Netflix doubles down on developing its comedy programming for authentic laughs

by

As a long-time admirer of the captivating world of storytelling and comedy, reading through this fascinating collection of creative minds and their innovative projects has been an absolute delight. Each creator brings a unique perspective to the table, enriching our lives with humor, emotion, and thought-provoking narratives that resonate deeply within us.

When Netflix’s decision makers chose to heavily invest in comedy content, they felt that what mattered most was finding the perfect performers with a knack for great comic delivery, wit, and genuine authenticity. So far, this strategy has proven successful.

The comedian’s dominance in the comedy sphere – expanding from stand-up specials, to television series, and now comedy events – is a strategic move aimed at making comedy accessible to a wider audience by nurturing new talent alongside established stars, while also offering unique and innovative perspectives on humor that leaves an identifiable mark on comedy as a whole.

Michelle Buteau – an all-rounder in comedy, acting, hosting, writing, and beyond – has demonstrated her knack for making people laugh across diverse crowds. An essential part of Buteau’s comedic prowess stems from her passion for compelling storytelling, be it sharing experiences as a parent or finding common ground with Jennifer Lopez over their shared birthday.

It’s even more delightful when the storyteller is being true to themselves. She mentioned that she’s focusing more on this as her comedy career flourishes. Recently, she starred in the movie “Babes,” is developing season two of her series “Survival of the Thickest,” and has hosted popular Netflix shows like “Barbecue Showdown” and “The Circle.” Her upcoming stand-up special on Netflix, titled “A Buteau-ful Mind at Radio City Music Hall,” is set for release on Dec. 31. For this special, Buteu began compiling topics she wanted to discuss in June 2021 and performed regularly every Tuesday at the Bell House in New York City to test new material. This eventually led to her securing shows at City Winery, where her sets were well-received as well.

Buteau expressed her frustration with people who casually say “it happened organically,” when in reality it didn’t. She explained that despite having other responsibilities, she has a passion for stand-up comedy and connecting with people. Now that they are back to wearing pants and heels, she feels the time is right, and she’s eagerly ready to take the stage.

In a recent conversation, it was mentioned that Buteau’s stand-up performances, movie roles, and television appearances are frequently influenced by her personal experiences as well as her observations of people. Moreover, she is often contemplating the evolving concepts of morality within society and seeking ways to employ her platform for discussing challenging and peculiar topics.

Buteau shared that he enjoys discussing his personal experiences. However, he emphasized the need for balance, showing genuine respect to those in his life and avoiding making them the main topic all the time. Instead, he prefers to speak about them in a broader context, which serves as a constant source of inspiration for him.

Netflix began delving into comedy programming over a decade ago, launching its first original stand-up special, “Bill Burr: You People Are All the Same,” in 2012, and reviving the fourth season of “Arrested Development” from Fox, marking its initial significant step into scripted comedy. Since then, Netflix has consistently expanded its commitment to scripted comedy series, stand-up specials, and creating diverse opportunities for comedians to participate across various formats.

Comedy stars like Katt Williams, Dave Chappelle, Kevin Hart, Tiffany Haddish, Ali Wong, Jo Koy, Gabriel Iglesias, and many others have been integral to Netflix’s identity for quite some time, with numerous stand-up specials under their belt. In 2023, the platform made its debut in live comedy with Chris Rock’s “Selective Outrage,” which not only topped Nielsen’s list of streamed comedy specials but also found a spot on the Netflix Top 10 in seven different countries. Additionally, Netflix introduced their “Netflix Is a Joke” brand in 2020 and followed it up with a comprehensive comedy festival in 2022, showcasing hundreds of artists and events over an almost two-week span.

Additionally, Netflix is equally enthusiastic about aiding comedians in expanding their skills into various mediums, such as scripted programs and reality TV productions.

Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s head of content, attributes part of the company’s success in comedic programming to capitalizing on creative story ideas that writers and comedians are passionate about telling. She emphasized that audiences can sense authenticity, and Netflix has found success with shows that tackle intriguing topics using humor. As examples, she cited “Never Have I Ever,” created by Mindy Kaling, which delves into Indian American families and cultural identity, and “A Man on the Inside,” produced by Mike Schur, which addresses themes of aging and grief. Notably, Schur was a key creator behind “Parks and Recreation,” “The Good Place,” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” and he also worked on the American version of “The Office.

Our approach has consistently centered around ‘we adore comedy, our audience loves comedy’ while recognizing their diverse tastes. To ensure a broad range, we strive to offer comedy in multiple formats – from series and films to live performances and stand-up shows across the globe.

