ITV2 has picked up the CBS comedy The Great Indoors it has been announced today. The deal covers exclusive, first window broadcast and VOD rights.
“We are delighted to work with ITV2 to bring U.K. audiences a comedy that spans the generations,” said Stephen Tague, Senior Vice President, Europe for CBS Studios International. “The Great Outdoors combines a cast of fresh and experienced talent, with a creative team that has worked on some of television’s best known comedies, for a dynamic take on the modern media workplace.”
The show stars Community’s Joel McHale as Jack, a renowned adventure reporter for an outdoor magazine who must adapt to the times when he becomes the desk-bound boss to a group of millennials in the digital department of the publication. Jack has led a thrilling “outdoorsy” life exploring the edges of the earth while chronicling his adventures for Outdoor Limits. But his globe-trotting days end when the magazine’s charismatic founder and outdoor legend, Roland, played by Stephen Fry, announces the publication’s move to web-only and assigns Jack to supervise their online team of “journalists.”
Jack’s eager 20-something colleagues include Clark (Christopher Mintz-Plasse – Kickass, Superbad), a tech nerd who knows everything about surviving on Mars and a zombie apocalypse; Emma (Christine Ko), their social media expert who views Jack as the human version of dial-up; and Mason (Shaun Brown), a hipster-lumberjack who hasn’t spent any actual time outside.
Jack reports to Roland’s daughter, Brooke (Susannah Fielding – I Want My Wife Back, Pete Versus Life), an ex-flame who caters to the sensitive staffers by giving them all trophies just for working hard. Jack’s best friend, Eddie (Chris Williams – Silicon Valley, Californication), runs the local dive bar that’s popular with the younger set and helps Jack “decode” his co-workers. Jack is baffled by the world of click-bait and listicles, but if he’s patient, he may be able to show these kids that the outside world is much more than something on a screen, if he doesn’t beat them with their selfie-sticks first.
“The Great Indoors was hands down my favourite sitcom pilot for the new US season, successfully treading the line between sweet and sharp, warm and witty,” commented Sasha Breslau, ITV Acquisitions Manager, and from the bits I’ve seen, it does look like one to watch. Especially for anyone over 35, who’s worked in an office with Millennials… ;)
The Great Indoors doesn’t air in the US till Oct 27, so we may see it here in November, or could be ITV2 wait until the new year. We’ll update the The Great Indoors uk tv air date page when we have more information.
