TVSquad

Back in the merry month of May I told you guys that Comedy Central had picked up the pilot for a new series called American Body Shop. Well, that has now expanded to ten episodes which are set to air in the summer of 2007. The mostly-improvised show is reported to be in the same vein as Reno 911!, focusing on a repair shop run by Sam, a man whose employees include a receptionist named Denise; Rob, a mechanic; a phony thug named Johnny; and a mysterious Peruvian by the name of Luis. Based on the press release, the show might have more in common with Reno 911! than just being improvised. The character descriptions and their quirks sound an awful lot like the deputies of Reno: one says inappropriate things, one is a kind of ringleader who is always ignored, one always makes racist comments, etc. Hopefully it only sounds similar on paper. I like the concept, I just want it to be unique.

Comedy Central has ordered a pilot episode of a new improvisational comedy which will spoof shows such as American Chopper and Monster Garage. The new series, which is being compared stylistically to Reno 911, will take place in an automotive garage in suburban Phoenix. Assuming the pilot gets picked up, it will air this fall. The series is called American Body Shop. It is actually one of three new pilots the network is looking at, including a series called Mark and Mike, which will focus on Mark Borchardt and Mike Schank, the two "stars" of American Movie who will try to secure distribution for his new horror film. The series begins where American Movie left off. The third pilot is an untitled comedy and variety show featuring stand-up comic DeRay Davis.