Prentice Penny is joining the rare ranks of showrunners working in both scripted and unscripted. The prolific writer-producer, currently showrunning Issa Rae’s Insecure, has sold his own reality vehicle to TruTV.
The comedy-focused network has ordered 12 episodes of Upscale With Prentice Penny, a lifestyles series that will meld Penny’s own comedic voice with his quest to explore the worlds of food, wine, fashion and travel on a limited budget.
“Like so many people from working-class families, I grew up believing that a high-end lifestyle also comes with a high price tag,” Penny said Thursday in a statement. “As I got older I learned that doesn’t have to be the case. With Upscale, I want to show people that cost and quality aren’t mutually exclusive, and an elevated life can come at every price point.”
Penny, easily among the best-dressed working TV writers, created the series with DEFY Media’s Chris Pollack and Jared Hoffman. It joins a growing roster of scripted and unscripted originals at TruTV, which has successfully aged its audience down in its switch to comedy. “Prentice’s unique point of view, enviable sense of style and comedic insights make Upscale truly relatable for everyone,” said Marissa Ronca, executive vp and head of programming for truTV. “He brings incredible talent, creativity and an infectious curiosity to the series and we’re all looking forward to him upscaling our lives.”
Upscale may be Penny’s first onscreen gig, but he’s been especially busy of late. An executive producer on HBO’s Insecure, which premiered to overwhelmingly positive reviews this past week, his recent writing and producing credits include Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Hustle and Happy Endings.
Penny is repped by CAA.
