FremantleMedia International Showcases Broad Comedy Slate

CANNES: FremantleMedia International is highlighting a diverse new comedy slate at MIPTV, including two original multiplatform shows from Vuguru, two new British series and season three of Web Therapy.

Fetching and Hollywood Help are the first two titles to come out of the original programming partnership announced at MIPCOM between FremantleMedia International and Vuguru. Customizable for linear and non-linear platforms, they are available in a range of time lengths from 5-minute to 30-minute episodes, or as a 1×90 minute TV movie.

Fetching, created by Amy B. Harris (The Carrie Diaries, Sex and the City, Gossip Girl) for AOL, tells the story of Liza, who ditches her successful fiancé and lucrative law career to pursue her dream of owning a doggie-day care. Hollywood Help, created by Cheryl Hines (Curb Your Enthusiasm) and Rachael Harris (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Hangover) and written by Julie Welch, follows a struggling actor looking for his first big break in Hollywood.
 
David Ellender, the CEO of FremantleMedia International and Kids & Family Entertainment, said, “With viewer habits continuing to evolve it’s vital that we are offering flexible, adaptable content for all buyers. And it has to be good content—viewers are not only consuming differently but they’re very savvy and won’t settle for less just because they’re on non-traditional platforms. Vuguru is proving that great content and great talent is increasingly coming from multiplatform studios.”

Cecile Frot-Coutaz, the CEO of FremantleMedia, noted the importance of the company’s digital strategy at a press breakfast this morning. Frot-Coutaz also pointed out that the company is starting to craft a digital strategy for the entire company. Digital platforms are starting to commission programming, so FremantleMedia has to not only produce broad audience family programming but also start to provide "really targeted programming for different ecosystems and different economies."
 
FremantleMedia International is also showcasing Count Arthur Strong, a Retort (part of FremantleMedia UK) and Komedia Entertainment production with Delightful Industries for the BBC, and Anna & Katy, a character-driven sketch show executive produced by Ash Atalla. Rounding out the comedy highlights is season three of Lisa Kudrow’s Web Therapy. The Showtime series has sold into 18 networks across 170 territories, including Turner Broadcasting channels across Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands; HBO Nordic for Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland; Viacom 18 for India; Turner for Latin America and FIC Channel Group for Asia.

“Our comedy slate for MIPTV includes an exciting range of titles across both traditional and the slightly more innovative forms of comedy," Ellender added. "With an impressive catalogue already performing well with buyers and viewers alike, and the talented producers and A-class stars associated with our upcoming comedy content, we are confident that our offering will continue to get laughs from audiences worldwide.”