Impact Network has greenlit its first-ever original scripted series, Variety only learned.
Impact Network, which is entirely Black-owned and operated, has ordered the half-hour comedy “Highly Favored” from Bentley Kyle Evans.
“We are excited to begin production on our first-ever original scripted series and have it in the expert hands of prolific producer Bentley Kyle Evans and his Harvest Studios team,” said Wayne T. Jackson, CEO of Impact Network.
‘Highly Favored’ is said to “explore the clash between tradition and modernity from the point of view of a charismatic yet old-fashioned pastor who is faced with the challenges of modernizing his church to keep up with the times, while features a quirky cast of characters and an outrageous but well-meaning family,” reads the official logline. The cast and premiere date will be announced at a later date. Impact has ordered six episodes.
“I am thrilled to be working with Impact Network on their first original scripted series,” said Evans. “’Highly Favored’ combines the comedy and quirky characters of both ‘Amen’ and ‘The Office’ and is perfect for today.”
Evans serves as executive producer, director and showrunner for “Highly Favored” through Harvest Studios, while Trenten W. Gumbs also executive produces. Royal W. Jackson, executive vice president of Impact Network, will co-executive produce. Evans’ television career has spanned more than three decades and has worked on shows such as “Martin,” “The Jamie Foxx Show,” “In the Cut,” “Family Time” and many more.
“’Highly Favored’ is just the beginning of our investment in original programming and our promise to bring audiences authentic family-oriented content they won’t get anywhere else,” said Jackson.
Impact Network was founded in 2010 by Bishop Wayne T. Jackson and Dr. Beverly Y. Jackson in Detroit, MI. It is distributed in more than 70% of US homes broadcasting via cable and satellite systems on Comcast-Xfinity, Frontier, Cox, Time Warner, Spectrum, Charter, Spectrum, ATT-U-Verse, Verizon, Fios, Altice, DirecTV , DISH and digital expansion. Impact Gospel is a FAST channel primarily focused on gospel lifestyle entertainment, available on Allen Media Group and Mansa’s Local Now and theGrio platforms.