TORONTO and LONDON, U.K. — Blue Ant Studios and Catalyst, a Toronto-based development and funding company focusing on content created by women, announced today production has started on a new female-lead unscripted comedy series created by and starring Carolyn Taylor (above).
The six-episode, half-hour comedy, which is still untitled, was commissioned by Bell Media’s Crave and is slated to premiere on the streaming service in 2023. Blue Ant International is overseeing worldwide distribution.
The series is produced by Catalyst and Blue Ant Studios “as part of their strategic partnership to develop female-generated programming for the global marketplace,” a press release says.
Canadian actor and comedian Taylor is best known as one of the co-creators and co-stars of CBC’s hit comedy series Baroness von Sketch Show.
In Taylor’s new comedy series for Crave, “[t]he action plays out at the intersection of amateur ability and enormous ambition — in this case, inspired by Katerina Witt and the 1988 Calgary Olympics, Taylor’s unlikely quest to choreograph the perfect pairs figure-skating routine to be performed in front of an audience of skating stars and fans,” the release explains.
“What begins as a light-hearted challenge soon morphs into a real-life mission. Despite having zero figure-skating knowledge or skill, Taylor manages to convince an A-list cast of skaters to help her achieve her dream, including two-time Olympic Gold Medallist Ekaterina Gordeeva, Olympic Gold Medallist David Pelletier, four-time World Champion Kurt Browning, two-time Olympic Silver Medallist Brian Orser, World Champions Barbara Underhill & Paul Martini, Olympic Silver Medallist Elizabeth Manley, World Silver Medallists Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, United States Champion Adam Rippon, and social media skating sensation Elladj Baldé.”
Taylor “is aided and abetted on her figure-skating journey by BAFTA-winning actor and comedian Mae Martin (Feel Good) and Emmy-winning figure skating choreographer Sandra Bezic (Battle of the Blades).”
When asked for a quote while rehearsing at the skating rink, according to the release, Taylor said: “I’m exhausted, terrified, way out of my league and have absolutely no time to give you a quote.”
“Carolyn’s latest comedy offering hits all the notes for Catalyst, not least that we all need more reasons to laugh in our complicated and troubled world,” said Catalyst founder Julie Bristow, in the release. “But it also demonstrates that Catalyst’s raison d’etre — to give female-generated unscripted projects the very best start in life — is not just a worthy mission but a sound commercial proposition.
“Carolyn proves that believing in yourself and following your dreams can lead to remarkable things. And luckily for us all, figure skating is only one of Carolyn’s dreams. Turns out she has lots of them for future seasons,” Bristow said.
In addition to creating and starring in the series, Taylor also co-directs and executive produces along with Zack Russell. Other executive producers include Catalyst’s Vibika Bianchi and Julie Bristow and Blue Ant Studios’ Laura Michalchyshyn, Aileen Gardner and Sam Sniderman.
The series is supported by Rogers Cable Fund and Bell Fund.
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Photo provided by Blue Ant Media.
