Awkwafina already conquered the big screen in this years Oceans 8 and Crazy Rich Asians and now, shes coming for your television. On Thursday, Comedy Central announced a new half-hour scripted series starring the writer, actor, and rapper. Its title is pretty straightforward: Awkwafina.
The series, which received a 10-episode order and was inspired by Awkwafinas own upbringing in Queens, will follow an ambitious Queens-dwelling twentysomething who lives with her father and grandmother. B.D. Wong is set to co-star as Awkwafinas father, and Lori Tan Chinn, whom Orange Is the New Black fans know as Mei Chang, will play her grandmother. Also on board? Newly installed Saturday Night Live writer Bowen Yang, who will play Awkwafinas more successful cousin. Awkwafina, who also serves as an executive producer, wrote the first episode alongside Karey Dornetto (SMILF, Portlandia) and Teresa Hsiao (Family Guy, American Dad). Broad City and Rough Night director Lucia Aniello will helm the pilot.
“Ive 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,” Awkwafina said in a statement. “I am so honored to be given their platform to tell the story of an Asian-American girl against the backdrop of the city [in which] I was raised.”
Given its New York setting and scrappy heroine, Awkwafina seems like a natural play for Comedy Central viewers who loved Broad City, which will end next year with its fifth season. The network has lost a number of its marquee shows in recent years, including Key & Peele and Inside Amy Schumer; the main draws in its lineup now include The Daily Show, Drunk History, The Jim Jefferies Show, and South Park reruns. Next year, however, Comedy Central will debut not only the premieres of scripted series, including Awkwafina, The Other Two, and South Side, but also the sketch-comedy series Alternatino with Arturo Castro and two stand-up series, This Week at the Comedy Cellar and The New Negroes. There are new series from Jordan Klepper and Anthony Jeselnik in the works as well.
And in addition to Awkwafina, Comedy Central also announced another scripted series: one from comedian Rory Scovel, titled Robbie, in which he will star and also write. The half-hour scripted series stars Scovel as a a small-town youth-league basketball coach who lives in his fathers shadow—until he finds out he has a son who can lead him to greatness. Like Awkwafina and Comedy Centrals upcoming The Other Two, which comes from former S.N.L. head writers Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider, Robbie will also contain some S.N.L. DNA: Sasheer Zamata, who left the sketch series last year, will join its cast, and Will Ferrell will executive produce alongside Adam McKay, Betsy Koch, and Owen Burke.
Get Vanity Fairs HWD NewsletterSign up for essential industry and award news from Hollywood.Laura BradleyLaura Bradley is a Hollywood writer for VanityFair.com.
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