Not that I want them to monopolize the market on memorable female characters, but I’d be perfectly okay with Amy Poehler or Ellie Kemper taking this on.
A Good Place currently has a 13-episode order in place, with Schur on board to write and executive produce. I’m all about broadcast networks taking on high-concept projects, and Schur also has great series like The Office, Saturday Night Live and The Comeback on his resume. I’m willing to trust him with anything at this point.
You can catch Schur’s upcoming work on Season 3 of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, which he created, as well as Aziz Ansari’s upcoming comedian-filled Netflix series Master of None. Fey will soon be seen back alongside Amy Poehler in the feature Sisters, and next year she has the war comedy Fun House coming out. Keep these relationships strong, NBC.
