Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara will headline Pop’s first-ever original scripted series, “Schitt’s Creek.” The network, currently known as TVGN, will rebrand as Pop in early 2015. The network has ordered 13 episodes of the half-hour comedy.
Slated to premiere in early 2015 as part of the network’s launch, Levy will star with his son Daniel. The father-son duo co-created the comedy series through their production company Not a Real Company Productions Inc.
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Exploring a modern twist on the rags to riches tale by flipping the script, “Schitt’s Creek” is like “The Beverly Hillbillies” in reverse. The Rose family falls victim to a Bernie Madoff-style Ponzi scheme, losing everything except for a town purchased as a joke. The family is forced to move to this town, Schitt’s Creek, and start their lives over while living in the town’s motel.
Eugene Levy stars as family patriarch Johnny Rose, with O’Hara as his soap star wife Moira. Dan Levy plays their hipster son David, while newcomer Annie Murphy portrays their socialite daughter Alexis. Chris Elliott also stars as the town’s eccentric mayor.
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“It took a very special project like ‘Schitt’s Creek’ to bring me back to television,” Eugene Levy — who co-starred with O’Hara on the sketch-comedy show “SCTV” — said. “I’m thrilled to be reunited on-screen with my dear friend Catherine O’Hara and to have the opportunity to work with the wonderfully hilarious Chris Elliot, the up-and-coming Annie Murphy, and my son Dan, who is amazingly talented and a great partner; working together has only made ME look better.”
“This show answers the question, what would the Kardashians do if they woke up one day, completely broke?” said Brad Schwartz, Pop’s president of entertainment and media. “Not only is this project a clever cultural commentary where the 1 percent is suddenly the 99, but it fits right in the heart of everything we’re building at our new network. It’s a dream cast, it’s hysterically funny, and it’s sure to pop.”
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Executive produced by Eugene Levy, Dan Levy, Fred Levy, Andrew Barnsley and Ben Feigin, Pop will air the Canadian sitcom in the United States, while “Schitt’s Creek” will broadcast on CBC in Canada. Both networks will premiere the show, which is distributed by ITV Studios Global Entertainment, in 2015.
“Schitt’s Creek” joins previously announced Pop launch projects “Rock This Boat: New Kids on the Block,” which follows fanatic fans of the iconic boy band, and “The Story Behind,” exploring the genesis of some of television’s greatest shows.