IFC is pushing away from its indie film roots to place a greater emphasis on a diversified, original slate, underscored by a new tagline, "Always On. Slightly Off."
The network, whose audience is 70% male, is continuing to place a greater emphasis on comedy both through development and acquisitions.
Leading the way is a pair of scripted comedies, The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret, starring David Cross and Will Arnett in their first project together since Arrested Development, which is currently part of IFC's lineup following its 2009 acquisition. The new show, set to air this fall, follows the misadventures of Todd Margaret (Cross), a corporate nobody and pathological liar who unexpectedly finds himself running his company's London office. Assigned by his blowhard boss (Arnett) to launch a terrible energy drink, Margaret is overwhelmed, knowing little about British culture or sales. The initial order calls for six half hours.
IFC is also pushing forward with Onion News Network, the first TV series based on the popular alternative weekly fake newspaper and Web series. Scheduled to bow next year, production has begun on 10, 30-minute installments.
Moreover, IFC has acquired Kids in the Hall: Death Comes to Town, a Kids in the Hall reunion series that will debut in August, and Dead Set, a satirical horror series that takes place on the set of the U.K.'s Big Brother house, and is slated to premiere in October.
These series complement a comedic base comprising Food Party, The Whitest Kids U' Know, Arrested Development and Monty Python's Flying Circus.
"Our rebrand and new slate were driven by IFC evolving from being first and foremost about indie film to showcasing programming that's ‘always on' the mark, but with a ‘slightly off' indie perspective," said Jennifer Caserta, executive vice president and general manager of IFC in announcing the brand's evolution. "It's a perspective and attitude we share with our audience, who crave the kinds of unconventional stories, characters, talent, execution and, above all, authenticity, we provide.
"Already our original scripted comedies are pulling in a loyal fan base and we're thrilled to expand our commitment to the genre by working with such comedic geniuses as David Cross, Will Arnett and the masterminds behind The Onion,"she added.
IFC also announced that it is developing a half-dozen shows:
*I Love the A.D.'s (working title) -- This animated show, replete with dinosaurs, takes place during the "lost years " of Jesus, who still trying to figure out what he wants to do with his life. Contemporary characters live out alternative takes on familiar biblical scenarios;
*Variety Shac -- Revolves around the four members of "Variety Shac," an all-female sketch comedy troupe;
*Dieter Horn in Night Port -- Sending up Miami Vice, Magnum PI and Knight Rider, this series features a German criminal turned vigilante, who armed with great hair, a Porsche and withering one-liners takes on the scum of Port City with his bare hands;
*Jobbed -- Set in New York City, this scripted workplace comedy takes place at the East Village branch of the Manhattan Department of Labor's Unemployment Office, where a downsized dotcommer becomes an unlikely civil servant;
*There Might Be Cake -- Comedian Greg Behrendt, author of He's Just Not That Into You, hosts a weekly chat with famous comedians about their careers and how they've achieved success; and
*Young, Broke & Beautiful -- IFC ventures into the travel genre through the eyes of host/travel book author Broke-Ass Stuart, who gets under the skin of "the city you didn't know you lived in," taking viewers on underground cultural adventures in cities across America on the cheap.
