TORONTO – CBC Television announced today that U.S. broadcaster ABC has acquired the U.S. rights to 18 To Life, a new single-camera comedy series, whose pilot is currently in production.
While it’s the first time a Canadian and a U.S. network have teamed up for a half-hour prime-time comedy, according to the press release, the two networks have worked together before, most notably on the poorly rated reality series The One: Making a Music Star.
“18 To Life is a domestic comedy about a couple that does the unthinkable: they get married at the tender age of 18. Their parents – next-door neighbors and polar opposites – are less than thrilled, and even their peers disapprove. What gives the series its heart is that young Tom and Jessie truly love each other. They’re the right couple…at the wrong time. As the two struggle to become man and wife in a world that views them as kids, the tension between their families adds a dose of biting humor to their sweet love story. 18 To Life is one part ‘aspirational’ romance and two parts cautionary tale, which should endear it to teens and parents alike.”
The show is created, written and executive produced by Derek Schreyer (The Murdoch Mysteries, Instant Star, Cold Squad, 15/Love) and Karen Troubetzkoy (15/Love, The Magician’s House) and directed by Peter Wellington, best known for his work as sole director on The Movie Network’s comedy Slings and Arrows.
Cast includes Stacey Farber (Degrassi: The Next Generation) and Michael Seater (Life With Derek, The Zack Files) as the young lovers. Peter Keleghan (The Newsroom), Al Goulem (The Tournament, Stardom), Ellen David (Surviving My Mother, Mambo Italiano, Heist), Angela Asher (Degrassi: The Next Generation, Queer as Folk), Jesse Rath (Prom Wars, Dead Like Me), Tiio Horn (Indian Summer: The Oka Crisis) and newcomers Tommie-Amber Pirie and Ariel Shiri also star. Ian Whitehead produces.
"For the CBC to have ABC invest and collaborate in the pilot for an all-Canadian half-hour comedy series is truly remarkable,” said Kirstine Layfield, CBC’s executive director of network programming, in the press release. “It’s a great tribute to all the talented Canadian writers, actors and producers that we are now making television series that are being sold to U.S. and international broadcasters and watched by audiences around the world."
U.S./U.K. distributor Alchemy Television brokered the deal between CBC and ABC, and Montreal’s Galafilm developed and will produce the show. Anton Leo is Creative Head, Comedy for CBC Television.
