With HBO’s political comedy Veep premiering on April 22, and NBC bringing us another White House comedy 1600 Penn in the fall, there are going to be a lot of politically-oriented laughs associated with 2012. It seems politics are in the air this election season, and Shonda Rhimes has also created political drama Scandal to fill that niche. Now, Brent Roske hopes his politically-minded web series will also be able to compete and he has wrangled a big fish to do so.
The West Wing's Richard Schiff is set to star in Chasing the Hill, a fictional “docudrama feeling” series that will showcase several actual politicians including former Alaska Senator Mike Gravel and Libertarian party chairman Mark Hinkle, among others. THR is reporting that Schiff’s fictional character on the show will be a consultant and a poll guy who deals with campaigns during the election season. Schiff signed off after reading the script and learning Roske had specifically written the role for the actor. Schiff will also serve as a producer on the series.
The first episode of the Chasing The Hill, ”Awesomeness is a Warm Gun” will run for 37 minutes and be available on chasingthehill.com beginning on May 15. After a six-week break, Roske hopes to get the 10 episodes of the first series out in a more regular weekly or bi-weekly format. Episodes will be available for download for $2.49 a pop. However, Roske says the series is less about the money and more about tapping into the TV blogger culture.
“There is a conversation out there. I just want to plug into it.”
If his format works, it could be a real breakthrough for upcoming television opportunities, and TV Blend wishes Roske and co. the best of luck.
