NBC has given series orders to two new comedies — “Great News” from executive producers Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, and “Marlon” from executive producer and star Marlon Wayans.
“Great News” and “Marlon” have been frontrunners from the very start. As previously reported, both of the projects have been at the top of the crop of NBC’s comedy pilots and were expected to land series orders. The network has struggled with comedies over the past few seasons, but is hoping to gain a presence in the genre, especially with a star in Wayans.
“Great News” stars Briga Heelan an up-and-coming news producer whose overbearing mother (Andrea Martin) re-enters the workforce with a job as an intern at the station where Katie works. Tracey Wigfield is a writer and and will serve as executive producer with Fey, Carlock and David Miner. The series is produced by Universal Television, Little Stranger and 3 Arts Entertainment. Adam Campbell, Kimrie Lewis-Davis, John Michael Higgins and Horatio Sanz also star.
“Marlon” is inspired by the real life of the titular comedian. Wayans plays a loving but immature father committed to co-parenting his two kids with his ex-wife. Essence Atkins, Notlim Taylor, Amir O’Neil, Bresha Webb and Diallo Riddle star alongside Wayans. Christopher Moynihan serves as writer and will executive produce with Wayans, Rick Alvarez, Michael Rotenberg and pilot director Andy Ackerman. The series is produced by Universal Television, Wayans Brothers Entertainment, Bicycle Path Productions and 3 Arts Entertainment.
The two series join fellow new comedy “The Good Place,” which received a straight-to-series order from NBC earlier this year, on the network’s 2016-17 slate. Also on Friday the network canceled comedies “Crowded,” “Undateable” and “Telenovela.”
