HDNet Acquires Acclaimed Web Series 'Goodnight Burbank' (Exclusive)

HDNet is bringing acclaimed web series Goodnight Burbank to TV.

Beginning Oct .12, the independent cable network will air season one in full. The series, written by Hayden Black and produced by his Haydenism Inc., revolves around the people who deliver a fictional Californian newscast from a garage because their studio burned down. 

"[Goodnight Burbank] expanded from webisodes to half-hour Hulu episodes, but I still think that’s a much harder place to find an audience because you’re one of however many thousands of pieces of content," HDNet chairman Mark Cuban told The Hollywood Reporter. "We’ll be able to give it a lot of visibility and I think our audience is going to find it just as hysterical as we do."

The effort, which Cuban approached Black about acquiring the web series via a Facebook message, counts Laura Silverman (Sarah Silverman Program), Dominic Monaghan (Lost) and Black as stars. Guest appearances have been made by John Barrowman (Torchwood), Juliet Landau (Buffy) and Miracle Laurie (Dollhouse). 

"The first ever half-hour comedy made for the web just became the first ever half-hour comedy made for the web picked up by TV," Black said. "The blurring of new and traditional media just got a whole lot blurrier."

Cuban said he and Black haven't discussed adding more original episodes of the series yet, but acknowledged that that's certainly a goal. "We’ll see how our audience responds, but I think that there’s a great chance that we’ll be able to do a lot more with them," he said. "And hopefully we get them to take even more chances together."

On Sept. 29, the net will offer viewers a sneak preview of the satirical series USA Today has called “better than 99% of the stuff on TV.” It will join an eclectic mix of shows on HDNet’s schedule, including Drinking Made Easy, Celebridate, The Super and Inside MMA.

Drinking, a travel series with Zane Lamprey and Steve McKenna, will return for a second season with an hourlong Hawaiian special Oct. 5, while Celebridate, a celebrity dating show hosted by Roger Lodge, will roll out on Oct. 12. The season will feature Nadya Suleman, better known as one-time tabloid staple Octomom.

For its part, The Super will premiere Oct. 17, with a sneak preview Oct. 6. The unscripted series centers on Dave Paladino, a landlord, security guard, plumber, carpenter, psychologist and best friend to the occupants of the 1,700-plus units he manages daily.

Finally, Kenny Rice and Bas Rutten's Inside MMA will be back live Oct. 17. The MMA news and discussion series, along with the fights themselves, have become a vital piece of HDNet's effort to differentiate itself in a crowded landscape.

Email: Lacey.Rose@Thr.com;
Twitter: @LaceyVRose