Comedy Central Orders ‘Workaholics'

Latest show to make the jump from web series to television

By Alex Weprin -- Broadcasting & Cable, 3/2/2010 11:19:49 AM

Comedy Central has greenlit Workaholics, a sitcom that originated as a webisode from the comedy group Mail Order Comedy.

Workaholics follows three friends, fresh out of college, that work together as telemarketers, while scheming to do as little real work as possible.

"This pilot was one of the great surprises waiting for me when I arrived here," said Comedy Central's head of programming Kent Alterman. "These guys have a unique comedic sensibility that they've applied to a very relatable experience - that delicate time between college and becoming a responsible adult.  For me, that period lasted for decades."

Mail Order Comedy's Blake Anderson, Anders Holm, Adam Devine will star in the series. Comedy has tapped Kevin Etten (Scrubs) to serve as executive producer and showrunner.

Comedy has ordered 10 half hour episodes of Workaholics, which will premiere in summer, 2010.

Workaholics is the latest in a growing line of web series making the jump to traditional television. Adult Swim picked up TheWB.com's Children's Hospital after Comedy Central passed on the project last year. Likewise Comedy's newest series Ugly Americans had its origins on the web as a short.