EXCLUSIVE: In a move that proves Hollywood is officially out of original ideas, Ben Schwartz’s Funny or Die creation, The Earliest Show, is being repackaged into a TV series. Because if you can’t sell it the first time, just slap a fresh coat of paint on it and try again, right?
Schwartz, the man who made “Parks and Recreation” slightly less sad, is not only writing and directing this half-hour comedy series; he’s also starring in it. He’s teamed up with Lauren Lapkus, who is returning to her role from the original online shenanigans. Because why cast someone new when you can just rehash the old and call it nostalgia?
Amplify Pictures, in their unending quest to drain every last drop of creativity from the well of indie TV, has commissioned a full season of scripts. They’re rolling out the cash to finance this series independently, proving that you don’t necessarily need a network or a clue to produce something. They previously blessed us with Sleep King, a comedy crime thriller that, quite frankly, has a title that sounds like a bad nap time story.
Set your alarms for 3 a.m. sharp because The Earliest Show takes us behind the scenes of America’s earliest live morning spectacle. Schwartz and Lapkus star as Josh and Sam, the dynamic duo of chaos in a quaint Upstate New York town. Just what the world needs: more early-morning chaos, because who doesn’t want to start their day off by witnessing humorous breakdowns in real-time?
Both Schwartz and Lapkus received Emmy nominations for their comedic performances during the original stint, which ran for six glorious episodes back in 2016—because six episodes are basically an entire legacy in internet time.
Schwartz is the mastermind behind this project—creator, writer, and director, all while somehow managing to serve as the executive producer. He’s joined by Amplify’s Joe Lewis and a gaggle of other producers who are undoubtedly wishing they’d picked a different profession after reading the latest script draft.
Amplify has chosen the daring route of fully financing this indie venture without the crutch of a network or distributor—what a bold choice! Once the series is completed, they’ll sell it off like a used car at a discount, proving once again that every piece of content truly is a commodity.
“Comedy thrives on risk, and Ben is one of the most fearless comedic voices today,” said Amplify CEO Lewis, undoubtedly while clutching a stress ball. He praised The Earliest Show as “bold and inventive,” solidifying the theory that in the world of indie TV, “wildly original” means they can throw darts at ideas and any resulting chaos counts as content.
Schwartz is also busy being the voice of Sonic the Hedgehog, which has made a staggering amount of money—proving that kids will pay big bucks for a blue CGI animal. Meanwhile, Lapkus is juggling multiple roles, including her much-anticipated return in The Big Bang Theory spinoff, keeping her bank account as overflowing as the comedy genre itself.
So, as we gear up for yet another self-referential comedy series about a morning show that starts earlier than most people’s bedtimes, let us remember this: in a world where originality is in short supply, standing in the shadow of past successes is the new creative trend. Grab your coffee, or maybe two, because we’re going to need it.
