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With Shows Like ‘The Other Two,’ Comedy Central Looks Beyond Its Core With Shows Like ‘The Other Two,’ Comedy Central Looks Beyond Its Core
(about 11 hours later)
LOS ANGELES — A few years ago Comedy Central, best known for bro-centric series like “South Park” and “Tosh.0,” was enjoying the ratings, critical praise and cultural cachet that came from looking beyond its young white male template.LOS ANGELES — A few years ago Comedy Central, best known for bro-centric series like “South Park” and “Tosh.0,” was enjoying the ratings, critical praise and cultural cachet that came from looking beyond its young white male template.
“Key and Peele” turned goofs on black American identity into highly clickable sketch comedy; “Inside Amy Schumer” did the same with critical assessments of gender norms; and “Broad City” reinvigorated the New-York-strivers genre with its offbeat, feminist millennial sensibility. All were among the buzziest shows on TV.“Key and Peele” turned goofs on black American identity into highly clickable sketch comedy; “Inside Amy Schumer” did the same with critical assessments of gender norms; and “Broad City” reinvigorated the New-York-strivers genre with its offbeat, feminist millennial sensibility. All were among the buzziest shows on TV.
But that was then. “Key and Peele” ended in 2015; “Inside Amy Schumer” has been on hiatus since 2016; and “Broad City” is nearing the end of its five-season run. “South Park” and “Tosh.0,” meanwhile, are still going strong.But that was then. “Key and Peele” ended in 2015; “Inside Amy Schumer” has been on hiatus since 2016; and “Broad City” is nearing the end of its five-season run. “South Park” and “Tosh.0,” meanwhile, are still going strong.
Which means it is again time for Comedy Central to more aggressively court its “growth audience” — anyone who is not a young, straight, white male — Kent Alterman, the network president, said during a recent interview at his office in Hollywood. Enter a new slate of shows, many of them created by emerging talent with a variety of points of view, that is part of a “conscious attempt to reflect the world we live in,” Alterman said.Which means it is again time for Comedy Central to more aggressively court its “growth audience” — anyone who is not a young, straight, white male — Kent Alterman, the network president, said during a recent interview at his office in Hollywood. Enter a new slate of shows, many of them created by emerging talent with a variety of points of view, that is part of a “conscious attempt to reflect the world we live in,” Alterman said.
The first up was “The Other Two,” which debuted in late January. Created by Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider, former “Saturday Night Live” head writers, the show stars Drew Tarver and Heléne Yorke as the 20-something older siblings of a young YouTube star, whose sudden success coincides with their quarter-life crises.The first up was “The Other Two,” which debuted in late January. Created by Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider, former “Saturday Night Live” head writers, the show stars Drew Tarver and Heléne Yorke as the 20-something older siblings of a young YouTube star, whose sudden success coincides with their quarter-life crises.
It has a gay lead (Tarver) and is staffed predominantly by female or gay writers (including Kelly), and early results have been encouraging. The premiere episode was watched by 2.25 million people, including streaming and DVR viewing, and Comedy Central has since seen its female audience climb significantly. Viewing among women ages 18-49 was up by 13 percent in February, according to Nielsen — the most growth of any audience single segment and the network’s biggest spike in that demo since 2014. (The January return of “Broad City,” the lead-in for “The Other Two,” was also a big factor.) It has a gay lead character (Tarver) and is staffed predominantly by female or gay writers, including Kelly, and early results have been encouraging. The premiere episode was watched by 2.25 million people, including streaming and DVR viewing, and Comedy Central has since seen its female audience climb significantly. Viewing among women ages 18-49 was up by 13 percent in February, according to Nielsen — the most growth of any audience single segment and the network’s biggest spike in that demo since 2014. (The January return of “Broad City,” the lead-in for “The Other Two,” was also a big factor.)
