The last time producer Judd Apatow created a television show, 2001s now-beloved Undeclared, the comedy series lasted just 17 episodes before it was prematurely canceled. Apatows next TV series is already guaranteed a much better fate: Netflix has placed a straight-to-series pickup order for the Knocked Up directors latest series Love, even committing to stream 22 episodes spread over two season starting in 2016. Community actress Gillian Jacobs and Super Fun Nights Paul Rust will star in the upcoming Apatow series, which he co-created and co-wrote with Rust and Girls writer Lesley Arfin.
Variety reportsthat Love will examine the relationship between Jacobs Mickey and Rusts Gus and all exhilarations and humiliations of intimacy, commitment and other things they were hoping to avoid. The 22-episode order is Netflixs biggest commitment to an original program since it ordered two full seasons of House of Cards. Netflix has been supportive in ways I couldnt create in my wildest fever dreams, Apatow said in a statement.
As the creator of cult favorites like Undeclared and Freaks and Geeks and an executive producer on Girls, Apatow should be welcomed by comedy fans wholl applaud his returnto the small screen. However, Loves guaranteed order and Jacobs casting probably means that Communitywhich was saved from imminent cancellation by Yahoo! will likelyend its run following its upcoming 13-episode sixth season, or at least itll have to soldier on without Britta.
Love is thelatest addition to Netflixs impressive and growing stable of comedies, joining the reborn Arrested Development, Orange Is the New Black, and their new animated series Bojack Horseman.