Lena Waithe’s new comedy, Twenties, gets series order at BET for eight episodes. This is Waithe’s second project with the network following the Boomerang reboot where she serves as an executive producer.
“BET Networks is thrilled to partner once again with the creative visionary Lena Waithe on both Boomerang and Twenties, as she is without a doubt a leading relevant voice of our generation and a disruptor in her own right,” said Connie Orlando, head of programming at BET Networks. “BET is committed to the elevation of inclusive and authentic storytelling that viewers continue to expect from the brand.”
Waithe has been coming off of a high from her 2017 Emmy win on comedy writing with Netflix’s Master of None “Thanksgiving” episode which she co-wrote with Ansari. Her talent was recognized by many within the industry. Her success has allowed her to create and write for Showtime’s Chi.
Twenties was written by Waithe when she, herself, was in her early 20s. The half-hour single-camera comedy will center on Hattie, a queer black girl, who will explore life’s many challenges, dreams, and love. Hattie’s friends, Marie and Nia, who are both straight, go along for the ride.
Susan Fales-Hill is co-showrunner with Waithe who is also an executive producer for the series.
“I’m deeply grateful to Lena Waithe for dragging me out of the crypt to run her groundbreaking series about women of color who are as intelligent as they are funny, as ambitious and driven as they are confused,” said Fales-Hill. “It is exhilarating to be back in television, at BET at a moment of unprecedented multicultural inclusion in the entertainment industry.”
Waithe is excited to share what a lot of people could relate to.
“Twenties has been a project I’ve been dreaming about for as long as I can remember. I think a lot of people were interested but didn’t see the vision,” Waithe said in nod to how the comedy moved from TBS to BET. “I’m so grateful Scott Mills and Connie Orlando did. I couldn’t be more excited to deepen my relationship with BET. I know audiences have been waiting a long time for this one.”
No release date has been announced.