Adult-targeted, time-traveling “bromantic comedy” series Barry & Joe has received some high-profile backing with Conan O’Brien coming onboard as an executive producer (through his prodco, Conaco), and Titmouse Inc. (The Venture Bros., Big Mouth) signing on to deliver the animation. Following the time-traveling adventures of former US president Barack Obama and his faithful veep, Joe Biden, the concept has been drawing lots of interest since the launch of its Kickstarter campaign, which successfully wrapped this fall.
“My nerdy heart is exploding,” Series creator Adam Reid said in a statement. He told Newsweek: “This whole time I’m like, ‘Conan and Titmouse, Conan and Titmouse, Conan and Titmouse,’ in the cheesiest way thinking about it and putting it out there. That it’s really happening—it’s bananas.”
Director-writer Reid, who is also co-founder of production house and agency Bodega Studios, conceived the show during the “emotional hangover” of the 2016 presidential election — initially putting the idea aside before realizing he hadn’t been overreacting to the situation this summer. Barry & Joe takes a page from sci-fi hit Quantum Leap: After the 2016 election, Biden embarks on a series of journeys back to different points in history to recruit an unknowing Obama as his partner to save the world — often from an unseen yet terrifyingly familiar villain. Like Dr. Claw in Inspector Gadget, the baddie will never show his face — only a “tiny orange hand.”
The production partners intend to rework the Barry & Joe pilot and set out a season 1 plan for an estimated 10 x half-hour package which will be ready to pitch to networks in early 2018. Conaco is also working on the animated sci-fi saga Final Space for TBS, due next year.
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