IFC has ordered a scripted series based on the life of "WTF" podcast host Marc Maron, as well as a third season of "Portlandia," a second season of "Whisker Wars," the new animated series "Out There," and a third installment of R. Kelly's hip-hop opera "Trapped in the Closet."
The network also announced the June 8 premiere of two summer originals: "Comedy Bang! Bang!" a unique talk show from "Between Two Ferns" co-creator and "Mr. Show" writer-performer Scott Aukerman, and the game show "Bunk," in which comedians will compete for surreal prizes.
TheWrap moderated a panel about the Maron series last year and saw the pilot presentation. It found Maron, playing a fictionalized version of himself, dealing with his dad (Ed Asner), younger girlfriend, podcast guest Ken Jeong, and his full of cats. The series will follow the former drugging-and-drinking comedian as he maintains his sobriety and reaps podcast success after more than 25 years as a working comic. Comedy stars like Jeong turn up as podcast guests.
The tentatively titled "Maron," from Fox Television Studios and Denis Leary and Jim Serpico's Apostle, is directed by Oscar winner Luke Matheny ("God of Love") and executive produced by Maron, Leary, Serpico, Olivia Wingate, and Duncan Birmingham, the show's co-writer (pictured with Maron). It will premiere in the third quarter of 2013.
"Out There," a comic-of-age series about three boys in a small town, is written, directed and executive produced by Emmy winning "South Park" animation director Ryan Quincy. It is produced IFC by 20th Century Fox Television and will premiere next January.
The latest "Trapped in the Closet" will premiere in the fourth quarter of this year, as will the second season of "Whisker Wars."The third season of "Portlandia" will air next January, but the show will air specials in the summer and around the winter holidays.
