Former Saturday Night Live head writers Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider are headed back to TV. The duo’s pilot has officially received the green light from Comedy Central, network President Kent Alterman announced Tuesday—and what’s more, the show will be co-executive produced by Lorne Michaels himself.
The Other Two will center on the misadventures of two siblings: a 29-year-old aspiring actor (Drew Tarver) who wonders why he can’t get better auditions than “Man at Party Who Smells Fart,” and his 30-year-old sister, former child dancer Brooke (Heléne Yorke), who is similarly displeased with her adult life. They’ve also got a 12-year-old brother named Chase (Case Walker), whose overnight Internet fame brings on a wave of both pride and envy. Ken Marino will play Chase’s newly hired manager as well.
Schneider and Kelly will co-executive produce the series alongside Michaels; longtime S.N.L. fans should be pleased to hear that the series also features former cast member Molly Shannon as the siblings’ mother. In making their announcement, Schneider and Kelly teased that Michaels might even make a cameo at some point as well—although it’s hard to tell if they’re serious: “We are so excited to make this show with Comedy Central, our incredible cast, and our joint biological father Lorne Michaels, who will be making a cameo in at least one episode, and is finding that out right now.”
Although Schneider and Kelly might be best known for the work they’ve done on S.N.L. since signing on as writers in 2011, their repertoires span beyond the show as well. Kelly has also written for Broad City, and he wrote and directed the 2016 feature film Other People, which also starred Molly Shannon. The actress won a 2017 Spirit Award for her work in the film, which was up for best first feature and best screenplay at the ceremony as well. Schneider, who came to S.N.L. after serving as a writer and actress for CollegeHumor Originals, has also written for Master of None.
In addition to The Other Two, Comedy Central also green-lit South Side (working title), which will be written by brothers Bashir Salahuddin (GLOW) and Sultan Salahuddin, as well as Diallo Riddle (Marlon). The Salahuddin brothers grew up on the South Side of Chicago, which will, as the working title suggests, also serve as the setting for this workplace comedy. More specifically, the series will be set in and around a rent-to-own store in Englewood, and it will follow two longtime friends as they try to better their lives. (Coincidentally, Comedy Central’s Trevor Noah has moved his show to the Windy City this week.)
“Though Chicago is often viewed in a negative way these days, our show aims to find joy in the fuller picture of the city,” the show’s executive producers wrote in a statement. “Chicago, and specifically the South Side of Chicago, is a diverse place where families live, where people laugh, where kids have dreams and goals and yes, even some good times. It’s a special place full of unique experiences, a place some of us call home.”
