A new show from Seth MacFarlane and Patrick Stewart? Make it so.
Today, Starz announced that it has given a two-season, two-episode order to the new half-hour comedy, Blunt Talk, created and written by Jonathan Ames (Bored to Death) and starring Patrick Stewart. Seth MacFarlane and his Fuzzy Door Productions, Inc. serve as executive producer, along with Media Rights Capital (MRC), the independent studio behind House of Cards, Ted and Ted 2.
Blunt Talk will be a character-driven comedy featuring Patrick Stewart as British newscaster Walter Blunt, who comes to the U.S. with his alcoholic manservant in tow and dreams of taking American cable news by storm. Through his nightly interview show, Blunt tries to impart his wisdom to Americans on how they should live, think and behave — no matter how misguided.
“In the character of Walter Blunt, Seth, Jonathan and Patrick have found the alchemy that makes a borderline alcoholic, mad-genius-Brit the man you want fighting in America’s corner,” Starz CEO Chris Albrecht said. “Seth and Jonathan have struck the right balance between biting wit and outright absurdity in building this world, and we cannot wait for Patrick to breathe life into Walter.”
Blunt Talk is not MacFarlane’s first collaboration with Captain Picard. Fans of the animated FOX show American Dad will recognize Stewart’s voice as CIA Deputy Director Avery Bullock.
Stewart said, “My career took an abrupt and radical left turn when Seth MacFarlane created CIA Deputy Director Avery Bullock on American Dad. This new character, Walter Blunt, is not at all like Avery, thank God, because this is live action and I am a Knight of the Realm. Blunt is, however, much smarter than Avery and has his own TV show, which has to be better than being Deputy Director of the CIA.”
MacFarlane’s familiarity with Stewart has caused some confusion for Blunt Talk‘s showrunner/writer/creator Jonathan Ames. “It’s been a delight to collaborate on Blunt Talk with two such talented and strange men as Seth MacFarlane and Patrick Stewart,” Ames said. “The only problem is that sometimes on conference calls Seth will uncannily recreate Patrick’s voice, and I’m not sure who’s talking, but other than that it’s been smooth sailing.”
Blunt Talk will air on Starz in 2015.
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