Impact Network has greenlit its first ever original scripted series, Variety has learned exclusively.
Impact Network, which is completely Black-founded and operated, has ordered the half-hour workplace comedy “Highly Favored” from Bentley Kyle Evans.
“We’re excited to start production on our first ever original scripted series and to have it in the expert hands of prolific producer Bentley Kyle Evans and his Harvest Studios team,” said Impact Network CEO Wayne T. Jackson.
“Highly Favored” is said to explore “the clash between tradition and modernity through the point of view of a charismatic yet old-fashioned pastor faced with the challenges of modernizing his church to keep up with the times, while dealing with a quirky cast of characters and an outrageous but well-meaning family,” per the official logline. The cast and premiere date will be announced at a later date. Impact has ordered six episodes.
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“I’m thrilled to partner with Impact Network on their first original scripted series,” Evans said. “‘Highly Favored’ combines the comedy and quirky characters of both ‘Amen’ and ‘The Office’ and is perfect for these times.”
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Evans serves as executive producer, director, and showrunner on “Highly Favored” via Harvest Studios, with Trenten W. Gumbs also executive producing. Royal W. Jackson, Impact Network executive vice president, will co-executive produce. Evans’ television career spans over three decades, having worked on shows like “Martin,” “The Jamie Foxx Show,” “In the Cut,” “Family Time,” and many more.
“’Highly Favored’ is just the beginning of our investment in original programming and our promise to give audiences authentic family-oriented content they won’t get anywhere else,” said Jackson.
Impact Network was founded by Bishop Wayne T. Jackson and Dr. Beverly Y. Jackson in 2010 in Detroit, MI. It is distributed in over 70% of US homes broadcasting via cable and satellite systems on Comcast-Xfinity, Frontier, Cox, Time Warner, Spectrum, Charter, Spectrum, ATT-U-Verse, Verizon, Fios, Altice, DirecTV, DISH and expanding digitally. Impact Gospel is a FAST channel focusing primarily on gospel lifestyle entertainment, available on Allen Media Group’s Local Now and theGrio platforms and Mansa.
