Freeform Orders Animated Comedy Praise Petey; The CW Will Ask Would I Lie to You? in New Series

Friday, December 10, 2021

Freeform Orders Animated Comedy Praise Petey; The CW Will Ask Would I Lie to You? in New Series

Praise Petey - Annie Murphy, John Cho and Christine Baranski

Freeform has ordered the half-hour animated comedy series Praise Petey (working title) from creator, writer and executive producer Anna Drezen (head writer, Saturday Night Live) and executive producer Monica Padrick (Central Park), along with Bandera Entertainment's Mike Judge, Greg Daniels and Dustin Davis, and ShadowMachine's Alex Bulkley and Corey Campodonico. The series is produced by Disney Television Studios’ 20th Television Animation, with animation by ShadowMachine. Praise Petey (working title) follows Petey, a New York City "it" girl who has it all until her life comes crashing down around her. As luck would have it, a mysterious gift from her father gives her a new lease on life: she’s going to "lean into" modernizing his small-town cult.

The series stars Annie Murphy (Schitt's Creek) as Petey, once the girl who had everything, now she has to use her city smarts to revamp her father’s failing cult and be a better leader than he was, a much more laidback one — a nice one — a girl boss! John Cho (Cowboy Bebop) voices Bandit, a potential love interest for Petey and a cult member since childhood whose mother was a high-ranking member. Kiersey Clemons (The Flash) voices Eliza, a bartender at the local bar and reluctant BFF to Petey, working at her new cult. Christine Baranski (The Good Fight) voices White, Petey’s mother. She's a magazine editor, Manhattan society woman and a terrifying perfectionist who's never eaten, tasted or seen ketchup. Amy Hill (Magnum P.I.) voices Mae Mae, Bandit’s Southern mama oozing with Southern hospitality who happens to be the right-hand woman of a cult leader. Stephen Root (Barry) voices Petey's loving father, a charming, homespun, stone-cold cult leader with some pretty unique ideas about meditation, space, jumping up and down in a field, and how his bloodline is necessary for the salvation of mankind. He may or may not be dead. Praise Petey (working title) will begin production in early 2022.

Would I Let to You?

Actor, writer, comedian Aasif Mandvi (Evil) is set to host The CW's new alternative comedic series, Would I Lie to You? where he also serves as an executive producer. Joining Mandvi are Emmy® nominated actor and comedian Matt Walsh (Veep) and actor and writer Sabrina Jalees (Canada's Got Talent) who have been named team captains, leading opposing pairs of celebrity guests who must determine who is sharing facts and who is full of fiction in each episode on the comedy panel series produced by Truly Original executive producers Glenda Hersh and Steven Weinstock, and Evil executive producers Robert and Michelle King. The premiere of Would I Lie to You? will be announced at a later date.

Based on the original, hit British series of the same name, Would I Lie to You? is a hilarious comedy panel show that elevates the "art of lying," featuring lightning-quick team captains joined by a stellar cast of celebrity guests, including including Brooke Shields (Jane the Virgin), Emmy® nominated actor, writer and talk show host Amber Ruffin (The Amber Ruffin Show), Tony Award-winning actor and singer Laura Benanti (Gossip Girl), actor, writer, comedians Michael Ian Black (Wet Hot American Summer), Andrea Martin (Evil), Julie Klausner (Difficult People), Jordan Klepper (The Daily Show with Trevor Noah), Adam Pally (Happy Endings), Chris Gethard (Space Force), Dulcé Sloan (The Daily Show with Trevor Noah), as well as former United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara, who weave elaborate tales... that may or may not be the truth. Competing teams, one led by Walsh and the other by Jalees, then ask questions and watch body language to determine which are outrageous but true, and which are made-up stories.