Other upcoming new series include “South Side,” set in the predominantly black Englewood neighborhood of Chicago, debuting this summer; and “Alternatino,” a sketch show from a Latino millennial perspective, coming in June; and “Awkwafina,” created by and starring the titular actress and comedian, that will be Comedy Central’s first show with an Asian-American lead.Other upcoming new series include “South Side,” set in the predominantly black Englewood neighborhood of Chicago, debuting this summer; and “Alternatino,” a sketch show from a Latino millennial perspective, coming in June; and “Awkwafina,” created by and starring the titular actress and comedian, that will be Comedy Central’s first show with an Asian-American lead.
Alterman is loathe to refer to these series as replacements for “Key and Peele” and the like. “It’s not like we have formulaic slots that we’re filling — ‘OK, we lost this kind of show, we have to replace it with this kind of show.’ But I would say that there’s always an ongoing evolution.”Alterman is loathe to refer to these series as replacements for “Key and Peele” and the like. “It’s not like we have formulaic slots that we’re filling — ‘OK, we lost this kind of show, we have to replace it with this kind of show.’ But I would say that there’s always an ongoing evolution.”
That evolution has gained speed since Alterman — who first worked at Comedy Central from 1996 to 2000 before leaving for the movie industry — returned in 2010 as the head of original programming and production. Currently, there are nine women in senior leadership positions, five of which Alterman hired, as well as three people of color and at least two who identify as L.G.B.T. When he was promoted to president of original programming in 2013, he helped make the decision to hire Trevor Noah as Jon Stewart’s replacement on “The Daily Show” and helped to develop “Inside Amy Schumer” and “Broad City.”That evolution has gained speed since Alterman — who first worked at Comedy Central from 1996 to 2000 before leaving for the movie industry — returned in 2010 as the head of original programming and production. Currently, there are nine women in senior leadership positions, five of which Alterman hired, as well as three people of color and at least two who identify as L.G.B.T. When he was promoted to president of original programming in 2013, he helped make the decision to hire Trevor Noah as Jon Stewart’s replacement on “The Daily Show” and helped to develop “Inside Amy Schumer” and “Broad City.”
“I like to think that Kent didn’t just put ‘Broad City’ on the air because we’re women and he needed to diversify the creators,” said Abbi Jacobson, who created and stars in the show with Ilana Glazer. “He has a really wonderful eye for comedy and I think that a lot of incredible comedians right now happen to be women, and he’s giving them a platform to do their thing without a ton of micromanaging.”“I like to think that Kent didn’t just put ‘Broad City’ on the air because we’re women and he needed to diversify the creators,” said Abbi Jacobson, who created and stars in the show with Ilana Glazer. “He has a really wonderful eye for comedy and I think that a lot of incredible comedians right now happen to be women, and he’s giving them a platform to do their thing without a ton of micromanaging.”
A similar hands-off approach has allowed the creators of “The Other Two” to give the show — and story lines involving Cary’s sexuality, in particular — a more “authentic” feel, Kelly said.A similar hands-off approach has allowed the creators of “The Other Two” to give the show — and story lines involving Cary’s sexuality, in particular — a more “authentic” feel, Kelly said.
“Sexuality is a big part of our show and the stories we wanted to tell, so it was important that we had other gay writers to help draw from their real experiences,” he said.“Sexuality is a big part of our show and the stories we wanted to tell, so it was important that we had other gay writers to help draw from their real experiences,” he said.
Bashir Salahuddin and Diallo Riddle, the creators of “South Side,” say Comedy Central has given them the freedom to run their all-black writers’ room (save for the director Michael Blieden, who also wrote one episode) how they see fit.Bashir Salahuddin and Diallo Riddle, the creators of “South Side,” say Comedy Central has given them the freedom to run their all-black writers’ room (save for the director Michael Blieden, who also wrote one episode) how they see fit.
“Even among the executives, there is some diversity in hiring, and that makes the process way less translation heavy,” Riddle said. “Changes in the boardroom have actually helped us get a little bit closer to what we actually want to do.”“Even among the executives, there is some diversity in hiring, and that makes the process way less translation heavy,” Riddle said. “Changes in the boardroom have actually helped us get a little bit closer to what we actually want to do.”
