HBO Max Orders Single-Camera Jean Smart Comedy

HBO Max has greenlit 10 episodes of the single-camera Untitled Aniello, Downs, Statsky project, created and written by “Broad City” alums Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello and Jen Statsky, and executive produced by the trio alongside Michael Schur. Jean Smart (“Designing Women,” “Frasier”) has been cast to star in the comedy series, which will explore a dark mentorship that forms between a Las Vegas diva (Smart) and an entitled, outcast 25-year-old.

“When this dream team came to us, we jumped at the chance to develop this project, which features two complex female characters working in comedy and facing the professional and personal challenges that come along with it. When Jean Smart came aboard, we were even more delighted to move forward,” said Sarah Aubrey, Head of Original Content, HBO Max. “We’re excited to be working with this winning combination of talent and confident the show will fit perfectly into our robust slate of HBO Max Originals.”

The series is executive produced by Downs and Aniello via their Paulilu banner, Statsky via First Thought Productions, as well as Emmy winners Michael Schur (“The Good Place”) via Fremulon, David Miner (“The Good Place”) for 3 Arts Entertainment, and Morgan Sackett (“Veep”). Universal TV, a division of NBCUniversal, is the studio.