‘Rick and Morty’ Writer Who Created ‘Pickle Rick’ Gets New Comedy ‘Lazy Rich Asians’ on ABC
By Ryan General
Writer and producer Jessica Gao of the “Rick and Morty” fame is set to create the new Asian-centric series for ABC.
Gao, who recently won the “Best Animated Program” Emmy for writing the “Pickle Rick” episode of the popular Adult Swim show, brilliantly pitched her new project as “Lazy Rich Asians.”
ABC, which appears to be keen on riding on the success of “Crazy Rich Asians” film, has given a script-plus-penalty commitment to Gao’s new show. according to the Hollywood Reporter.
The upcoming series is about Janet Zhao, a Chinese-American woman who becomes the unwilling matriarch of “her crazy, exhausting family” after her extremely rich grandmother died and named her as the sole inheritor of her wealth. Gao will executive produce and pen the script for the still-untitled comedy series.
The working title illustrates the influence of Jon M. Chu’s blockbuster film “Crazy Rich Asians,” a movie cited by industry insiders as a catalyst for opening the door for more Asian American representation in Hollywood both on and off screen.
“Crazy Rich Asians” has so far raked in almost $137 million in the United States ($166 million worldwide), effectively breaking the perception that Asians aren’t bankable enough to sell a movie or a TV series.
Gao, a rising star writer in Hollywood, has worked on hit shows such as “Silicon Valley,” “Robot Chicken,” and the “Kung Fu Panda: Legend of Awesomeness.”
Featured image via Twitter/Jessica Gao
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