Fans of the long-running comic strip JumpStart will be excited to learn that CBS plans to convert it into a multi-camera comedy series! The strip written by Robb Armstrong has appeared in over four hundred publications since its creation in 1989, including the Los Angeles Times, New York Daily News, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and The Boston Globe. Now, Wayne Conley will be attempting to capture its magic through his TV script adaptation. Here's what we know so far.
JumpStart tells the story of a young African American couple in Philadelphia - Joe, who works as a policeman, and Marcy, a nurse - who find the humor in their attempts to balance their careers and family life. In 1996, Armstrong explained that the strip was based on his own experiences. "Nearly every married couple I know is like Joe and Marcy, my main characters. The image of young Blacks is so skewed, so false. I don't know anybody who's carjacking, playing basketball, rapping. Joe and Marcy and the characters I've developed are deep and based on real life."
Despite starting out in the '90s, the comedic series remains relevant and is likely to resonate with the many people struggling with today's life balance. The show will be executively produced by Conley, along with Kaplan and Melanie Frankel from Kapital Entertainment. This is not the first time an attempt has been made to turn the comic strip into a television series. In 2014, Kapital worked with Armstrong and his producer Bridget McMeel to create a single-camera comedy for FOX. But with a different writer attached, the show failed to make it all the way.
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With Conley now attached as the writer and producer, Kapital is giving it a second shot. Conley's producing credits include The Best Man, Queen Sugar, Delilah, Greenleaf, and White Famous, which have all been critically acclaimed. His writing credits are also impressive, including shows such as All That and Kenan & Kel! He's also written for movies such as King's Ransom and Our Family. Kapital Entertainment is hoping this show will find the same level of success as their current comedy series on CBS, The Neighborhood, which is set to begin its fifth season soon. Stay tuned for all the updates!
