Falling from NBC’s autumn slate might have been a blessing in disguise for apoca-comedy Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Created by 30 Rock‘s Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, the show’s funnybone originates from the same type of acerbic wit that their seminal skit comedy nailed with aplomb. So, after the network omitted the series from their fall line-up, a deal was struck with global streaming giants, Netflix, which might actually prove to be a stronger choice in getting this sitcom before the right audience.
Up front in the lead as the happy-go-lucky Kimmy is Bridesmaids‘ star, Ellie Kemper. After years of surviving in an underground apocalypse cult with three other women, she is eventually rescued and begins a new life in New York City. The pitfalls are easy to spot, purely based on that synopsis. Fish out of water gags, silliness borne out of misunderstanding… the obvious direction of the premise actually seems to be avoided in the trailer.
As Schmidt, Kemper bubbles with the type of overenthusiastic fizz you’d expect from a tween at their first One Direction gig. Except this is her entire life! Surrounded by a fistful of sort-of stock characters, from her flamboyant best friend to her entitled, rich boss, there’s a lot of opportunity here where those stereotypes are freshened up by the show’s keen sense of humour. You can check it out for yourself above, and make sure to keep an eye out for the always-stellar Jane Krakowski as Kimmy’s employer.
The first season of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt arrives on Netflix on March 6th.
From “30 Rock” executive producers, Tina Fey and Robert Carlock comes this hilarious new comedy series starring Ellie Kemper (“The Office,” “Bridesmaids”) as a woman who is rescued from a doomsday cult and starts life over as a nanny for an Upper East Side socialite (Jane Krakowski from “30 Rock”) in New York City. Armed with just a backpack, light-up sneakers and a couple way-past-due library books, she takes on a world she didn’t think even existed anymore.
