Awkwafina’s new sitcom on Comedy Central will be called Awkwafina is Nora from Queens, Yahoo reports. The star of The Farewell and Crazy Rich Asians will play herself, Nora Lum (her real name).
The show is currently in production in New York City and set to premiere in January 2020. Deadline reported in 2018 that Comedy Central has ordered ten episodes of the half-hour scripted comedy.
According to its logline, Awkwafina is Nora From Queens will follow the writer, actor and rapper as she “strives for a larger-than-life existence” while living with her father (Law & Order: SVU’s BD Wong) and grandmother (Orange Is The New Black’s Lori Tan Chinn). High Maintenance’s Bowen Yang is also set to co-star as Awkwafina’s cousin.
“I’ve been watching Comedy Central since I was old enough to hold a remote, and so many of their shows have defined who I am today,” Awkwafina said in 2018 when the show was ordered. “I am so honored to be given their platform to tell the story of an Asian American girl against the backdrop of the city I was raised.”
Awkwafina, Karey Dornetto and Teresa Hsiao wrote the pilot directed by Lucia Aniello. The show will have an all-female writers’ room.
LATEST STORIES
Awkwafina confirmed on Twitter that this was true and “not even done on purpose,” stating that she “wanted to assemble a team of brilliant writers, and they all just happened to be women.”
Comedy Central has also announced a slate of predominantly female and diverse directors for the series. According to Deadline, the list includes Natasha Lyonne (Russian Doll), Lucia Aniello (Broad City), Jamie Babbit (But I’m a Cheerleader), The Daniels (Swiss Army Man), Steven Tsuchida (Younger) and Anu Valia (The Other Two).
Awkwafina is Nora From Queens will be executive produced by Awkwafina, Karey Dornetto, Lucia Aniello, Teresa Hsiao, Peter Principato and Itay Reiss of Artists First.
AsAmNews has Asian America in its heart. We’re an all-volunteer effort of dedicated staff and interns. Check out our Twitter feed and Facebook page for more content. Please consider interning, joining our staff or submitting a story.