The show, which Salahuddin describes as a “hard comedy with hard edges,” was shot on the actual South Side of Chicago, an area generally depicted on TV as violent and dangerous, with local nonactors in speaking roles and as extras.The show, which Salahuddin describes as a “hard comedy with hard edges,” was shot on the actual South Side of Chicago, an area generally depicted on TV as violent and dangerous, with local nonactors in speaking roles and as extras.
“We really wanted something that was not only close to our hearts, but allowed us to let Chicago speak for itself and show people how funny it can be,” Salahuddin said.“We really wanted something that was not only close to our hearts, but allowed us to let Chicago speak for itself and show people how funny it can be,” Salahuddin said.
“Alternatino” stars the “Broad City” alum Arturo Castro in a sketch show (based on his Comedy Central web series) that sends up American ideals about Latino culture in the same vein as Schumer did with modern American womanhood. In one sequence from the pilot, Castro’s onscreen persona is frustrated when a woman he’s dating finds him lacking of the machismo of the Colombian cartel character he plays on the Netflix series “Narcos.”“Alternatino” stars the “Broad City” alum Arturo Castro in a sketch show (based on his Comedy Central web series) that sends up American ideals about Latino culture in the same vein as Schumer did with modern American womanhood. In one sequence from the pilot, Castro’s onscreen persona is frustrated when a woman he’s dating finds him lacking of the machismo of the Colombian cartel character he plays on the Netflix series “Narcos.”
Aside from Arturo, who was born in Guatemala, the writers room has three women, one Mexican-American writer, and four white men.Aside from Arturo, who was born in Guatemala, the writers room has three women, one Mexican-American writer, and four white men.
“The packets submitted by young white dudes are incredibly funny — we try to focus on the funny first — but obviously there are things we can’t explain,” Castro said. “I have to check in with [other Latinos] like, ‘Am I being weird about not liking this?’ And they’re like ‘No, no, dude — my mom would kill me if you put that on!’ and I’m like ‘Thank you! I can’t write a stigmata sketch.’”“The packets submitted by young white dudes are incredibly funny — we try to focus on the funny first — but obviously there are things we can’t explain,” Castro said. “I have to check in with [other Latinos] like, ‘Am I being weird about not liking this?’ And they’re like ‘No, no, dude — my mom would kill me if you put that on!’ and I’m like ‘Thank you! I can’t write a stigmata sketch.’”
Alterman said that he tries to give creators plenty of freedom, but he also wants to “make sure they’re protecting themselves, too,” with a “mix of more experienced and midlevel [writers with] newbie writers.”Alterman said that he tries to give creators plenty of freedom, but he also wants to “make sure they’re protecting themselves, too,” with a “mix of more experienced and midlevel [writers with] newbie writers.”
“But we never dictate that,” he added.“But we never dictate that,” he added.
In some cases, however, concerns arise. After “Awkwafina” was green lit for 10 episodes last month, the star tweeted that her writers’ room was staffed with all women — which would be a first for the network and a rarity for any show.In some cases, however, concerns arise. After “Awkwafina” was green lit for 10 episodes last month, the star tweeted that her writers’ room was staffed with all women — which would be a first for the network and a rarity for any show.
Alterman admits he wondered, “Should we have at least one male writer, just to have that point of view?” he said. “And I was just talking with Sarah Babineau … and she said, ‘Uh, no — why do we need to?’”Alterman admits he wondered, “Should we have at least one male writer, just to have that point of view?” he said. “And I was just talking with Sarah Babineau … and she said, ‘Uh, no — why do we need to?’”
Babineau, the executive vice president and co-head of talent and development at Comedy Central, clarified that there are two men in the “Awkwafina” writers’ room, a writers’ assistant and a writers’ production assistant.Babineau, the executive vice president and co-head of talent and development at Comedy Central, clarified that there are two men in the “Awkwafina” writers’ room, a writers’ assistant and a writers’ production assistant.
