HBO has secured Kansas City Star, a high-profile comedy project featuring Kaley Cuoco, in a competitive bidding war. The half-hour series, created and executive produced by the acclaimed Hacks team—Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky—marks a promising addition to the network’s comedy lineup.
Cuoco, best known for her 12-season run on The Big Bang Theory, will not only headline the show but also serve as an executive producer. In Kansas City Star, she takes on the role of a semi-famous actress who returns to her hometown to work with a regional theater troupe.
Although plot details remain under wraps, insiders describe the series as a “comedy with heart.” Deals are being finalized, and the project is expected to receive a series order.
Kansas City Star is part of HBO’s recent comedy resurgence, joining other new additions like an untitled Steve Carell series from Bill Lawrence, Rachel Sennott’s upcoming comedy, and The Chair Company by Tim Robinson and Zach Kanin.
This marks Cuoco’s latest foray into premium streaming after her Emmy-nominated role in WBTV’s The Flight Attendant and her performance in Peacock’s Based On A True Story. She also voices Harley Quinn in the animated Max series of the same name.
The Hacks trio—Aniello, Downs, and Statsky—are celebrated for their work on the Emmy-winning series, which is heading into its fourth season. Known for crafting female-led comedies with a sharp edge, the creators reunite under their Warner Bros. Television deal for Kansas City Star.
Their collaboration dates back to their work on Broad City, with Aniello and Downs also repped by UTA, 3 Arts, and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole, while Statsky is represented by UTA and Mosaic.
HBO and WBTV have declined to comment, but excitement is already building for what could become another standout comedy in HBO’s legacy.
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