NBC is looking to revive the variety comedy genre, with a Maya Rudolph pilot already in the works. Now, it’s being reported that Anchorman star David Koechner is going to create and star in another variety and sketch comedy pilot for the network.
Koechner, a Saturday Night Live alum, will executive produce the show with Lou Wallach, along with Brillstein Entertainment Partners’ Alex Murray and Tim Sarkes, reports Deadline, which first reported the news. The show, which has only received a pilot order, will be developed by Universal TV’s Alternative Studio under an overall deal with Wallach.
The actor, who plays sports anchor Champ Kind in Anchorman and the sequel, told Deadline that he is “thrilled” to work with NBC again. “As a husband and father of five, my vision is for us to create a show that engages everyone,” he told the site. “I want it to make a mom, dad and grandmother laugh, while the 13- to 19-year-old stands behind the couch peeking over his iPhone, equally amused by the content.”
NBC has been getting creative with programming as of late, with the Sound of Music live special as a prime example. The network already has a Maya Rudolph variety show in the works, which may begin as soon as February with a special during the Winter Olympics.
Koechner also had a recurring role on NBC’s The Office and starred in an A&E pilot this year, although the network did not go forward with it. He can be seen in Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, which opened today.
He told Parade that his next projects are Cheap Thrills, which will be out in March, and David Cross’ Hits, which will be screened at Sundance.
image: Wikimedia Commons
