Pop Picks Up Eugene Levy Comedy ‘Schitt’s Creek’ As First Original Scripted Series

Pop, the soon-to-be-rebranded TVGN, has picked up Schitt’s Creek, the 13-episode Canadian comedy series created by and starring Eugene Levy and his son Daniel Levy. Schitt’s Creek, which marks the first original scripted series in the history of TVGN, will be part of Pop’s launch slate, joining a half dozen unscripted and docu-series announced earlier this month. Schitt’s Creek, which was commissioned by Canada’s CBC in February, centers on a formerly filthy rich video store magnate Johnny Rose (Eugene Levy), his soap star wife Moira, played by Levy’s frequent on-screen partner Catherine O’Hara, and their two kids, über-hipster son David (Daniel Levy) and socialite daughter Alexis (Annie Murphy), who suddenly find themselves broke. They are forced to live in Schitt’s Creek, a small depressing town they once bought as a joke. Co-starring in the show is Chris Elliott. “It took a very special project like Schitt’s Creek to bring me back to television,” said Eugene Levy. “I’m thrilled to be reunited on-screen with my dear friend Catherine O’Hara and to have the opportunity to work with the wonderfully hilarious Chris Elliot, the up-and-coming Annie Murphy, and my son Dan, who is amazingly talented and a great partner—working together has only made ME look better.”

Earlier this month, the Levys were at MIPCOM promoting Schitt’s Creek, which is distributed by ITV Studios Global Entertainment. At the ITV Studios-Deadline party, the duo spoke more about the project and working together. Here is trailer for the show:

“This show answers the question — what would the Kardashians do if they woke up one day, completely broke?,” said Brad Schwartz, President of Entertainment and Media, POP. “Not only is this project a clever cultural commentary where the 1 percent is suddenly the 99, but it fits right in the heart of everything we’re building at our new network. It’s a dream cast, it’s hysterically funny, and it’s sure to pop.”

Schitt’s Creek, produced by Not A Real Company Productions, will premiere on POP and CBC in early 2015. (CBC has announced the premiere date as January 13.) Eugene Levy, Daniel Levy, Andrew Barnsley, Fred Levy and Anonymous Content’s Ben Feigin executive produce.