The south side of Chicago sure is getting some love from TV these days.
There is Showtime’s hit series, Shameless, Emmy Winner Lena Waithe’s The Chi has wrapped production and now Comedy Central has greenlit a new series called South Side.
And yes, hold onto your Craft Service cashews, it will be shooting in Chicago.
South Side centers around two longtime friends trying to better their lives despite the numerous socioeconomic and political obstacles they face on a daily basis, authentically exploring the ups and downs of the ensemble of characters.
At the heart of the workplace comedy are brothers Bashir and Sultan Salahuddin, who were raised on the South Side of Chicago. South Side was one of nine pilots ordered this past April and is one of only two to receive that coveted series order to date, alongside The Other Two, from former SNL co-head writers Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider.
Written by the Salahuddin brothers and Diallo Riddle (Late Night With Jimmy Fallon), South Side will be executive produced by Riddle, Bashir Salahuddin and Michael Blieden (also a Fallon alum). Blieden directed the pilot and is expected to direct episodes for the series. Riddle & Bashir Salahuddin previously wrote and starred in an Atlanta comedy pilot for HBO exec produced by Lorne Michaels.
They also wrote for Comedy Central’s Chocolate News with David Alan Grier.
“Though Chicago is often viewed in a negative way these days, our show aims to find joy in the fuller picture of the city. Chicago, and specifically the South Side of Chicago, is a diverse place where families live, where people laugh, where kids have dreams and goals and yes, even some good times. It’s a special place full of unique experiences, a place some of us call home,” executive producers Salahuddin, Riddle and Blieden said in a joint statement to Deadline.
Source: Deadline
Contact Colin Costello at colin@reelchicago.com or follow him on Twitter @colincostello.com.
