The move comes a few weeks after the MTV Entertainment Studios-produced series was canceled by Netflix. At the premium network, soon to be rebranded as Paramount+ With Showtime, Uncoupled is designed to fit into one of the three main content axes recently outlined by new Showtime boss Chris McCarthy, "Metro Cultures," which promotes "cultural diversity." such as The L Word and The Chi includes.
As sources reported at the time of the cancellation, speculation that the series starring Neil Patrick Harris would not be continued on Netflix in late 2022 began when it was indicated that there was an attempt by Uncoupled producer MTV Entertainment Studios, which Star would be under an umbrella deal falls to find a new home for the series at Paramount Global sibling Showtime. At the time, those talks did not result in an order, and Uncoupled was officially canceled by Netflix on January 13.
A lot has changed at Showtime since then. Parent company Paramount Global's plan to integrate its premium network into streaming platform Paramount+ was announced, and Showtime canceled several series, canceled new drama Three Women (which ended up with Starz), and canceled American Gigolo and Let the Right One In because it shifts focus to three key strengths/content filters.
These include complex characters (subversive anti-heroes like Dexter and Yellowjackets), powerful worlds (high-stakes shows like Billions and Homeland), and subway cultures. In the first two areas, Showtime is expanding the universes of Dexter and Billions with multiple spinoffs and the greenlight of the spy thriller The Department.
In addition, the new Showtime series Ripley has just gone to Netflix. Showtime's negotiations with Netflix for Ripley paralleled the network's talks for the former Netflix series Uncoupled.
With "diverse cultures," Showtime aims to build on its legacy in the arena with series such as Brothers (1984), Queer as Folk (2000), The L Word (2004) and the current reboot, as well as Soul Food (1999) and Resurrection Blvd. (2000).
There are also practical reasons to scale up the category. Showtime's current series, The Chi and The L Word, have Showtime's most loyal viewers, but also have a high attrition rate because the network has no additional programming to maintain those viewers year-round.
On Showtime, Uncoupled is expected to be sharper than the version on Netflix. In addition to The L Word, it joins Showtime's upcoming LGBTQ+ themed series, Fellow Travelers, starring Matt Bomer, Jonathan Bailey, Allison Williams, Jelani Alladin, and Noah J. Ricketts.
In Uncoupled, Harris plays the role of a gay man in his mid-40s who discovers single life in New York City after being dumped by his partner after seventeen years. The cast also includes Tisha Campbell, Brooks Ashmanskas, Emerson Brooks and Marcia Gay Harden.
Star, who co-produces Uncoupled with Richman and Jax Media, is one of MTV Entertainment Studios' most successful series creators. He is behind the studio's hit Netflix comedy series Emily in Paris and previously created the TV Land series Younger, which aired on Paramount+.
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