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IFC has greenlit original scripted comedy series The Spoils Of Babylon, produced by Funny or Die, and The Birthday Boys, a sketch comedy series executive produced by Bob Odenkirk and Ben Stiller who first worked together on Saturday Night Live and The Ben Stiller Show.
The Spoils Of Babylon, which has received a six-episode order, is an adaptation of a best-selling novel by fictional famous author Eric Jonrosh (played by Ferrell). The blowsy century-spanning saga chronicles the sexy and dramatic lives of a family who made their fortune in the oil business. Andrew Steele (Saturday Night Live) co-wrote the script with Matt Piedmont (Casa de mi Padre) who is directing. The two executive produce with Ferrell and McKay. “This is a crazy and maybe even a stupid idea,” said Will Ferrell. “IFC is either really courageous or really stupid which makes them the perfect partner for us.”
The Birthday Boys, which has a 10-episode order, features the Los Angeles comedy group of the same name (UCB Theatre Los Angeles) along with Odenkirk. The series is in the vein of absurd/silly/smart/funny variety shows (Mr. Show, Monty Python), featuring sketches that twist real-life moments and cultural touchstones. An early episode tackles such issues as eggs, toilet paper and computers. “The Birthday Boys are too good to just be making viral videos. They are funny enough to fill time between episodes of Portlandia,” said Ben Stiller. “I’m thrilled to be working with Bob Odenkirk again on a TV project. We try to do something every 20 years or so.” Said Bob Odenkirk, “The Birthday Boys are a super funny and fresh new comic voice. I will try not to slow them down.” The Birthday Boys comedy group includes Jefferson Dutton, Dave Ferguson, Mike Hanford, Tim Kalpakis, Matt Kowalick, Mike Mitchell and Chris VanArtsdalen. Stiller, Odenkirk, Debbie Liebling, Stuart Cornfeld and Mike Rosenstein of Red Hour will executive produce. The series is written and co-directed by The Birthday Boys, repped by Principato Young and attorney Lev Ginsburg, and Bob Odenkirk.
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The funniest thing to come out of IFC will Lindsay Lohan’s new movie.
Don’t have high expectations. Has there ever been a more disappointing website than Funny or Die?
Exactly. It will be a sketch that overstays its welcome by 20 minutes and 5 weeks. IFC offers things you can already find on podcasts and websites so I guess the channel is for people who don’t have access to the net?
You lose all credibility as a judge of relevant comedy when you refer to the internet as ‘the net’
I read somewhere else this thing is like a parody of THORN BIRDS and WINDS OF WAR so I guess irrelevance is the new relevance. I have never seen either of those. Sounds like lots of effort just to get some Will Ferrell cameo time.
The old “new” relevance has just become the new relevance: this sounds funny BECAUSE it is modeled on an outdated format. Seems to be the point. Could be great if they pull it off!
Yo, Hanky – IFC and IFC Films are two different entities (owned by the same company).
Spoils of Babylon… 70′s-style mini-series/comedic There Will Be Blood? Intriguing/weird!
These shows look great. Well done IFC.
These big names will generate lots of publicity and hopefully more viewers for a low rated network. It also helps that both of these production companies haven’t been able to get shows on the big places like ABC or Fox but based on the IFC track record I would expect the sketch show to go for maybe just two seasons and six for the other thing. Portlandia is still the only show to stick around.
The Birthday Boys are genuises, can’t wait for this show.
Not crazy about that Hanford guy though.
LOL!!!!
PASS.
Is it safe to karf?!!!
KARF!!!
IFC creating venue for alt-formats in comedy. Looking forward to these. Portlandia is just a series of sketches around a theme but works… Keep taking chances IFC.
The Birthday Boys are fantastic, and Odenkirk has really taken them under his wing. What a great idea — it’s as bold as the type of stuff SCTV used to do, back in the day.
I can’t wait
Stiller and Odenkirk are so awesome i cant wait for this!!!!!!
Stiller show and Mr Show are so funny!!!
Great news for women in comedy!
Now THAT is funny. What a sausagefest.
Comedy Central and Adult Swim has something that IFC does not – ratings
IFC is going about trying to be successful wrong.
Did they just substitute the Will Ferrell in the “St. James St. James Presents” show they bought last year?
No. This is a ripoff of Garth Marenghi’s Dark Places.
“St. James St. James Presents” was definitely inspired by Garth Marenghi (which was inspired by Acorn Antiques – youtube it). Ferrell’s one is basically the same idea but with Will Ferrell in it.
Gotcha. LOVED Acorn Antiques btw. Haven’t seen it in years. Wonder what happened with the St. James St. James show then? Guess it didn’t star Will Ferrell in it so they passed. Rough business. Names always win out. Nice to see someone give a break to that Will Ferrell guy. hahaha
“St. James St. James Presents” inspired by Dos Equis’s World’s Most Interesting Man campaign and Will Ferrell’s James Lipton…
Can’t wait to hear from these fresh comedy voices…not (for those of you who don’t recognize sarcasm)
WILL F IS SO 10 YEARS AGO – UGHH
HE IS A BIG FAT BORE
Awesome! The combination of Andrew Steele and Matt Piedmont is as funny as The Menendez brothers. For the 11 people who saw Casa Di Mi Padre (without walking out in the middle) clearly Piedmont will bring his talenltess comedic voice to this project.
Matt Piedmont won Sundance, dude. Unique vision, hilarious. Loved Casa De Mi Padre. Not for everyone — but genius w many cult fans.
Piedmont is awesome! Love his stuff. This should be great!!!
I read how this is a good time for the Dolans to sell AMC and that a company that would buy it could rebrand the lower rated channels like this one and another one. I wish they would return this to what it was and what the initials stood for, a channel devoted to showing independent films uncut and without commercials.
I saw that “St. James St. James Presents” at NYTVF. I think it won the IFC deal. They probably bought the premise and swapped in Will Ferrell.
The creator of “St.James St.James Presents” is posting on his Facebook page how angry is about this.
St. James St. James has a pretty decent fan base from doing a lot of cult films. I bet they’re enraged. He uses twitter and Facebook a lot to promote himself, so this isn’t shocking. Nor is it shocking that a network would take an idea and hire a Will Ferrell.