Spectrum Originals Heads to the Sunshine State and Greenlights the Sony Pictures Television Studios Produced “Panhandle” Starring Luke Kirby and Tiana Okoye
The series pairs an eccentric, agoraphobic arm-chair detective with a reluctant traffic cop in a series that showcases community, connection, and yes, only-in-Florida characters.
[via press release from Spectrum]
SPECTRUM ORIGINALS HEADS TO THE SUNSHINE STATE AND GREENLIGHTS THE SONY PICTURES TELEVISION STUDIOS PRODUCED “PANHANDLE” STARRING LUKE KIRBY AND TIANA OKOYE
THE ROKU CHANNEL TO CARRY THE SERIES IN EXCLUSIVE SECOND WINDOW
Emmy(R) Award-Winning Director Colin Bucksey tackles the Only-In-Florida Drama
Los Angeles, Cali, March 1, 2022: Spectrum Originals has picked up the eight-episode dramedy series, PANHANDLE. Set in the Florida panhandle, The Sony Pictures Television Studios produced-series will have a nine-month exclusive run on Spectrum (free, without ads) and then will have an exclusive free advertising-supported window on The Roku Channel as a Roku Original. Luke Kirby (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Deuce) and Tiana Okoye (The Valet, The Good Place, Awkwafina is Nora from Queens) star as “Bellweather ‘Bell’ Prescott,” and “Cammie Lorde.” The series will shoot in Savannah, GA and is created and written by executive producers Nicholas Stoller, a Florida native (Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Neighbors), and Carla Kettner (The Blacklist, Bones).
PANHANDLE pairs an eccentric, agoraphobic arm-chair detective with a reluctant traffic cop in a series that showcases community, connection, and yes, only-in-Florida characters. Together, “Bell Prescott” (Kirby) and “Cammie Lorde” (Okoye) wrestle with personal demons, shocking twists and a few Florida gators on their journey to heal themselves and their town.
“Nick and Carla are an electric team who have crafted a story that is a love letter to the sunshine state while capturing all that is twisted, emotional and sublime about Florida. We’re thrilled to have Colin Bucksey, Luke Kirby and Tiana Okoye signing on to bring this special project to life,” said Liz Varner, Head of Programming for Spectrum Originals.
“When Nick and Carla told us they wanted to work together, we knew they would create something very special. They have combined the best of comedy with the best of procedural storytelling and have created a fun and colorful dramedy. We look forward to seeing Luke and Tiana bring the story to screen,” said Jeff Frost President, Sony Pictures Television Studios and Jason Clodfelter, Co-President, Sony Pictures Television Studios. “We are also very excited about this innovative novel partnership as we continue our incredible relationship with Spectrum and expand it through our new collective collaboration with Roku, further augmenting the audience for the series.”
Colin Davis, Head of Scripted Originals, Roku said “”We are very excited to partner with Spectrum on ‘PANHANDLE.’ Nick Stoller and Carla Kettner are a powerhouse creative duo and we can’t wait to see this darkly funny series come together.”
“We’re so excited to tell a dark, weird funny story that explores Florida in all its dark, weird funny glory,” said creators, writers and executive producers Nick Stoller and Carla Kettner.
PANHANDLE is produced by Sony Pictures Television Studios and the series is created and written by executive producers Nick Stoller (Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Neighbors) and Carla Kettner (The Blacklist, Bones). Conor Welch also serves as executive producer. Colin Bucksey (The Great, Fargo, Breaking Bad) will direct the pilot episode.
Bucksey is represented by Verve and John Bauman Management. Kirby is represented by Gersh and Gary Goddard Agency. Okoye is represented by UTA and Echo Lake.
About Spectrum Originals
Spectrum Originals is a premier destination for premium original series available exclusively to Spectrum video subscribers on-demand and ad-free. Currently available on the platform is the Hitchcockian thriller, Angela Black, written by renowned Emmy(R) and Golden Globe(R)-winning producers and screenwriters Harry and Jack Williams and starring Golden Globe Winner(R) Joanne Froggatt. Other originals currently airing include the Paramount Television Studios-produced drama, Joe Pickett, led by famed filmmakers John Erick Dowdle and Drew Dowdle, the Michelle and Robert King- produced satirical drama, The Bite, two seasons of the Mark Strong-led thriller Temple, the popular limited series Mad About You, Manhunt: Deadly Games and Eden. Upcoming series for Spectrum include the recently announced limited series A Spy Among Friends starring Golden Globe(R) and Emmy(R) Award-winner Damian Lewis and Emmy(R) Award-winner Guy Pearce, George & Tammy starring Academy Award(R) nominees Jessica Chastain and Michael Shannon who play the famed country music couple, Tammy Wynette and George Jones, Beacon 23, a sci-fi thriller starring Lena Headey and Stephan James, and Long Slow Exhale, starring Rose Rollins as a head coach in the high-stakes world of women’s college basketball. Spectrum Originals is an initiative of Charter Communications. The service launched in 2019 with the Sony and Bruckheimer-produced drama L.A.’s Finest, starring Gabrielle Union and Jessica Alba. More information on Spectrum Originals can be found at http://press.spectrumoriginals.com/
About Charter
Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHTR) is a leading broadband connectivity company and cable operator serving more than 32 million customers in 41 states through its Spectrum brand. Over an advanced communications network, the company offers a full range of state-of-the-art residential and business services including Spectrum Internet(R), TV, Mobile and Voice. For small and medium-sized companies, Spectrum Business(R) delivers the same suite of broadband products and services coupled with special features and applications to enhance productivity, while for larger businesses and government entities, Spectrum Enterprise provides highly customized, fiber-based solutions. Spectrum Reach(R) delivers tailored advertising and production for the modern media landscape. The company also distributes award-winning news coverage, sports and high-quality original programming to its customers through Spectrum Networks and Spectrum Originals. More information about Charter can be found at corporate.charter.com.
About Sony Pictures Television
Sony Pictures Television (SPT) is one of the television industry’s leading content providers, producing, distributing and carrying programming worldwide in every genre and for every platform. In addition to managing one of the industry’s largest libraries of award-winning feature films, television shows and formats, SPT is home to a thriving global content business, operating a robust portfolio of wholly-owned and joint-venture production companies across the U.S., Europe, Latin America, and Asia Pacific, as well as linear and digital channels around the world. SPT is a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Group Corporation.