But Alterman understood Babineau’s response to his query: “I’m sure that there were years and years where it was all men in the writer’s room and no one thought to ask that question the other way: ‘Do you think we should have a woman in the room?’”But Alterman understood Babineau’s response to his query: “I’m sure that there were years and years where it was all men in the writer’s room and no one thought to ask that question the other way: ‘Do you think we should have a woman in the room?’”
Comedy Central has several other series in the works that fit their new, more expansive bill, including “The New Negroes With Baron Vaughn and Open Mike Eagle,” premiering this spring, and pilots for “The Chameleon,” a scripted comedy from the openly gay comic Matteo Lane and “How to Be a Couple” from the writer Naomi Ekperigin (formerly of “Broad City”) and Andy Beckerman based on their real life interracial relationship.Comedy Central has several other series in the works that fit their new, more expansive bill, including “The New Negroes With Baron Vaughn and Open Mike Eagle,” premiering this spring, and pilots for “The Chameleon,” a scripted comedy from the openly gay comic Matteo Lane and “How to Be a Couple” from the writer Naomi Ekperigin (formerly of “Broad City”) and Andy Beckerman based on their real life interracial relationship.
But while the network is branching out, Alterman says there are no plans to completely abandon its base of young white guys anytime soon — “South Park” and “Tosh.0,” two of the network’s longest-running shows currently on-air, are also consistently its highest-rated.But while the network is branching out, Alterman says there are no plans to completely abandon its base of young white guys anytime soon — “South Park” and “Tosh.0,” two of the network’s longest-running shows currently on-air, are also consistently its highest-rated.
Last month, Comedy Central announced the return of David Spade, who previously hosted “The Showbiz Show,” a parody of celebrity news programs, on the network from 2005-2007. In this new project, another pop culture-skewering show that debuts later this year, he will be the latest host to try his luck in the post-“Daily Show” slot where previously Larry Wilmore and Jordan Klepper were unable to find success.Last month, Comedy Central announced the return of David Spade, who previously hosted “The Showbiz Show,” a parody of celebrity news programs, on the network from 2005-2007. In this new project, another pop culture-skewering show that debuts later this year, he will be the latest host to try his luck in the post-“Daily Show” slot where previously Larry Wilmore and Jordan Klepper were unable to find success.
Spade’s hiring again raises what has become a persistent question: Does late-night really need another straight white guy?Spade’s hiring again raises what has become a persistent question: Does late-night really need another straight white guy?
Comedy Central executives discussed that issue, Babineau said, but the network’s research indicates that its audience loves Spade.Comedy Central executives discussed that issue, Babineau said, but the network’s research indicates that its audience loves Spade.
“In the same way that we’re not making programming just for men, we’re not making programming just for women either,” Babineau said.“In the same way that we’re not making programming just for men, we’re not making programming just for women either,” Babineau said.
“You look for the Venn diagram where they all intersect,” she added, “where your core and growth will like it.”“You look for the Venn diagram where they all intersect,” she added, “where your core and growth will like it.”
With Spade’s show being joined by upcoming projects with other white comics like Rory Scovel, Anthony Jeselnik and Tim Dillon, Comedy Central isn’t abandoning young white guys anytime soon. But it’s betting that, as with the network’s past hits told from diverse points of view, inspired comedy will transcend demographics.With Spade’s show being joined by upcoming projects with other white comics like Rory Scovel, Anthony Jeselnik and Tim Dillon, Comedy Central isn’t abandoning young white guys anytime soon. But it’s betting that, as with the network’s past hits told from diverse points of view, inspired comedy will transcend demographics.
The brand’s core audience and growth audience are not mutually exclusive, Alterman said. “I just don’t think everything has to look like me for me to think that [it’s] funny.”The brand’s core audience and growth audience are not mutually exclusive, Alterman said. “I just don’t think everything has to look like me for me to think that [it’s] funny.”