Bajaria enthusiastically spoke about the significant achievement of the streaming platform’s hit show, “Nobody Wants This,” produced by Erin Foster and Mike Levitan and starring Kristen Bell and Adam Brody. The story revolves around the characters played by Bell, an agnostic woman, and Brody, a rabbi, as they explore their contrasting beliefs while experiencing mutual attraction. The romantic comedy gained widespread popularity upon its release in September and was swiftly renewed for another season just two weeks after its premiere. It’s worth noting that Netflix executives stated the show remained on the streaming service’s global top 10 list for six consecutive weeks, reaching the top 10 in 89 countries. During this period, the show attracted a total of 48.7 million views.

‘Nobody Wants This’ is a captivating demonstration of a series delving into the complexities of romance through mature conversations and effective communication, a topic not often emphasized in romantic comedies. Moreover, it sheds light on distinct cultures, a dimension seldom portrayed. I believe it strikes a chord with viewers as it showcases the challenges and beauty of balancing romance, family, and cultural identity.

In the TV series titled “A Man on the Inside,” featuring Ted Danson, the storyline revolves around Danson’s character who embarks on a life-changing journey by joining a private investigations agency in San Francisco’s retirement community. The aim is to uncover the mystery of who is pilfering from fellow elderly residents. The series creator, Schur, described “A Man on the Inside” as the most tender, emotional, and vulnerable project he has ever worked on when addressing themes such as aging, grief, family, and more. Despite America’s enduring fascination with youth, Schur emphasized that a significant aspect of the show’s charm lies in giving seasoned actors like Sally Struthers, Margaret Avery, and Stephen McKinley Henderson an opportunity to demonstrate their continued greatness as performers, even as they grow older.

Schur stated that there aren’t many productions where older actors can shine, but we took a significant risk assuming we could gather an ensemble full of talented, humorous actors of that age. It proved to be a wise decision as the performances were fantastic. It was incredibly gratifying to see our intuition validated – if you write compelling, funny characters, there are individuals in their 70s who can deliver exceptional performances.

Schur said one of the things that America is often bad at is talking about aging and confronting the idea of it. Part of the fun with writing the show, he said, was capturing the real-life aspects of getting older, such as residents with sexual desire and active sex lives and confronting head-scratching phrases like “toxic masculinity.” Schur said one of the funniest scenes in the show was during resident council meetings when people were saying their complaints. He said it was similar to conference room meeting scenes in “The Office.”

In our investigation, we consulted with a woman who oversees a facility similar to the one portrayed in the series, asking her about common complaints. She responded, “The most frequent issues are: first, the food is excessively salty, and second, the food lacks sufficient salt.” This sparked an idea for us – it’s such a perfect punchline! We immediately incorporated it into the show.

Liz Feldman, the brain behind Netflix’s “Dead to Me” series, came up with the concept for “No Good Deed” while on the hunt for a new home during the COVID-19 pandemic. The show is set to debut on December 12th on Netflix, featuring an impressive cast including Lisa Kudrow, Ray Romano, Linda Cardellini, Luke Wilson, Abbi Jacobson, O-T Fagbenle, Teyonah Parris, and Poppy Liu. This series delves into the lives of Kudrow and Romano’s characters as they strive to sell their home in the aftermath of a tragedy, exploring the hopes and secrets that both they and potential buyers have invested in the property.

Feldman shared that whenever she and her spouse stepped into a freshly listed house, it seemed to carry a unique tale behind its sale – often one tinged with melancholy, mystery, or unexpected turns. One almost-purchased property was being sold by musicians from the Los Angeles Philharmonic, who were forced to sell due to the organization’s closure during the pandemic and their inability to cover their mortgage payments. This experience stirred thoughts within Feldman about the stories she could create surrounding the importance of having a secure home for people.

Feldman recently mused about an intriguing narrative that many people could identify with in various ways, while also mentioning the universal desire for a dream home. He noted that we often attribute great power, importance, and symbolism to these homes. In essence, he’s fascinated by the junction of who we aspire to be and our true selves.

In the “No Good Deed” writers’ room, Feldman emphasized the importance of seeking amusement as they worked. This was especially important given the current desire for distraction and humor. She didn’t intentionally plan to create another series centered around characters dealing with grief, but she found it a profound and beautiful source of inspiration that never runs dry.

Feldman believes he’s here to assist people in navigating tough life moments using humor, which provides him a strong sense of meaning. As a result, he’s dedicated significant time over the past few years to this pursuit. Leveraging his experience in joke-writing and understanding various voices, he strives to incorporate these skills into the storytelling he does now, aiming to portray diverse characters and push himself to write in different styles.

Read More

2024-12-06 02:32