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Amazon has greenlit its first-ever multi-cam sitcom, which hails from none other than the legendary Marta Kauffman.
Titled “DINKS” — which stands for “dual income, no kids” — the show will also be the first-ever improvised
multi-cam comedy. Paul Scheer and June Diane Raphael, who are married in real life, will star in the show along with series regular Jon Gabrus.
If the show wasn’t unique enough already given all that, it is being produced in a partnership between Amazon MGM Studios, Lionsgate, and Publicis Media Content Innovation (PMCI), the speciality entertainment division of marketing and comms giant Publicis Groupe’s Publicis Media. PMCI will be fully financing the series in a break from the more traditional TV financing model.
Kauffman co-created the series with Hannah K.S. Canter, who both executive produce under their Okay Goodnight banner. Robbie Rowe Tollin and Jesse Schiller also executive produce, with Raphael and Scheer executive producing in addition to starring.
“I’ve always said I wouldn’t do another multi-cam unless someone was able to reinvent it,” Kauffman said. “Okay Goodnight and I got tired of waiting, and decided we should do it ourselves. It’s what I hoped it would be: unique, hilarious and warm. Shooting this show is like being on a roller coaster in the dark. You have no idea where it’s going to go, but you know it’s going to be fun.”
The logline for the show states that is about a couple (Scheer and Raphael) “who, in the absence of a marriage or kids, decide to literally build a life together by renovating their nightmare of a dream house.”
“Marta Kauffman is one of the most iconic voices in comedy, and with ‘DINKS,’ she’s doing what she does best — finding the humor and heart in everyday relationships — while pushing the form forward through improvisation,” said Peter Friedlander, head of global television ofr Amazon MGM Studios. “June and Paul are the perfect pair to bring this concept to life, and together with our partners at Lionsgate and PMCI, we’re excited to deliver a series that feels both fresh and timeless to Prime Video.”
Prime Video’s current comedy slate includes shows like “Overcompensating,” “Elle,” and the recently-launched action comedy “Ride or Die.” The streamer has previously aired hit comedies including “Transparent,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “Upload,” and “Harlem.” All of those are single-camera series. Prime Video did produce a pilot for a multi-cam from “How I Met Your Mother” creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas, but that project ultimately did not move forward.
“Marta has crafted a fresh, highly original comedy in ‘DINKS’ that captures her signature voice and leans into the spontaneity and chemistry June and Paul bring to the screen,” said Scott Herbst, EVP & head of scripted development for Lionsgate Television, and Brad Haugen, EVP of digital strategy & growth for Lionsgate. “The result is a series that feels both distinctive and universally relatable. We’re thrilled to partner with Amazon MGM Studios and PMCI to bring Marta’s vision to audiences in a series that is a throwback to the early days of television when studios, networks and advertisers all partnered in the storytelling process.”
Kauffman is best known for co-creating the seminal sitcom “Friends” alongside David Crane. It has proven to be one of the most influential and enduringly popular shows in TV history, airing 10 seasons on NBC between 1994 and 2004. More recently, Kauffman co-created the hit Netflix comedy series “Grace and Frankie,” which ran for seven seasons, making it one of the longest-running Netflix shows to date.
“Premium storytelling increasingly requires creative partnerships that bring together expertise from across industries,” said Eric Levin, chief creative officer of PMCI. “This model combines strategic capital with development expertise to provide an alternative path to greenlight, enabling high-quality projects to move forward in an increasingly competitive marketplace. We believe the future of television financing will be driven by partnerships that are as innovative as the content they support, and we’re excited to be able to bring this exclusively to Publicis clients.”
Raphael previously worked with Kauffman on “Grace and Frankie,” in which she starred as Brianna throughout the show’s run. She also currently stars in “Elle” at Amazon, which serves as a prequel to “Legally Blonde.” Her other TV credits include “Big Mouth,” while she has been in films like “Weapons,” “Ass Backwards,” and “Freakier Friday.”
Scheer also appeared in “Grace and Frankie” in a guest star role. He is best known for starring in shows like “The League,” “NTSF:SD:SUV::,” “Black Monday,” “Fresh Off the Boat,” and “Veep.” His film credits include “The Disaster Artist,” “Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping,” “Daddy’s Home,” while he also co-hosts the hit podcast “How Did This Get Made?”
Gabrus is known for roles in shows like “What We Do in the Shadows,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “Happy Endings,” “Workaholics,” and “101 Places to Party Before You Die.” He has been seen in films like “Bombshell” and “Bad Hair.”
Kauffman is repped by WME. Raphael is repped by UTA, MGMT Entertainment, Sechel PR and Ziffren Brittenham. Scheer is repped by UTA, Sechel PR and Schreck Rose Dapello Adams Berlin & Dunham. Gabrus is repped by Buchwald, Artists First and attorney Lev Ginsburg.
