Deadline's Peter White spoke with Warner Bros. Television Group chairperson and CEO Channing Dungey about her new approach to comedy series.
Dungey said the studio plans to move away from Peak TV-style
"dramedies" and more deadpan approaches, embracing traditional, broad,
"Three Stooges"-style laugh-fests, which she labels "hard funny."
- Dungey
believes that challenges like COVID and the economy have boosted the
audience for conventionally satisfying TV comedy shows, such as "Ted Lasso," "Night Court," and "Abbott Elementary."
- While
conceding that her team has pitched some reboot ideas to writers, and
receives unsolicited pitches based on pre-existing Warner IP, Dungey
notes that these shows aren't guaranteed success any more than their
counterparts based on original ideas, adding "there has to really be a
reason for the reboot or the retelling to exist."
- Upcoming
shows from Dungey's team at WBTV include single-camera streetwear comedy
"House of Kyle" from co-creator Mindy Kaling; and the male friendship
satire "Boyos" from "Hacks" co-creators Lucia Aniello and Paul W. Downs.
