ABC is betting on Wet Hot American Summer co-creator and star Michael Showalter for its next sitcom. Deadline reports that the multi-camera show is called Work Married, and depicts Vermont senator Michael Sherman and his tightly-wound chief of staff Christina Kim who realize that they have no one else to turn to but each other.
Showalter has certainly been in demand lately. TBS recently picked up the Alia Shawcat-starring comedy Search Party, which he exec produced and developed with Sarah-Violet Bliss and Charles Rogers. He also has a new film premiering in March 2016 which he co-wrote and directed called Hello My Name is Doris.
In July, Netflix released Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Summer, the well-received sequel to the cult-classic comedy Wet Hot American Summer, both of which were created and co-written by Showalter and partner David Wain. The two also collaborated on last year’s rom-com parody starring Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler, They Came Together.
Related: Bob Odenkirk talks Better Call Saul season 2
While Work Married will be Showalter’s first time leading a network TV project, he has written for TV before, including episodes on ABC’s Super Fun Night as well as Adult Swim’s Children’s Hospital and Newsreaders, and the hilarious — but short-lived — Comedy Central series Michael and Michael Have Issues.
Aside from his multiple roles in the entertainment industry, Showalter also teaches screenwriting at NYU, and the prolific writer has some tips for those just starting out which he shared with The Huffington Post recently.
“I am a big proponent of writing a great outline,” said Showalter. “That way you can avoid hitting a roadblock. There is no worse feeling than writing yourself into a corner but if you’ve figured it all out in the outline then you won’t have that problem. Think about it: would an architect ever build a house without a blueprint? Just wing it? He’d get all the plumbing wrong! It is no different with screenwriting. Have a great blueprint to work from!’
Work Married is being produced by Warner Bros. TV, and is executive produced by Showalter, his writing partner Christine Lee, and Peter Principato. A release date has yet to be been announced.
