Comedy Headlines for 1/14/13

What’s happening in the comedy world now…

  • Matt and Trey of South Park announced they’re opening their own studio. From the press release: “Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the co-creators of “South Park” and “The Book of Mormon,” and The Raine Group, a boutique merchant bank focused exclusively on entertainment, digital media and sports, announced today the formation of Important Studios, a new venture consolidating Parker and Stone’s creative work and future projects into one company. Important Studios will look to build on the duo’s unmatched success across the film, television, live stage, and digital platforms. Raine will take a minority stake in the company, providing advisory services as well as financing for future projects. Important Studios plans to continue the growth of the “South Park” and “Book of Mormon” franchises, create new content across different media, and expand distribution of Parker and Stone’s work worldwide.”
  • CBS has ordered a pilot based on Jim Gaffigan’s life! Gaffigan is working with Peter Tolan on the half-hour concept, which has Gaffigan, his wife and five kids in a two-bedroom apartment in New York City.
  • FOX has ordered to pilot an Andy Samberg vehicle, with Samberg playing the lead detective in an NYC precinct where weird things happen. The pilot is written by Mike Schur and Dan Goor.
  • NBC has ordered two pilots, both family-based: Joe, Joe and Jane, and About a Boy.
  • TBS ordered two unscripted series. Forget “no deal.” Howie Mandel’s Deal With It is another of his hidden-camera shows (six episodes to start). This time, his crew dares people to pull pranks without giving them any time to prep, then feeding them instructions through their earpieces (as previously seen/done by David Letterman and Ellen DeGeneres on their talk shows). Trust Me, I’m A Game Show Host, with a 10-episode order, is a comedic game show in which two hosts each present the single contestant with a different answer to the same question. It comes from Mark Burnett.

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

View all posts by Sean L. McCarthy →