Nickelodeon has licensed 21 episodes of FRED: THE SHOW, a new live-action, short-form comedy series created by and starring internet sensation Lucas Cruikshank ("Fred Figglehorn") and ordered a new pilot Marvin, Marvin as a starring vehicle for Cruikshank, it was announced today by Marjorie Cohn, President, Original Programming and Development, Nickelodeon.
Based on one of the most popular internet characters of all time, the single-camera, 11-minute FRED: THE SHOW episodes build on the network's hugely successful Fred television movies, Fred: The Movie and Fred: Night of the Living Fred. Set to premiere in early 2012, Fred: The Show follows the character on his latest hilarious adventures at home and in school. Production on the series has begun in Los Angeles.
A multi-camera, half-hour comedy, the Marvin, Marvin pilot stars Cruikshank as a quirky, intergalactic new kid in school who clumsily tries to adapt to his new life as a human teenager.
"Lucas is an immensely talented actor and comedian whose unique brand of humor is a proven winner with our audience," said Cohn. "The 11-minute format of FRED: THE SHOW will be a great showcase for more of his signature adventures."
The projects come on the heels of the success of Cruikshank's most recent original television movie for Nickelodeon, Fred 2: Night of the Living Fred, which debuted on Oct. 22 and delivered 5.7 million total viewers for its primetime premiere, ranking as that week's number-one telecast with kids 6-11 and kids 2-11. Cruikshank made his TV debut in the mega-hit series iCarly in 2009, with his episode, "iMeet Fred" drawing 5.1 million total viewers. He later brought Fred to life in the 2010 smash hit Fred: The Movie which delivered 8.7 million total viewers, landing the two-hour premiere in the top spot as the number-one TV cable movie with kids 6-11 and kids 2-11. The Nickelodeon TV movie also ranked as the year's number-two entertainment telecast with kids 6-11 and kids 2-11 on all TV. In 2010, Cruikshank was named one of "10 Comics to Watch" by Daily Variety and was listed among the 50 Top Digital Power Players by The Hollywood Reporter.
FRED: THE SHOW is created and executive produced by Cruikshank. Brian Robbins and Sharla Sumpter Bridgett of Varsity Pictures and Gary Binkow and Evan Weiss of The Collective also serve as executive producers.
Marvin, Marvin is created by Jon Ross (10 Things I Hate About You) and is being executive produced by show-runner Jeff Bushell (Beverly Hills Chihuahua). Evan Weiss and Gary Binkow are also executive producing through their company, The Collective.
