#Comedy Central picks up ‘Daria’ spinoff ‘Jodie’ with Tracee Ellis Ross

By Nellie Andreeva, Deadline

Comedy Central has nabbed animated series “Jodie,” a spinoff of MTV’s iconic “Daria,” with Tracee Ellis Ross voicing the main character and executive producing. The series, from creator and head writer Grace Edwards and MTV Studios, will be paired with Comedy Central’s flagship series, “South Park.”

This is the first major move in a programming shift at Comedy Central focused on ramping up adult animated content and building an original animated slate around “South Park.” The major programming pivot already was in the planning stages when Comedy Central recently laid off the majority of its senior programming team.

“Jodie” also marks the first MTV Studios series for Comedy Central as the brads are forging closer ties now that they are part of the same ViacomCBS Entertainment & Youth Group overseen by Chris McCarthy.

The new series is based on Jodie Landon, Daria’s friend at the fictional Lawndale High. “Jodie” picks up with her character graduating from college and entering a complicated world.

What “Daria” did for showing how inane high school was for Gen X, “Jodie” will do for exploring the trials and tribulations of a first job for a new generation. The series will satirize workplace culture, Gen Z struggles, the artifice of social media and more. With themes of empowerment along gender and racial lines, explorations of privilege, and a wicked sense of humor, “Jodie” will shine a light on the personal and professional issues young Black women face today.

“Daria” ran for five seasons from 1997 to 2002 and began as a spin-off of the “Beavis and Butthead” franchise. Through its ensemble cast, “Daria” addressed key issues on the show — race, gender, class and identity — all through the lens of the wry wisdom of its main character, who was credited by cultural critics as a favorite fictional feminist that shaped a generation of women.

Edwards previously served as writer/co-producer for the acclaimed HBO series “Insecure.” Additional credits include multiple seasons on “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” and Comedy Central’s “Inside Amy Schumer.”

Best known for her role as Rainbow Johnson on ABC’s praised comedy series “black-ish,” Ellis Ross won a Golden Globe and five NAACP Image Awards for her work on the show.