Toronto-based production and distribution studio 9 Story Ent. and Canadian film producer Darius Films are partnering to produce a pilot entitled FUGGET ABOUT IT, a prime-time animated sitcom about the misadventures of a powerful former New York mob boss and his family, who enter a witness protection program and are relocated to a sleepy Canadian town.
The pilot has been commissioned for The Detour on Teletoon, the network's teen and adult programming block.
FUGGET ABOUT IT is a comedy featuring the hysterically funny experiences of Jimmy Falcone, a typical mobster, living in genteel Canada -- a world far-removed from his experience as the head of a large crime syndicate. Unforeseeable matters force Jimmy and his family; wife Cookie, bombshell oldest daughter Theresa, intellectual Birkenstock-wearing son Anthony, tough-as-nails 10-year old daughter Gina and, of course, half-crazy Uncle Cheech, into witness protection in the peaceful, friendly, white-bread town of Oakville. It's hard for a quick-tempered "goodfella", who's used to always getting his way and helping himself to anything he wants, to get used to a new, very subdued life.
"This is an extremely funny fish-out-water show," said 9 Story's CEO, Vince Commisso. "We recognized early on that this series has enormous potential and knew this was the right project for us to take out as a prime-time animated comedy. We look forward to working with the talented team at Darius Films in what we're confident will be a hit with adult and teen audiences everywhere."
The series is co-created and written by Willem Wennekers (WEIRDSVILLE). 9 Story's Commisso will executive produce along with co-creator and executive producer Nicholas Tabarrok of Darius Films (THE LIFE AND HARD TIMES OF GUY TERRIFICO). The series marks 9 Story's foray into the world of prime-time animation. The company will handle international distribution for the series.
"I am a huge fan of adult animation so the chance to do something in that arena is just thrilling for me," said Nicholas Tabarrok, President of Darius Films. "We have found a production partner that is as passionate about this project as we are and are extremely excited to be partnering with one of Canada's top animation studios. Working together, along with my long time collaborator Willem, this is certain to be a visually entertaining and a very humorous animated comedy."
"We think FUGGET ABOUT IT will make the Detour audience an offer they can't refuse." said Michael Goldsmith, Director, Original Content, Teletoon. "The animated pilot refreshes a classic genre and will appeal to a broad audience including fans of older skewing animation as well as people who love mob stories and great comedies."
