In a competitive situation, with multiple networks and streaming services pursuing, CBS has landed a multi-camera comedy project written by and starring rising actor-comedian Jermaine Fowler. In conjunction with the deal, sibling Showtime has acquired the rights to a one-hour comedy special starring and produced by Fowler. Tentatively titled Jermaine Fowler: Give ‘Em Hell Kid, the special, which has been shot, includes a mix of stand-up and first-person interviews from those who know him best. It is eyed for December 11th debut.
The untitled CBS project, which Fowler will write or co-write, is a multi-camera family comedy inspired by his life. Fowler’s father was only 17 and his mother was 16 when they had their first child. Despite being so young, the two stayed together, raising Fowler and his siblings. Fowler, 27, will play a character loosely inspired by his dad, a 27-year-old bringing up children who are around 10. Kids raising kids.
Fowler is executive producing the project with 3 Arts’ Michael Rotenberg and Josh Lieberman for CBS TV Studios.
This is the second consecutive network sale for Fowler. Last year, another semi-autobiographical half-hour starring Fowler as a college dropout who winds up living with his estranged grandmother was bought by ABC. The project went to pilot, with Whoopi Goldberg playing the grandmother.
Fowler, an alum of the CollegeHumor troupe, is currently touring in San Francisco. He co-created, writes and stars in TruTV’s sketch comedy Friends Of The People and has been featured on MTV2’s Guy Code and Comedy Central’s Comedy Underground With Dave Attell.
Fowler is repped by WME, 3 Arts and Morris Yorn.
Source: Deadline
