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Comedy Central is working to build buzz about its new Detroit-based series, which debuts Feb. 7 at 10:30 p.m.. Advance promotions for "Detroiters" include free streaming of Episode 1, available here (registration needed).
Tim Robinson, left, and Sam Richardson.
(Comedy Central photos)
In other outreach, stars Sam Richardson and Tim Robinson spoke with freelance journalist Megan Angelo, who has a half-page feature in The New York Times. She describes the 10-episode cable series:
The show follows a pair of small-time admen, Sam and Tim, who are best friends, next-door neighbors and brothers-in-law. Imagine “Dumb and Dumber” meets “Mad Men” — if Don Draper was wildly goofy and handled accounts for D.U.I. lawyers and hot-tub shops.
The concept was inspired by the wacky Technicolor commercials for local Detroit businesses both men grew up watching in the 1990s — such as the spots that featured the former Detroit Lions player and car dealership magnate Mel Farr soaring over the earth in a superhero cape. “There was so much cheese,” Mr. Richardson said. “But there was heart to them as well.”
Mr. Robinson, 35, spent his childhood in Clarkston, a suburb of Detroit; Mr. Richardson, 33, grew up in the Boston Edison district of the city. The two actors met at the now-defunct Detroit chapter of the comedy company Second City. . . .
When Comedy Central ordered “Detroiters” — which they created with the “Saturday Night Live” alumni Zach Kanin and Joe Kelly — and agreed to film it on location, the pair made the show as homegrown as possible. . . . Between crew and cast, “Detroiters” hired more than 200 people from the area — and drafted seven interns from Grow Detroit Young Talent, a city jobs program.
The stars mug during a taping break on location.
The New York writer's preview includes these teases:
► Episode 2 street scene: A crowd of Slow Roll Detroit cyclists whiz through a scene airing Feb. 14.
► Familiar backdrops: Detroit Institute of Arts (posh gala scene) and the Woodbridge area, where two Victorian-style homes are settings for the main characters' next-door homes.
► Guest star: Keegan-Michael Key, who led improv comedy lessons for Robinson back in the day.
► Hometown cast member: Shawntay Dalon, a graduate of Detroit High School for Fine & Performing Arts and Wayne State, is the female lead -- Richardson's sister Chrissy. Dalon, who grew up on the city's east side, was on stage in November and December at Detroit Public Theatre's production of "Dot."
Angelo speaks with Jason Sudekis, who plays a Chrysler executive and is an executive producer:
"Detroit’s story is one of falling away and coming back and maintaining. The idea behind the show was that notion of hope, the idea of this blue-collar Midwest work ethic.”
Here are a pair of short scenes:
