We reported on this a couple of months ago, but it was announced today that Season Two of Newsreaders has begun production:
Newsreaders, Adult Swim’s absurd take on the television news magazine, is currently in production on season two in Los Angeles. From the creative team behind the multiple Emmy(R)-winning Childrens Hospital, the series will feature returning cast members Alison Becker, Beth Dover, Dannah Phirman, and Ray Wise, with new host Alan Tudyk.
Created by two-time Emmy(R)-winning executive producers Rob Corddry (Childrens Hospital, Hot Tub Time Machine, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart), Jonathan Stern (Childrens Hospital, Burning Love; NTSF:SD:SUV::) and David Wain (Childrens Hospital, Role Models, Wet Hot American Summer), with Emmy(R)-winning producer Jim Margolis (The Daily Show with Jon Stewart) serving as showrunner, Newsreaders will continue to bring viewers inspiring and thought provoking stories that are neither of those things. The series is produced by Abominable Pictures and Warner Bros. Television Group’s Studio 2.0, and is distributed by Warner Bros. Television.
Across its first season, the Adult Swim original series ranked #1 in its time period (Thursday nights at Midnight) among targeted men 12-18, 18-34 and 18-49. New episodes of Newsreaders as a whole out-performed its nearest basic cable competition among young adults and men by significant double and triple digits.
Studio 2.0 is a division of the Warner Bros. Television Group. Known for granting creators broad creative latitude with minimal editorial involvement from executives, Studio 2.0 produces and distributes distinctive shortform live-action and animated series from the Television Group’s established and up-and-coming talent. Its series include the Emmy(R)-winning comedy Childrens Hospital and its spinoff Newsreaders, both for Adult Swim, as well as the comedy Robin Banks and the Bank Roberts, for Maker Studios’ Nacho Punch comedy hub on YouTube.
While we’re certainly fine with having Alan Tudyk on board as new host, it’s sad to note that no mention is made of former Newsreaders host, Louis LaFonda (played by Mather Zickel). I’m going to go with my gut and say Mather had other obligations at the time they were looking to shoot (as is usually the case… I made mention of the NTSF Rebecca Romjin-Karen Gillan swap recently). Here’s hoping LaFonda makes some sort of appearance when the new season airs on Swim. But even still, at least we still have Skip Reming.
