Four years after the show ended,Superstoreis one step closer to getting the perfect replacement at NBC. Debuting in November 2015 and running until March 2021, the Justin Spitzer-created comedy followed a group of employees who work at a fictional big-box store called Cloud 9.
Withthe cast ofSuperstorefeaturing America Ferrera, Ben Feldman, Lauren Ash, Colton Dunn, Nico Santos, Nichole Sakura, and Mark McKinney, the sitcom received strong reviews and developed a loyal audience. It ended after six seasons and more than 100 episodes, with NBC executives shifting its focus to a newer batch of comedy titles.
Deadlinereports thatthe warehouse comedyForkliftis in development at NBC, with comedian Chris Estrada tapped to executive produce and star in the single-camera series. Estrada recently created and starred in the Hulu comedyThis Fool, which ran for two seasons and boasts a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
What To Know About Forklift
It’s Inspired By Estrada’s Experiences
Forkliftfollows Victor (Estrada), a forklift driverwho has been promoted to warehouse supervisor. Despite the excitement of a promotion, Victor soon discovers that his upward mobility comes with a cost. In particular, his friends and co-workers go from viewing him as a brother to now being part of“Big Brother.”
The projectdraws from the real-life experiences of Estrada, who was still working at his warehouse jobwhen he learned that Hulu was moving forward withThis Fool. It would remain an underrated gem throughout its short run, with critics praisingThis Fool’s humor and singular tone.
Forkliftis co-written by Estrada and Rick Cisario, who also executive produce alongside Jordan Tilzer and Good Walk’s Kent Alterman and Sarah Babineau. It hails from Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, and comes at a time when NBC is looking to bulk up its comedy ranks after the success ofSpitzer’sSt. Denis Medical.
Our Take On Forklift’s Connection To Superstore
The Potential Is There
Estrada will tackle the story from his unique perspective. But aftera plannedSuperstorespinoffdidn’t materialize,Forkliftcould fill a similar void in terms of its setting and focus that will evoke other comedies. It’s a great sign, as well, since Estrada could get a bigger audience than his Hulu critical darling received.
