Comedy Central has given series orders to two new scripted comedies, one from “Crazy Rich Asians” star Awkwafina and another from comedian Rory Scovel.
The “Crazy Rich Asians” and “Oceans 8” breakout is set to star in and executive produce the half-hour comedy “Awkwafina” about a 20-something in Queens, striving for a larger than life existence while living with her father and grandmother. The 10-episode series also stars Bowen Yang as Awkwafina’s more successful cousin, BD Wong as her father and Lori Tan Chinn as her grandmother.
Awkwafina co-wrote the Lucia Aniello-directed pilot with Karey Dornetto and Teresa Hsiao. Awkwafina, Dornetto, Aniello are executive producers alongside Peter Principato and Itay Reiss of Artists First. Hsiao is co-executive producer, while Monika Zielinska, Adam Londy and Rachel Olson are executives in charge for Comedy Central.
“I’ve been watching Comedy Central since I was old enough to hold a remote, and so many of their shows have defined who I am today,” said Awkwafina. “I am so honored to be given their platform to tell the story of an Asian American girl against the backdrop of the city I was raised in.”
“This is a special project. Inspired by Awkwafina’s formative years in Queens, the show is both a personal look into one of comedy’s brightest stars and also a relatable, funny profile of a young hustler’s struggle,” said Sarah Babineau and Jonas Larsen, co-heads of development for Comedy Central. “We’re happy to be used as a pawn in Awkwafina’s elaborate, EGOT endgame.”
Scovel, meanwhile, will star in and co-write the comedy “Robbie,” which has received an eight-episode order from the network.
The “I Feel Pretty” star will play a small town youth league basketball coach who’s living in his father’s shadow until he realizes he has a son of his own who can lead him to greatness. Beau Bridges will also star in the half-hour as Scovel’s father, alongside Sasheer Zamata and Mary Holland.
Co-writers Scovel and Anthony King will also executive produce with Scott Moran and Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, Betsy Koch and Owen Burke of Gary Sanchez Productions. Zielinska and Olson are executives in charge.
“I can’t wait to get started. I think our cast and entire production team is insanely talented,” said Scovel. “It’s exciting to work with Comedy Central and it’s especially awesome because they said they would never cancel us.”
“We’re thrilled to be working with Rory Scovel, an incredible storyteller and comedic visionary,” said Larsen and Babineau. “We love Rory’s ability to find the heart and humor in characters. This sports-obsessed, small town Southern setting is the perfect place to explore his genius.”