Sitcom is BET’s first scripted original series

Posted by by Staff April 19, 2007 Add Comment Entertainment

‘Somebodies,’ based on ’06 Sundance film, is about group of black slackers

(Akiit.com) NEW YORK – BET is making the first scripted series in its 28-year history, a sitcom about a group of black slackers.

“Somebodies” is expected to premiere in October, Reginald Hudlin, BET’s entertainment president, said Wednesday.

As the first cable channel geared to blacks, BET featured a lot of music programming, syndicated fare and reality shows, but it was criticized for not spending money to produce original programs.

Hudlin’s announcement of “Somebodies” was timed to coincide with the network’s presentation of its fall plans to advertisers Wednesday night.

“Somebodies” is based on a 2006 film that was in the Sundance Film Festival. The series will be produced by Pete Aronson and Warren Hutcherson, executive producers of “The Bernie Mac Show.” It will be set and filmed in Athens, Ga.

“For years people have wanted BET to expand the range of its original programming,” Hudlin said, “and now we are doing it.”

The network is developing several scripted shows, but this was the first deemed ready to go, he said.