NEW YORK, NY, August 5, 2015 – IFC has ordered pilot presentations of three new comedy series, with Dan Harmon (Community, Rick and Morty), Jim Norton (Inside Amy Schumer, Louie) and Sara Schaefer (Nikki & Sara Live, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon) attached to headline. The three shows take the network outside the scripted arena and into the world of panel and late-night talk.
“These pilots represent an exciting, aggressive move for us into the alternative comedy format space as we continue to expand our programming reach,” said Jennifer Caserta, IFC’s president. “All of the talent fits our brand so we can’t wait for them to bring their individual, distinctive voices to IFC.”
Great Minds is a comedic panel show hosted by Dan Harmon that tackles trending topics with a twist: each episode features a revolving cast of comedians in character as history’s “greatest minds.” The pilot guest panel features Benjamin Franklin (Rory Albanese, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart), Albert Einstein (Robert Smigel, SNL), Eleanor Roosevelt (Bonnie McFarlane, Women Aren’t Funny) and Frederick Douglass (Seaton Smith, Mulaney). The show is created by Richard Korson (The Daily Show with Jon Stewart), produced by Matador and executive produced by Korson, Harmon, Jay Peterson and Kara Welker.
IFC is also shooting an untitled half-hour, late-night talk show hosted by comedian Jim Norton. In his signature acerbic style, Norton will share lively banter and unfiltered viewpoints with today’s top entertainers from comedy, TV, movies, music, film and culture. Matador produces the series with Norton and Suzanne Fagel (Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell) executive producing.
Created and helmed by Sara Schaefer, 1320 Seconds is a satirical news-magazine show featuring an ensemble of female correspondents (plus one man to make everyone feel okay about this dangerous concept) who investigate and comment on the cultural zeitgeist. The show is Executive Produced by Schaefer and Jon Zimelis, Jason Nadler, and Alex Blagg of Serious Business.
About IFC
IFC is the home of offbeat, unexpected comedies. Series like Portlandia, Maron and Comedy Bang! Bang! air alongside fan-favorite movies and comedic cult TV shows. Owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc., along with sister channels AMC, BBC America, SundanceTV and WE tv, IFC is available to 72 million U.S. homes and across multiple platforms. IFC: Always On Slightly Off
# # #