As Ted Danson wraps his work on NBC’s The Good Place he already has a new project lined up. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Danson, who is known for NBC’s Cheers and The Good Place, will star in the straight-to-series comedy series about, according to NBC, “a wealthy businessman who runs for mayor of Los Angeles for all the wrong reasons. Once he wins he has to figure out what he stands for, gain the respect of his staff, and connect with his teenage daughter, all while controlling the coyote population.”
The show is created and executive produced by Tina Fey, who worked on NBC’s Saturday Night Live, 30 Rock and Great News, along with her longtime producing and writing partner Robert Carlock, who worked with her on 30 Rock, Great News, and the Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. The show will be a single-camera show that will be produced under Fey’s Little Stranger banner, Bevel Gears, and 3 Arts Entertainment.
Fey and Carlock have won three Best Comedy Series Emmy awards for their work on 30 Rock as well as four Emmy Nominations for Best Comedy Series for The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. According to Variety, Fey and Carlock stated, “We are thrilled to be back home at NBC and writing for one of the network’s greatest stars of all time, Mary Steenburgen’s husband, Ted.” On Tuesday Danson earned his 13th Emmy nomination for his role in The Good Place as it comes to an end this fall. He also won two lead actor Emmys during his time on Cheers.
The series is believed to have been in the works for over a year, and it is said that Fey and Carlock had considered reuniting with 30 Rock star Alec Baldwin. Ultimately, Baldwin did not join the project as the role was specifically written for Danson.
It is still unclear when the new comedy series will air during the 2019-2020 broadcast season due to Danson finishing up the Good Place. According to Variety, the show was given a 13 episode order with Universal Television, but it is still unclear what the formal episode count will be.
NBC Entertainment Co-Chairmen, George Cheeks and Paul Telegdy, stated on Thursday, “We are so excited that this is the first NBC show we get to greenlight straight to series. It’s with talent that we know and love and who have worked on some of the most beloved shows in our network’s history. We can’t wait.”
Ted Danson stars in the final season of The Good Place which premieres Thursday night on September 19.