Jack Black And Shine America To Produce Paranormal Web Comedy Series For Yahoo
Production has started on Ghost Ghirls, a Web comedy series from Shine America and Jack Black’s Electric Dynamite Prods, which is set to debut in spring 2013 on Yahoo! Screen.
Black, as well as Jake Johnson, Molly Shannon, Jason Schwartzman and other celebrities, are set to make cameo appearances in Ghost Ghirls, a comedic take on popular paranormal procedurals like Medium and Ghost Whisperer. The project, originally developed as a TV series for Syfy last year, chronicles the antics of two young female ghostbusters, played by Amanda Lund and Maria Blasucci (two-women improv show BEANS!) — a pair of investigators attempting to solve the mysteries behind paranormal phenomena. At the same time, they attempt to convince their clients, other-worldly visitors and themselves that they are legit.
Ghost Ghirls was created by Jeremy Konner, Lund and Blasucci, who also serve as executive producers alongside Electric Dynamite’s Black and Priyanka Mattoo. Konner (Funny or Die’s Drunk History) is directing the series. “Ghost Ghirls is the funniest idea for a TV show that we’ve seen since I’ve been in the business,” says Jack Black. “Jeremy Konner is an electrifying director, and Amanda and Maria are dynamite comedic talents.”
This marks one of the first high-profile digital projects for Shine America since former NBCUniversal top digital executive Vivi Zigler joined the company as President, Shine 360° & Digital in August. “Ghost Ghirls is a rare creative concept that brings together some of Hollywood’s best and established, as well as up-and-coming performers and storytellers,” she said.
Female paranormal investigators are popular this season. Lifetime is developing Paranormal Housewives, a light drama executive produced by Julia Roberts. Black and Konner previously worked together on Drunk History, the Derek Waters-created series of shorts, which Konner directed. In it, comedians get very, very drunk, then re-tell their favorite stories from history with re-enactment. Black starred in two shorts as Ben Franklin. Another short, Drunk History: Douglass & Lincoln starring Will Ferrell and Don Cheadle, won the Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. Drunk History shorts also aired as part of the HBO series Funny Or Die Presents, exec produced by Ferrell. WME reps all parties involved. Konner, Lund and Blasucci are managed by 3 Arts.
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