TORONTO — OUTtv and Hop To It Productions Inc. announced today the first six episodes of season one of the award-winning short-form slasher series Sloppy Jones (above) will be available on OUTtv.com in Canada, Australia and the U.S. on Aug. 4, as well as on froot.tv in the UK and Ireland the same day.
The series is produced by Hop To It president Susan Nation and was created and written by Sophie Nation (above, second from left), Jamie Hart (left) and Jonathan Neil Alexander (second from right), who also star in the comedy.
“Sloppy Jones was born out of a desire to create interesting queer lead roles for queer actors written by queer writers,” reads a press release. “Historically, LGBTQ+ representation in film and TV has been lacking, both in front of and behind the camera, especially in the slasher genre.”
“As a female independent producer working with a fresh young writer/actor team, making a short-form digital series was the most feasible way to share this escapist, but weirdly relatable slasher comedy and the quirky queer protagonists. I think the 18-39 audience will love them and OUTtv.com is the ideal platform,” said Susan Nation, in the release.
In the series, Sophie Nation, Hart and Alexander “explore their experiences as servers and bartenders, struggling with bills, relationships, customers and occasional bad bosses, through a camp comedic lens,” says a description in the release.
“The look, tone and stories are inspired by their love of 90’s movies, work-place comedies and slashers like Scream,” the release adds.
Sophie Nation plays “free-spirited people pleaser” Rory Woods, Hart plays “book-smart, bisexual bartender” Harper Shelley, and Alexander plays “calculating b*tch” Thomas Collins, who all work at the Sloppy Jones Grill for deadbeat boss Frank Jones, played by Colin Mochrie. Also starring in the series is Linda Kash as Deborah Jones, Frank’s estranged ex-wife.
Award-winning filmmaker Emily Cohn (CRSHD) directed the first five episodes and Winnifred Jong (Tokens) directed episode six, which was the original pilot teaser episode.
Hop To It Productions was supported by the Canada Media Fund, OUTtv and Ontario Creates during development and production of the series.
Season one of Sloppy Jones has garnered several nominations, awards and festival selections, which are listed here.
