- Share this article on Facebook
- Share this article on Twitter
- Share this article on Flipboard
- Share this article on Email
- Show additional share options
- Share this article on Linkedin
- Share this article on Pinit
- Share this article on Reddit
- Share this article on Tumblr
- Share this article on Whatsapp
- Share this article on Print
- Share this article on Comment
Online distributor SnagFilms has picked up web series Scammers from comedian and writer Barry Marder. The project, which goes into production in February, is slated for a spring 2014 release.
Produced by Sundance Productions, Scammers follows Marder under the pseudonym Ted L. Nancy as he responds to Internet con artists soliciting his bank account information.
PHOTOS: 2014’s New Broadcast and Cable TV Shows
Scammers represents SnagFilms’ first foray into production of a web series. “It’s a testament to our belief in our partners, Sundance Productions and Barry Marder, that we’re stepping out of our comfort zone to do something really unique,” says CEO Rick Allen.
Allen and SnagFilms executive vice president David Karp will executive produce the series along with Marder and Sundance Productions president Laura Michalchyshyn. Samantha Storr will produce.
Marder first created the Nancy character for the book Letters from a Nut in 1997. When it was released, many speculated that Jerry Seinfeld, who wrote an intro to the book, was the real person behind Nancy. The longtime friends revealed on Today in 2010 that Marder was the man behind the character.
This isn’t the first time that Marder has taken the Nancy character to television. Letters was developed as a half-hour comedy at ABC in 2002. A pilot was ordered, but the series didn’t move forward.
In 2007, Marder teamed up with Lionsgate Television for a non-scripted show. A pilot was sold to Fox with Kevin Sussman (The Big Bang Theory) to voice Nancy.
“I’m so grateful that Sundance Productions and SnagFilms have signed on in helping to put this project of mine into motion … Laura and Rick understand Mr. Nancy,” Marder said in a statement. “Ted’s kind of like Clark Kent with a double hernia. He moves, but he clutches his side a lot.”
SnagFilms has ordered 10 episodes of Scammers that will run between four and six minutes. Allen says Scammers will compliment the website’s database of about 4,500 documentaries and scripted films.
“We’ve got something that is easy for an audience to relate to that’s done by incredible pros,” he says. “It’s very, very funny. Those are winning ingredients.”
Related Stories
THR Newsletters
Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day