New Sierra Teller Ornelas Comedy Pilot Set at Native Community Center Coming to NBC
Starring an ensemble cast, the center's staff will "hustle to keep the lights on while lifting up those in need."
A new comedy from the creative minds behind Peacock's original sitcom Rutherford Falls is coming to NBC.
NBC announced on March 17 the network has picked up a single-camera comedy pilot from Sierra Teller Ornelas, Jackie Keliiaa, Bobby Wilson, and Morgan Sackett. Starring an ensemble cast, the new comedy will take place at a Native community center based in Oakland, California where the employees hustle to keep the lights on while lifting up those in need. Teller Ornelas, Keliiaa, Wilson, and Sackett are all executive producers on the comedy.
Teller Ornelas, Wilson, and Sackett also previously worked together on Rutherford Falls, a Peacock original starring Jana Schmieding, Ed Helms, Michael Greyeyes. The two-season, single-camera sitcom also centered on a Native community through a comedic lens and received rave reviews for how modern issues were explored on screen. Teller Ornelas also made history on Rutherford Falls as, according to The New York Times, she became the first Native American showrunner of a TV comedy.
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Teller Ornelas, who will serve as the new series' showrunner, celebrated the news of her upcoming untitled NBC comedy pilot on social media, writing on her Instagram Story, “When I tell you, you ain’t ready.”
Teller Ornelas is also known for her work on several other hit comedies including Brooklyn Nine Nine, St. Denis Medical, Superstore, Happy Endings, and Loot.
Wilson’s resume also includes his acting and writing work on Reservation Dogs. He also wrote the Marvel series Echo and has appeared in the fantasy series, What We Do in the Shadows. Wilson is also a founding member of the Native sketch comedy group the 1491s.
Keliiaa is a stand-up comedian, opening for Judah Friedlander and Nikki Glaser, who also wrote for the web series You're Welcome America and lends her voice to the character Bubble on the animated series, Spirit Rangers. She also produces an all-Native comedy show titled Good Medicine Comedy.
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Teller Ornelas shared on Instagram that she’s thrilled to be working with Keliiaa and Wilson. “Damn if it doesn’t feel soooooo good to announce my besties @bobbydues @jackiecomedy and I are making a pilot for @nbc. NBC!!!” she wrote. “As a youngin’ I was an indoor kid and watched every NBC comedy … To be making this, it’s the dang dream! Join us?”
