TBS greenlights new original comedy People of Earth, starring Wyatt Cenac
TBS has greenlit People of Earth, a new original comedy about a support group for alien abductees from Emmy-winning executive producers Conan O’Brien (“CONAN”), Greg Daniels (“The Office,” “Parks and Recreation”) and Jeff Ross (“CONAN,” “Eagleheart”), along with David Kissinger (“Eagleheart”) and Larry Sullivan. People of Earth was created by David Jenkins, who penned the pilot and serves as series co-executive producer.
The comedy’s ensemble cast includes three-time Emmy winner Wyatt Cenac (“The Daily Show,” “Wyatt Cenac: Brooklyn”), Ana Gasteyer (“Saturday Night Live,” “Suburgatory”), Oscar Nuñez (“The Office,” “Benched”), Michael Cassidy (Argo, “Men at Work”), Alice Wetterlund (The Interview, “Silicon Valley”), Luka Jones (Her, The Campaign), Brian Huskey (Neighbors, This Is the End), Nancy Lenehan (“The New Adventures of Old Christine,” “Catch Me if You Can”), Tracee Chimo (“Orange is the New Black,” The Five-Year Engagement), Da’Vine Joy Randolph (Selfie, The Angriest Man in Brooklyn), Björn Gustafsson (Spy, Kung Fury) and Ken Hall (Patch Town, Straight Man). TBS has ordered 10 episodes of People of Earth from Conan’s Conaco LLC in association with Warner Horizon Television. The premiere date will be announced later.
People of Earth centers on skeptical journalist Ozzie Graham (Cenac), who investigates a support group to write about the member’s supposed alien encounters. The more he digs into their oddball claims, the more he realizes a semblance of truth to their stories and possibly even signs that point to his own alien abduction. The onetime outsider now finds himself a part of this eclectic group of misfits, all the while struggling with the idea of knowing that life could exist beyond our world.
Gina Morrison (Ana Gasteyer), a part-time therapist, runs the support group. Her regulars include Kelly Grady (Alice Wetterlund), an obliviously attractive goofball; Gerry Johnson (Luka Jones), an amiable social dropout, tollbooth worker and enthusiastic expert on all things alien; Richard Shenk (Brian Huskey), a tech company employee convinced his wife is held captive by aliens; Margaret Flood (Nancy Lenehan), a retiree taking full advantage of her newfound sexual freedom at a retirement community; Chelsea Healey (Tracee Chemo), a model housewife with a dark side; Yvonne Watson (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), a successful door-to-door cosmetics saleswoman; Don the White (Björn Gustafsson), a tall barista with a ponytail, alabaster skin and what some might call an otherworldly capacity for positive thinking; and Jeff the Grey (Ken Hall), an extremely pragmatic guy who’s ready and willing to serve as logistics manager for any potential alien invaders.
Gina’s support group meets in the community room of Our Lady of Sorrows in the small town of Beacon, renting the space through Father Doug (Oscar Nuñez). Also playing a role in Ozzie’s life is his gregarious boss, Jonathan Walsh (Michael Cassidy), who harbors an even greater secret of his own.
“Having Greg Daniels executive-produce and direct a project for us at such an early stage in the network’s evolution is huge. His keen ability to assemble a brilliant ensemble cast has obviously worked well in the past,” said Brett Weitz, executive vice president of original programming for TBS. “Since the launch of CONAN, which has been a brand beacon for TBS for more than five years, we’ve been searching for just the right sophisticated and funny scripted comedy series to develop with our partners at Conaco. I believe we found that in this wonderfully original script by David Jenkins.”
