Comedy series Superstore is in for a big change for its upcoming season 5, according to Deadline. Justin Spitzer, the creator, is stepping down as showrunner. Spitzer, Johnathan Green, and Gabe Miller have renewed their overall deals with Universal TV, which is the studio behind the hit comedy series. Since the series launch, Spitzer has served as showrunner. However, while he works to develop new projects, Green and Miller will take over showrunner duties.
“He is leaving Superstore in the very capable hands of Gabe and Jonathan who, along with America, Ben and the entire cast and crew, will continue to deliver the high-quality show we’ve all come to love,” Pearlena Igbokwe, President of Universal Television said. Spitzer spent seven season writing and producing for Emmy-winning show The Office while Miller and Green have worked as executive producers and writers for the series since season one. The two also wrote for The Late Show with David Letterman and did some producing on The Office and The Mindy Project.
“I’m excited to develop new projects with Pearlena and everyone else at Universal Television, which has been my home for the last 13 years,” said Spitzer. “Gabe and Jonathan have been running Superstore with me from the beginning, and there’s no one I have more faith in to continue guiding it into the future,” he also added.
Superstore has solid ratings averaging a 1.4 rating in ages 18-49 and 4.4 million viewers overall. The show airs on Thursday meaning it competes with Grey’s Anatomy and NFL Thursday Night Football. Digitally the show is also doing well. The series is centered on Amy (America Ferrera), the store’s most dependable employee. She could be considered the market’s backbone. Garrett (Colton Dunn) is satyrical, while Mateo (Nico Santos) is considered the ambitious one.
“I can’t thank Justin enough for giving us one of the smartest comedies on television and I’m grateful we now get to pick his very fertile brain for new ideas,” Igbokwe said.