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Universal TV Rides Industry Comedy Comeback With ‘Hacks,’ ‘A Man on the Inside’ and Kevin Smith’s New Comic Book Mystery Show (EXCLUSIVE)

Universal TV is ramping up its comedy output, following the Emmy success of "Hacks" and recent hit "A Man on the Inside." Next: A Kevin Smith show.

Besides “30 Rock,” that contemporary comedy library includes “The Office,” “Parks and Recreation,” “Will & Grace,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” and “The Good Place.” “We’re always comparing ourselves to the past and I think one of the most important things that we can do is create an environment where creators feel safe to take risks,” Donnelly says. While NBC and Peacock are a priority for Universal TV, the aforementioned “Hacks” (Max) and “A Man on the Inside” (Netflix) were sold to rival streamers; other laffers that have found a home outside of NBCUniversal include Apple TV+’s “Loot,” starring Maya Rudolph. With the stable of talent inside Universal having cut its teeth on “Saturday Night Live,” the NBC latenight shows or the studio’s landmark comedies, Schur compares it to a “repertory company.”

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