Press release from Network Ten
Like a dog in heat, ELEVEN is sweating happiness over securing the broadcast rights to the US adaption of the critically acclaimed, Australian cult comedy hit, Wilfred. Grrrrr!
Co-created by and starring Aussie Jason Gann (Mark Loves Sharon, The Wedge), Wilfred had shagged out two seasons on SBS before being scooped up and groomed for the US network FX by David Zuckerman (Family Guy, American Dad, King of the Hill).
Launching on FX in June and ELEVEN later this year, Wilfred is a half-hour, live-action comedy about “Ryan” (played by Elijah Wood), an unlucky dweeb who resides firmly on struggle street, until he forms a unique friendship with “Wilfred” (Jason Gann), his neighbour’s dog/dawg (you choose). Everyone else sees Wilfred as just a dog, but Ryan sees a crude and surly, yet irrepressibly brave and honest Australian bloke in a cheap dog suit.
Network Ten chief programming officer, David Mott, said: “We think the US version of Wilfred fits in perfectly with the demographic ELEVEN is focused on. It’s a fresh, very funny adaption of the Australian version and we think the ELEVEN audience will love it. We are also delighted to have Jason Gann back on the Network, he’s a fantastic talent and it’s great to see this clever series find an international foothold”.
Gann, who is serving as Co-Executive Producer, said: “Elijah and I are both super excited for Australian audiences to see this new incarnation of Wilfred. David Zuckerman and the whole creative team have bravely taken the show to a new place. It’s crazy, darker than ever, and yes… Wilfred still smokes bongs and has sex with anything that moves… and everything that doesn’t.”
Serving alongside Zuckerman and Gann as Executive Producers are Rich Frank, Paul Frank and Jeff Kwatinetz of Prospect Park as well as creative maestros Joe Connor and Ken Connor of Renegade, producers of the Australian version of the series. Wilfred is produced by FX Productions and distributed by 20th Century Fox.