IFC has put five comedy projects in development, bringing the number of potential shows in its pipeline to seven.
The five new series in development include Almost Asian, based on the web series from Katie Malia and executive produced by Margaret Cho; a show about a junior pastor whose self-published erotic novel becomes a best-seller; and a sketch show that takes on race and politics.
The five new shows join two other projects in development, How to Rig an Election and NGO. The cable channel also recently ordered detective comedy Year of the Rabbit and sketch show Sherman’s Showcase to series.
The new development projects are:
Almost Asian
Based on the web series of the same name, the dark comedy follows Katie (Malia) and her efforts to find her identity as both a dancer and a mixed-raced millennial in Los Angeles. Malia also executive produces, along with Cho, Sarah Martin, Jessie Boemper and Evan Shapiro.
Annika Erotica
From writer Nate Dern (Comedy Central’s digital show Every Damn Day) and Funny or Die, Annika Erotica centers on Claire Radkowski, an associate junior pastor in Colorado Springs whose simple life gets much more complicated when an erotic novel she self-published under the name Annika Erotica goes viral. She has to decide whether to keep her secret or live openly as her fullest (and potentially horniest) self.
Art Thieves
Three misfit master criminals who view themselves as Robin Hoods of the art world attempt break into the homes of wealthy people and steal their masterpieces. Mitch Magee (IFC digital series The Fergusons) and Daniel Powell (Inside Amy Schumer) executive produce.
Beth
From Bored to Death and Blunt Talk creator Jonathan Ames and Timm Sharp, who starred in the latter series, Beth centers on an agoraphobic man who is pushed out of his comfort zone when a long-ago ex gets back in touch. Ames and Sharp executive produce with Lighthouse Management & Media.
The Middle Passage
Using longform narrative sketches to satirize America’s racial and sociopolitical climate, The Middle Passage will offer comedic commentary via riffs on the mystery, sci-fi, thriller and horror genres. It comes from Jonathan Braylock (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), James Carr (TripTank), James III and Jerah Milligan, all of whom worked together on the web series Projecting. The four are co-executive producers of The Middle Passage; Jillian Vogel, Luke Kelly-Clyne and Drew Buckley executive produce.
