Amazon pilot is truTV’s debut scripted series

A rejected Amazon Studios pilot has become the first full-length scripted series for US cable channel truTV.

The Turner Broadcasting System-owned entertainment channel has ordered a pilot of Those Who Can’t (WT), which comes from Denver-based comedy troupe The Grawlix.

Though truTV says the original Amazon Prime Instant Video pilot “tested very high”, it was not picked up to series, and the Turner channel acquired the property in turnaround. It plans to reshoot the entire pilot.

The show follows three dysfunctional high school teachers that go to extreme measures to exact revenge on an entitled bully. Thank You, Brain! Productions and 3 Arts Entertainment are coproducing.

truTV has already branched out into scripted programming with sketch comedy Friends of the People, which is also from 3 Arts.

“We love Adam, Andrew and Ben’s unique sense of humour, especially the characters they’ve created at the centre of Those Who Can’t,” said Marissa Ronca, senior vice president, development and original programming for truTV. “This show is funny, original and the perfect project for truTV to expand into scripted.”

Show creators and stars Adam Cayton-Holland, Andrew Orvedahl and Ben Roy executive produce alongside Tracey Baird and Krysia Plonka of Thank You, Brain!; and Michael Rotenberg and Josh Lieberman of 3 Arts.

Eric Slovin is co-EP, while Rich Korson, who signed an overall development deal with truTV earlier this year, is also attached to the pilot.