‘Star Trek Into Darkness’ $22M Friday For Lower … 
Finally, Cannes Dealing! Radius-TWC Nabs Director’s … 
Hammond On Cannes: Wet Fest’s Official Competition … 
‘Vampire Academy’ Adds ‘Modern … 
RATINGS RAT RACE: ‘Shark Tank’ Finale Up, … 
Cannes: Worldview Options Andrew Dominik’s Marilyn … 
UPFRONTS 2013: The Overachievers 
‘Mike & Molly’ Creator Mark Roberts To … 
Carey Mulligan, Matthias Schoenaerts Set For … 
Hammond On Cannes: Weinstein Brings Out Stars For 2013 … 
Cannes: Fake Gunshots Interrupt Canal Plus Live Broadcast … 
‘The Great Gatsby’ Starts With $5.4M … 
Cannes: Music Box Snags Competition’s ‘Michael … 
UPDATE: Amazon Studios Begins Pilot Pickups; … 
Bruce Rosenblum Bids Classy Goodbye 
RATINGS RAT RACE UPDATE: ‘American Idol’ Hits … 
UPDATE: ‘Iron Man 3′ Box Office Crosses $1B … 
Upfront Market: Will Auto Makers Subsidize TV … 
Cannes: Thief Makes Off With $1M+ In Chopard Jewelry Meant … 
‘Scandal’ Finale On Small Screen And Onstage At … 
‘Modern Family’ Gets Cable Makeover For Launch … 
Joe Utichi contributes to Deadline’s UK coverage.
Anger Management scribe Bob Kushell has crossed the Atlantic to the UK for a new BBC Three sitcom set around the world of assisted suicide. Known for taking more risks than conservative stablemates BBC One and Two, the digital channel aimed at the 16-34 year-old demo has ordered a six-episode season of the 30-minute show Way To Go, about “three ordinary guys who find themselves forced by an extraordinary set of circumstances into setting up an assisted-suicide business”. Veteran comedy writer Kushell, whose writing credits Stateside include The Simpsons and Third Rock from the Sun, says he’s thrilled to follow in the footsteps of British comic giants like Monty Python, Black Adder and Fawlty Towers. “There has been no bigger thrill in my life than to have a show on the BBC.” The Inbetweeners‘ Blake Harrison will star alongside Ben Heathcote and Marc Wootton. Jon Plowman, the exec producer behind Absolutely Fabulous and Twenty Twelve, thinks the show deals with a difficult issue respectfully. “Working with a really great U.S. creator and a transatlantic writing team also brings us just a whiff of the way in which their shows find a different tone for mixing comedy, drama and death.”
Loading ...
Bob is a class act. Glad to hear it!
After working on Anger Management I’m sure this subject is close to his heart.
A sitcom about assisted suicide? What is their definition of handling it respectfully. I don’t see anything funny about it. Perhaps I’ve had too many deaths in my family to see or have an open mind about it. Time will tell……
Bob is an amazing talent and it makes total sense that he’d do a show for the UK where they value sophisticated comedy writing. Cant wait to see the show! Will it be on in the US also?
BBC3 shows utter rubbish. The channel is cursed with awful comedy. The kids I know would rather watch YouTube.
I can’t fathom in what sophisticated element of British Society, (even having been produced and/or written by amazing talent); assisted suicide can be presented as a sitcom. I’m not even certain that this attempt at putting a humorous spin on such a serious and still hotly contested subject will ever have an appeal.
I work a great deal with the British and you need to understand their national tendency towards black, dark, cynical humor. They will laugh at and find something funny in subjects and situations that others don’t; call it a coping mechanism, if you like, but they have this piratical streak, which they call “taking the p*ss.” (My censorship to keep the moderator happy). To give you an example, during the Falklands conflict a soldier had his leg blown off, he shouts out, “I’ve lost my leg!” His comrade shouts back, “No you haven’t, it’s over here!”
In UK terms this sitcom could very well work. What I do wonder about is why, good as Bob Kushell is, the BBC is bringing in an American. The mention of “transatlantic writing team” suggests UK writers will be involved as well, but there is the possibility of the series then pulling the needed punches for the UK and splashing down in mid ocean. We shall see.
Sounds more intriguing than half the moronic and meaningless crap US comedy currently airing or being mooted. I’ll give it a look.
Ask any writer who’s worked with Bob Kushell at American Dad or other shows and they will all say the same thing: Kushell is an egomaniacal, sociopathic hack who dreams of being on camera, but isn’t funny or attractive enough.
Bob Kushell is the funniest guy ever! Simpsons! 3rd Rock! Malcolm in the Middle! Normal Ohio! Everything this guy touches turns to gold! He’s got the Midas Touch, but of comedy! The only thing that could make this better is if Jesse L. Martin agrees to star in it! Can you imagine the teaming of those two? Watch out roof — here come ratings!
BBC Three has plenty of good shows. Cuckoo is freaking hilarious. Looking forward to Way to Go, as I’m a big fan of Blake Harrison.
All of yinz are missing the point.
The only relevant question is: If this series tanks … will they pull the plug on it?
As the Brits say, “Brilliant!” This sounds like a double-decker bus to funny! I don’t know why everybody’s so worried about the assisted suicide thing. It’s not like the actors involved are actually going to commit suicide, you know! It’s called “acting”! You should look it up! And let’s not forget, this is the guy who discovered Tracey Morgan for the “Tracey Morgan Show.” Now he’s so great in “30 Rock!” So this will definitely be great, too!
There’s no “way to go” but up for this! The next “way to go” is the American broadcast networks, who will now learn the “way to go” is with homegrown American talent.
Kushell is a VERY funny guy. And I’m sure he’ll have the last laugh when it’s a big hit in the UK and then some American network buys the remake rights. Get ‘em, Bob!
I see Bob fell for the old BBC 3 hoax. I can’t wait to see the look on his face when he steps off the plane in Heathrow, suitcase in hand, and the cab driver tells him there’s no such thing. Bob: “But I just sold my house!!!”