IFC Strives For A Bright Future At the 2013 IFC Upfronts

The male oriented Always On, Slightly Skewed Network has big plans to expand its original series content. With more than eleven new scripted comedies in development, IFC is determined to become a force to be reckoned with. Next Year will mark the near 20 year anniversary of the channel and it seems they want to bring it in with a BANG! IFC is one of the few channels that does not censor its content, and airs R-rated and TV-MA rated series uncensored. Not only is IFC the channel, a force to be reckoned with, so is its website. IFC features information about not only the content on the channel, but also blogs, and news about films and politics

IFC Ordered Three Brand New Pilots:

TIMMS INDUSTRIAL PIPING
A scripted comedy set in the fictional town of Timms Valley, Wisconsin, where the lives and livelihoods of its citizens are intertwined with the fate of the town's biggest employer, Timms Industrial Piping. When the company's founder and CEO goes missing in a plane crash, the lives of the characters are turned upside down. Shot in stop-motion animation with baby dolls repurposed as an array of adult characters, and modeled on 1980s primetime soaps like Dynasty. The Pilot is currently in production.

GARFUNKEL & OATES
The pilot is a scripted comedy about the female comedy-folk duo Riki Lindhome (Garfunkel) and Kate Micucci (Oates). The pilot centers on the aspirations and misadventures of this odd couple, and will spotlight the personal and professional lives of the duo whose career choices – singing satirical and sometimes dirty songs – leaves them with little in common with their peers, and no one but each other to turn to for support and understanding. The pilot, will begin production in May in Los Angeles.

INTERNATIONAL PLAN
A scripted comedy about two newly single guys who travel around the world looking for love, and in the process form an invaluable friendship. The project is based on the writers’ true story: Michael Blieden (Late Night with Jimmy Fallon) and Eric Ledgin (Late Night with Jimmy Fallon). The pilot, begins production in mid-April in Stockholm.

 

IFC has ordered the following scripts:


AMERICAN STORAGE
What happens when an employee at a storage facility befriends a guy he finds living in one of the units? The project is based on the short film of the same name co-written by Andrew Jay Cohen (Townies) and Brendan O’Brien (Townies).

CULT FOLLOWING
Cult Following follows two friends who jointly run a health food restaurant and inadvertently become cult leaders. The pilot script is co-written by and co-stars Matt Besser (co-founder of the Upright Citizens Brigade, Freak Dance) and Rich Fulcher (The Mighty Boosh, Snuff Box).

GOD’S WORK
Actor/comedian Kyle Dunnigan (Reno 911!, Comedy Central Presents, co-host Professor Blastoff podcast) plays multiple characters living in a community that surrounds a Connecticut church. The pilot script is co-written by Kyle Dunnigan and Tim Long (The simpsons).

JETPACKULA
Part Terminator, part X-Files, part Mork and Mindy, the supernatural buddy comedy Jetpackula is written and created by Rob Schrab (The Sarah Silverman Program) and follows a washed up comic book illustrator as he befriends a vampire from the future.

STUPID LIFE
Previously announced as A Bad Idea I’m About to Do, this show's script is based on comedian Chris Gethard’s (The Chris Gethard Show, The Other Guys, This American Life) recent autobiographical book of the same name. Tom Scharpling (The Best Show on WFMU, Monk) is series executive producer and co-creator.

TRIGGER MEN
Michael Davis (Shoot ‘Em Up) is writing a script for the action/buddy comedy Trigger Men. Based on a graphic novel, the story follows two friends and former hit men as one tries to clean up his act and the other pulls him deeper into trouble.

TWO IDIOTS
Created and written by Megan Mullally (Will & Grace, Party Down, Children’s Hospital) and newcomer Tina Kapousis, Two Idiots follows a pair of odd women raised in an old world Beverly Hills hotel whose simplest everyday undertakings fly absurdly off the rails, with their beleaguered butler and a remedial shared boyfriend in tow.

WASPS
IFC, in partnership with the New York Television Festival, awarded a script deal and the 2012 “Out of the Box” prize to Damian Lanigan of Brooklyn, NY. The project centers on a dysfunctional Main Line Philadelphia family who find that they have squandered away their money and are left with nothing but the shared ownership of an enormous family mansion.

BREEZY'S RECAP...

This was always going to be one of the hardest channels for me to review because I do not have IFC. In fact, before I started doing this blog I had never even heard of IFC before. I am not a big fan of comedies nor am I male, therefore I do not think I am the target audience for this channel. However, people have emailed me about it so, I summarized their 2013 Upfront presentation. What about you, do you like IFC? Have you ever heard of IFC? If IFC died in the woods, would it make a sound? What will you be watching IFC? Anything here tickle your fancy? Let me know in the Comments.