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The ABC BLACK-ISH spinoff is nearing a series order but it won’t be on the alphabet’s schedule next fall. Instead, the single-camera comedy starring Yara Shahidi is set to land at sibling network Freeform where execs view the younger-skewing series as a better fit.
The comedy centers around Shahidi’s Black-ish character Zoey, daughter of Andre and Bow Johnson, as she heads off to college, similar to The Cosby Show spinoff A Different World.
Freeform beefed up their original programming slate with big announcements at their upfront presentation that included series orders for superhero series Cloak & Dagger, feminist coming-of-age dramedy The Bold Type, and the genre series Siren. On the comedy side they ordered the half-hour Alone Together from the Lone Island team, the animated laffer Sticks, and Marvel’s New Warriors.
The Shahidi-starrer would pair with the millennial-centric cabler and taps into Shahidi’s strong audience that she has developed in the last few years as a vocal activist. Shahidi and Girl Meets World actor Rowan Blanchard were featured on the cover of Teen Vogue where they were hailed “Feminist Teen Icons”.
Shahidi is repped by CAA and Principal Entertainment LA.
Emily J | TV Editor
