If you’re tired of anti-heroes, Jim Carrey’s new Showtime series, “Kidding,” might be just what you’re looking for.
Writer and executive producer of the series, Dave Holstein, went into the project wanting to write a character that “didn’t want to break bad, but wanted to stay good,” he told reporters at the Television Critics Association summer 2018 press tour on Monday
“To me, it was less about finding a character whose journey was a nervous breakdown and more about coming off a show like ‘Weeds’ that’s full of anti-heroes, and having this sort of fatigue of characters who existed because they were… doing drugs or killing people,” he said.
Holstein is known for writing “Weeds,” another Showtime series about a suburban mother who turns marijuana dealer. “Kidding,” however, follows a man who stars on a children’s show who simply wants to maintain his wise, kind and sunny outlook, even through the implosion of his TV family. As Showtime puts it, “The result: A kind man in a cruel world faces a slow leak of sanity as hilarious as it is heartbreaking.”
“To me it was about finding someone who had a crisis of faith but really wanted to preserve the goodness in a world that is populated by all the dark edges of premium cable, but not the character itself,” Holstein added.
“Kidding” also stars Frank Langella, Judy Greer and Catherine Keener. Holstein, who wrote multiple episodes, executive produces and serves as showrunner. The series is also executive produced by Carrey, Michel Gondry, Michael Aguilar, Roberto Benabib, Raffi Adlan, Jason Bateman and Jim Garavente.
You can watch the trailer here.
“Kidding” premieres on Showtime on Sunday, September 9.