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More local fare coming to Subscription TV

The Comedy Channel is to develop two projects that were pitched at the recent Screen Producers Conference.

I Can’t Believe It’s Not Better is the working title of a comedy series that follows the writers, actors, producers and network executives involved in the painful birth of the first season of a sketch show.

The pitch by comedy writers Sean Condon and Rob Hibbert (great title, guys!) won the $25,000 development money from the Foxtel initiative Comedy Gold.

It has also granted funding to
the runner-up, Jason Gann (Wilfred, The Wedge) for Jason and The Residents. A comedy that follows the rites of passage of a budding rock star as he fulfils his work-for-dole obligations at an aged-care facility. Sounds like a hoot!

Gann is also developing scripts for a potential second season of Wilfred.

Meanwhile Nickelodeon has approved $25,000 to writer Robert Greenberg (Dogstar, Round the Twist, Rock It!) to develop Bridget Goddess. He described the animated series thus: “Bridget knows she’s an ancient Egyptian Goddess but convincing the rest of the world that she’s more than a dung beetle is her big problem. Thy kingdom come thy will be dung.”

Press Release:
A comedy set behind the scenes of a television sketch show is being developed by THE COMEDY CHANNEL after its creators fought off stiff competition to win a $25,000 development grant.

The series, which has a working title I Can’t Believe It’s Not Better, follows the writers, actors, producers and network executives involved in the painful birth of the first season of a sketch show, deconstructed and explored as never before.

I Can’t Believe It’s Not Better was created by comedy writers Sean Condon and Rob Hibbert, who will now develop their concept for THE COMEDY CHANNEL.

Announcing the winner at the SPAA Conference, FOXTEL’S Director of Television and Marketing, Brian Walsh said he was delighted to be able to support Australian comedy in such a practical way.

“THE COMEDY CHANNEL is Australia ’s only 24-hour channel dedicated to comedy, bringing you the best comedy from Australia and around the world,” Mr Walsh said. “We are thrilled to support this innovative, local comedy.”

THE COMEDY CHANNEL, which is owned and operated by FOXTEL, launched its Comedy Gold initiative as part of this year’s SPAA Conference, inviting writers, performers and producers to submit a concept of up to three-pages in length and visual materials of up to three minutes.

The winner receives $25,000 to develop their concept.

I Can’t Believe It’s Not Better was chosen from six finalists, judged by Mr Walsh, comedian Julia Morris and FOXTEL’S Head of Entertainment, Graham Burrells.

THE COMEDY CHANNEL has also granted the runner-up, Jason Gann funding to develop the pilot comedy series, Jason and The Residents. A comedy that follows the rites of passage of a budding rock star as he fulfils his work-for-dole obligations at an aged-care facility.

The Screen Producers Association of Australia (SPAA) Conference is the premiere business and networking event for film, television and new media producers.

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