Chuck Lorre has a new comedy coming to CBS this fall titled “Bob ❤ Abishola.” If you couldn’t tell right away on your own, a name like that is going to require TV reporters who plan on covering the sitcom to either become very emoji friendly in their copy or write out “(Hearts)” over and over. TheWrap’s TV reporters can confirm that neither of these options is ideal.
So we asked CBS Entertainment president, Kelly Kahl, and CBS Entertainment senior executive vice president of programming, Thom Sherman, why they did this to us during a press briefing ahead of the network’s upfront presentation Wednesday.
Here’s what they said:
Kelly Kahl: To be perfectly honest, Chuck Lorre really likes this title.
Thom Sherman: And we like it, too! And you’re talking about it, so.
Kahl: And it’s different, and unique, and yeah, we realize it’s a little bit of a pain in the rear end for some of you. But, yeah, we’re talking about it. It looks a little different.
TheWrap also asked if CBS intends to keep the heart emoji on all marketing materials for the show or go with their “(Hearts)” option, to which Kahl said: “I think anywhere we can use a heart, we’re going to use a heart. And if we can’t, we will write out (Hearts).”
So pick your poison now, TV reporters.
Here’s the official description for “Bob (Hearts) Abishola”:
From award-winning creator, executive producer and writer Chuck Lorre, “Bob Hearts Abishola” is a love story about a middle-aged compression sock businessman from Detroit who unexpectedly falls for his cardiac nurse, a Nigerian immigrant, while recovering from a heart attack and sets his sights on winning her over. Undaunted by Abishola’s (Folake Olowofoyeku) lack of initial interest or the vast differences in their backgrounds, Bob (Billy Gardell) is determined to win Abishola’s heart, in this comedic examination of immigrant life in America.
“Bob (Hearts) Abishola” stars Gardell as Bob, Olowofoyeku as Abishola, Christine Ebersole as Dottie, Matt Jones as Douglas, Maribeth Monroe as Christine, Vernee Watson as Gloria, Shola Adewusi as Auntie Olu, Barry Shabaka Henley as Uncle Tunde and Travis Wolfe Jr. as Dele.
Lorre, Eddie Gorodetsky, Al Higgins and Beth McCarthy-Miller (pilot only) are executive producers for Chuck Lorre Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television. McCarthy-Miller directed the pilot from a script by Lorre, Gorodetsky, Higgins and Gina Yashere.
See CBS’ fall 2019-20 schedule here.
“Bob (Hearts) Abishola” premieres this fall and will air Mondays at 8:30/7:30c on CBS.