Lena Waithe’s long-in-the-works comedy “Twenties” is finally going to series with an eight-episode order at its original home, BET.
The comedy, about a queer black girl in her 20s and her two straight best friends, was first written by Waithe nearly a decade ago and has been in development in one form or another since 2014. The project, based on Waithe’s web series of the same name, was originally put into development at BET before moving to TBS with a pilot order last February.
Now it has moved back to BET, where it will join Waithe’s other comedy “Boomerang,” which was renewed for a second season earlier this month.
“BET Networks is thrilled to partner once again with the creative visionary Lena Waithe on both ‘Boomerange’ and ‘Twenties’ as she is without a doubt a leading relevant voice of our generation and a disruptor in her own right,” said Connie Orlando, head of programming for BET Networks. “BET is committed to the elevation of inclusive and authentic storytelling that viewers continue to expect from the brand.”
The project was written by Waithe when she was in her early 20s. The half-hour series follows the adventures of a queer black girl named Hattie, and her two straight best friends, Marie and Nia, “who spend most of their days talking ‘ish’ and chasing their dreams.”
Waithe will executive produce and co-showrun with “A Different World” alum Susan Fales-Hill. Rishi Rajani and Andrew Coles also serve as executive produce.
“‘Twenties’ has been a project I’ve been dreaming about for as long as I can remember,” said Waithe. “I think a lot of people were interested, but didn’t see the vision. I’m so grateful Scott Mills and Connie Orlando did. I couldn’t be more excited to deepen my relationship with BET. I know audiences have been waiting a long time for this one.”
“I’m deeply grateful to Lena Waithe for dragging me out of the crypt to run her groundbreaking series about women of color who are as intelligent as they are funny, as ambitious and driven as they are confused. It is exhilarating to be back in television, at BET at a moment of unprecedented multicultural inclusion in the entertainment industry,” said Fales-Hill.
The project is one of many in development for Waithe, who is also executive producing the Showtime pilot “How to Make Love to a Black Woman (Who May Be Working Through Some Sh*t),” the horror anthology “Them” at Amazon” and the untitled Kid Fury project at HBO.
Waithe is also creator and executive producer on the Showtime drama “The Chi.” Source: Wrap
