At its upfront today, Hulu unveiled its slate of original and exclusive series for summer and fall, including the previously announced animated series “The Awesomes” from “SNL” star Seth Meyers, a Western comedy called “Quick Draw” from the “10 Items or Less” team of Nancy Hower and John Lehr, a reality series about mascots and a British comedy about two office workers who get caught up in a deadly conspiracy.
Also on the schedule are the US premiere of Chris O’Dowd’s semi-autobiographical coming-of-age series “Moone Boy,” an animated comedy about parenting called “Mother Up!” featuring the voice of Eva Longoria, the all-Latino teen drama “East Los High” and the second season of Gideon Raff’s “Prisoners of War,” the Israeli drama on which “Homeland” is based.
Hulu launched daily, web-only half hour revivals of soaps “All My Children” and “One Life To Live” yesterday, and also announced today a set of “spotlight series” in development — the Mario Batali talk show “The High Road,” the weekly music series “Sundays at the Greek,” the Jay Mohr-hosted game show “Money Where Your Mouth Is” and teen drama “Love 15” — created as sponsorship vehicles.
Check out the full slate below, with descriptions and trailers courtesy of Hulu.
ORIGINAL SERIES (Produced or co-produced by Hulu)
The Awesomes
The Awesomes is an animated show for adults that combines the thrills of comic book storytelling with the irreverent and inspired comedy that is the hallmark of show co-creators Seth Meyers (“SNL”) and Michael Shoemaker (“Late Night with Jimmy Fallon”). It is the story about the greatest superhero team in history, The Awesomes, and what happens after all the most powerful members leave. The team is led by the possibly under-qualified Professor Doctor Awesome, voiced by Meyers, who is determined to bring these funny-if-flawed superheroes to glory. Meyers and Shoemaker called upon their many friends in the comedy world to voice the characters, including some of “Saturday Night Live’s” most celebrated cast and alumni Kenan Thompson, Bill Hader, and Taran Killam. This first animated Hulu Original Series is executive produced by Meyers, Shoemaker, and Broadway Video. 10 episodes.
CREDITS: A Broadway Video production in association with Hulu. Created by Seth Meyers and Michael Shoemaker, written by Seth Meyers, Michael Shoemaker, Judd Winick and Josh Weinstein, produced by Broadway Video, executive produced by Seth Meyers, Michael Shoemaker
LAUNCH: August 1, 2013
Quick Draw
From writer/director Nancy Hower and writer/star John Lehr, Quick Draw is a comedic half-hour western set in 1875 that centers on a Harvard-educated sheriff and his quest to introduce the emerging science of forensics to an unruly Kansas town. Though the citizens of Great Bend, Kansas are generally unimpressed with Sheriff Hoyle’s (Lehr) educational pedigree, they come to appreciate his sharp mind and sharper shooting as he and his reluctant Deputy Eli (Nick Brown) hunt down robbers, murderers, and the dangerous riff-raff that have plagued the town for years. The series is co-created and executive produced by Nancy Hower and John Lehr (“10 Items or Less,” “Jailbait”) and co-executive produced by Keith Raskin (“Key & Peele,” “The League”). Eight episodes.
CREDITS: Created and written by Nancy Hower and John Lehr, directed by Nancy Hower, executive produced by Nancy Hower, John Lehr, Keith Raskin
LAUNCH: Summer 2013
Behind the Mask
Behind the Mask takes viewers on a behind-the-scenes adventure into the colorful and never-before-seen world of sports mascots. Through the eyes of four dedicated performers at the high school, college, minor league and NBA pro levels, Behind the Mask takes an authentic look at the sports world’s most unsung heroes. Funny, entertaining, and at times poignant, this show tells the moving stories of these real-life Clark Kents, capturing their highs and lows, both inside and outside the suit. Behind the Mask is created by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Josh Greenbaum and produced by Occupant Entertainment (“Better Living Through Chemistry,” “The Wackness”). 10 episodes.
CREDITS: An Occupant Entertainment production in association with Hulu. Created and directed by Josh Greenbaum, produced by Felipe Marino, Joe Neurauter, Richard Naing, Kate Sharp
LAUNCH: Fall 2013
The Wrong Mans
Co-written by and co-starring Tony Award-winner James Corden (“Doctor Who,” “Gulliver’s Travels,” “Gavin & Stacey”) and Mathew Baynton (“Peep Show,” “Spy,” “Gavin & Stacey”), the series centers on Sam (Baynton), and Phil (Corden), two lowly office workers who become caught up in a deadly criminal conspiracy after Sam discovers a ringing phone at the scene of a horrific car crash. Answering this phone turns his world upside down, as he and Phil soon realize it’s up to them to step up and save the day. They are in the wrong place at the wrong time, with the wrong skills. They are The Wrong Mans. Hulu’s second co-production with BBC brokered by BBC Worldwide Americas, the series is directed and produced by Jim Field Smith (“Episodes,” “Butter,” “She’s Out of My League”) and executive produced by Mark Freeland for BBC. Six episodes.
CREDITS: A BBC and Hulu co-production brokered by BBC Worldwide Americas. Created and written by James Corden and Mathew Baynton. Directed by Jim Field Smith, executive produced by Mark Freeland
LAUNCH: Fall 2013
EXCLUSIVE SERIES (First-run U.S. window exclusive to Hulu)
Mother Up!
Mother Up! is a 13-episode, half-hour animated comedy series chronicling the misguided attempts at parenthood of Rudi Wilson (Eva Longoria), a disgraced former music exec, as she transitions from the towers of Manhattan to the carpool line of suburbia, where she finds herself alone and hopelessly underequipped to manage her two kids and new life. Bringing her street smarts and urban lifestyle to the suburbs, Rudi confronts the endless challenges of parenthood with a series of misguided improvised solutions, putting her life on the line like never before. Eva Longoria (“Desperate Housewives”) and Mass Animation’s Yair Landau (“Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs”) and Michael Shipley (“Family Guy,” “American Dad”) are executive producers. The series was developed by Rogers Media and co-produced by Breakthrough Entertainment and Bardel Entertainment, in association with Mass Animation. Mother Up! premieres on Hulu and Hulu Plus in Fall 2013. 13 episodes.
CREDITS: A Breakthrough Entertainment and Bardel Entertainment co-production, in association with Mass Animation and Hulu. Created by Marnie Nir and Katie Torpey, developed by Michael Shipley and Executive Produced by Eva Longoria, Michael Shipley, Susan Purcell, Yair Landau.
LAUNCH: Fall 2013
Prisoners of War
Written and directed by Gideon Raff, this nine-time Israeli Emmy Award-winning series follows the journey of two soldiers as they return to their families after 17 years in an enemy prison. Uri and Nimrode struggle to fit back into society and viewers watch as each makes an effort to restore old relationships and initiate new relationships. As they attempt to start their lives free from captivity, they go through a number of examinations and questionings by a military psychologist. Before long it is discovered that their stories do not match and an undercover investigation ensues. At the same time of this investigation, Uri and Nimrode are on a quest for answers tied to their own captivity. In the second season, the secret continues to be unraveled, but more mystery and unanswered questions are now added to the equation. Starring Yael Abecassis, Mili Avital, Yoram Tolledano, Assi Cohen and Ishai Golan, all episodes will be available exclusively on Hulu and Hulu Plus from Keshet International. 14 episodes.
CREDITS: A Keshet International production. Created by Gideon Raff, produced by Liat Ben Asuly
LAUNCH: May 28, 2013
Moone Boy
Moone Boy is a warm family comedy series about a young boy growing up in a chaotic and creative household in late 1980s Ireland. A semi-autobiographical series written by and starring Chris O’Dowd (“Bridesmaids,” “Girls”) as the imaginary friend of 11-year-old Martin, the youngest child in the large, loud Moone family. Headed by Martin’s songwriter father, who longs to be an artist and his frazzled mother, this is a family with a lot of love where everyone tends to pull in different directions. Martin has a unique view of life, dealing with enterprising school bullies with the help of his imaginary friend, who also narrates his adventures. But while most boys would dream up a superhero sidekick, Martin’s pal is a man in his mid-30s with the most common name in Ireland. Moone Boy is a Sprout Pictures, Baby Cow, Hot Cod Productions and Grand Pictures production made available to Hulu and Hulu Plus from BBC Worldwide Americas. Six episodes.
CREDITS: A Sprout Pictures, Baby Cow, Hot Cod Productions and Grand Pictures production. Created by Chris O’Dowd, written by Chris O’Dowd and Nick Vincent Murphy, directed by Declan Lowney, produced by Ted Dowd, executive produced by Henry Normal, Gina Carter, Paul Donovan, Chris O’Dowd
LAUNCH: July 10, 2013
East Los High
East Los High is not your typical high school. Dance, sex, romance and mystery are at the heart of this inner city school in East L.A. where two teenage cousins, Jessie, a 16-year-old virgin, and Maya, a troubled runaway with a violent past, fall in love with Jacob, a popular football player. With this forbidden love triangle, Maya, Jessie and Jacob, along with their close friends, must face true-to-life decisions throughout a turbulent year that will mark their lives forever. A Hulu Exclusive Series, “East Los High” features an all Latino cast, director, writers and creators—many hailing from East L.A. More than 15 leading public health organizations such as Advocates for Youth, Voto Latino, California Family Health Council and Legacy LA, among others, advised on the scripts and content to address teen issues related to relationships and sexuality in a meaningful way. “East Los High” is the first English-language drama series made for this under served audience. The series is available exclusively to Hulu and Hulu Plus. 24 episodes.
CREDITS: Produced by Population Media Center in association with Prajna Productions, Into Action Films, and The Alchemists.
LAUNCH: June 3, 2013
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