Leanne Morgan’s current tour is called I start nowThe 58-year-old comedian does justice to this with a comedy series and two other specials on Netflix. The streamer has given a 16-episode order to an untitled multi-cam sitcom, starring Morgan in her TV acting debut and executive produced by top comedy showrunner Chuck Lorre (The Kominsky method, Bookmaker). Additionally, Netflix has picked up two more stand-up specials from Morgan following the success of her first, “2023.” Leanne Morgan: I am every woman.
Co-created by Morgan, Lorre and Susan McMartin, the Untitled Leanne Morgan Project follows Leanne, whose life is turned upside down when her husband of 33 years leaves her for another woman. Starting over as a grandmother and going through menopause isn’t exactly what she imagined, but with the help of her family, she will navigate this new chapter with grace, dignity, and jelly.
The Tennessee native and known as “Mrs. Maisel of Appalachia, Morgan, a married mother of three and grandmother, used to sell jewelry door-to-door and began performing in women’s living rooms before launching a standup career and making a splash with her Netflix stand-up Comedy Special 2023 I am every woman. (You can watch a trailer below.) It caught the attention of many, including Lorre, who flew to Memphis to meet her and, after his agents at UTA and Levity’s Judi Marmel, then a producer, develop the idea for the show bookmaker, helped put her on his radar.
“If you’ve seen even ten seconds of Leanne Morgan’s stand-up, you know what a unique comedic force she is,” Lorre said. “The theme of new beginnings is pervasive and I can’t think of anyone who can combine heart and humor better than Leanne. I knew I had to work with her and I’m thrilled to bring this story to Netflix.”
This marks Lorre’s return to Netflix, where he co-created and executive produced the multi-camera comedy Disjointed starring Kathy Bates and created/executive producer of the Golden Globe Award-winning and Emmy-nominated one-off The Kominsky method with Michael Douglas and Alan Arkin.
The prolific comedy writer and producer previously served as creator and executive producer of ” Grace under attackunder the heading Brett Butler.
“I’ve dreamed of this since I was a kid and I can’t believe it’s come true! When I started comedy 25 years ago, my goal was to be part of a sitcom,” Morgan said. “It just shows you that it’s never too late and dreams do come true. I’m a grandmother from Tennessee and now have a TV show with Chuck Lorre and Netflix. What on earth!?”
What on earth?! also happens to be the title of Morgan’s debut book, due out in September.
Lorre, Morgan, McMartin and Marmel are executive producers of the untitled series, which hails from Chuck Lorre Productions in association with the company’s headquarters, Warner Bros. Television.
“We are thrilled to deepen our partnership with Leanne Morgan, whose unique and hilarious voice wowed viewers with her first Netflix special last year, and to reunite with the legendary Chuck Lorre. “We look forward to working with them on Netflix’s next big comedy series,” said Tracey Pakosta, Head of Comedy at Netflix.
Lorre has created, executive produced or written more than 1,000 television episodes over the past three decades. Currently he has comedy series Bookmaker on “Max,” which he co-created and executive produced, and on “Departure.” Bob Hearts Abishola And Young Sheldon on CBS, with a spin-off of Georgie and Mandy Young Sheldon is coming to the channel next season. His previous gigs also include CBS The big Bang Theory, mummy, Mike & Molly, Two and a half men And Cybill as well as ABCs Dharma & Greg And Roseanne. He is represented by UTA.
Morgan, who moved from intimate comedy clubs to arenas after the success of her Netflix special, has a role in the upcoming Will Ferrell-Reese Witherspoon comedy Warmly invited. She is represented by UTA, Levity and Gregg Gellman and Cary Dobkin.