by The Upright Citizens Brigade founders have a knack for announcing big news on the eve of their annual Del Close Marathon, and this year is no exception, as NBCUniversal today revealed it has expanded its working relationship with the UCB4 and their improvising minions to include at least five new projects in development for TV, cable TV and streaming platforms.
The new deal allows UCB projects to go forward with UCP (as in, Universal Cable Productions).
“UCB is comprised of a group of amazingly talented people who are fearless when it comes to taking comedic risks,” said Dawn Olmstead, EVP, Development at UCP. “This partnership is a perfect fit for the studio because it allows us to incubate fresh ideas and make our mark in the comedy space by tapping into UCB’s unique point of view. We’re thrilled to be working with them.”
The UCB4 already shepherded a new showcase series of stand-up, improv and sketch this past year on Seeso with The UCB Show. UCB alums Lennon Parham and Jessica St. Clair also star in the USA sitcom, Playing House, currently in production on its forthcoming third season. And Amy Poehler is delivering a second season of Billy Eichner and Julie Klausner’s Difficult People to Hulu.
Here are the five UCB projects now moving forward, as well, into development with NBCUniversal. One of them, “We Can Fix You,” is a staple closing show of the Del Close Marathon — and is again this weekend, playing live at 6 p.m. Sunday at the end of DCM18.
WE CAN FIX YOU
Is your personal life in need of an overhaul? Matt Besser, Ian Roberts and a team of UCB comedians take on the personal problems of a studio audience and then, using unorthodox methods, set out to transform their lives for the better. They may not be trained, but their empathy runs deep. Based on the successful UCB stage show. Matt Besser, Owen Burke, Amy Poehler, Ian Roberts, Matt Walsh and Aliyah Silverstein serve as executive producers.
HOUSE OF DELTA
The cutthroat inner machinations of a Southern sorority as told through the dramatic lens of a political thriller. If you think the drama depicted in David Fincher’s “House of Cards” is intense, wait until you get a glimpse of the dark inner workings of the Delta Omega sorority at Southeast Georgia State University! Laura Grey and Megan Stein to write and executive produce.
SING
A parody of musically-driven TV shows (“Empire,” “Nashville,” “Glee”) that follows a group of misfits in the surprisingly high-stakes world of Karaoke. Jeff Hiller and Pam Murphy are executive producers/writers.
THE PELIGROSO PROJECT
Horatio Sanz (“Saturday Night Live”) and Tom Gianas (“Mr. Show with Bob and David”) present a comedy series showcasing writing and performances from the next generation of Latino talent. Each episode features sketch comedy performed in front of a live studio audience, digital shorts and live man-on-the-street bits.
HELL HOUSE
This mockumentary series follows the passionate but misguided members of a church planning committee as they prepare for their biggest event of the year: a sin-themed haunted house. Adam McCabe, Noam Bleiweiss and Betsy Sodaro to write and executive produce.
