Yahoo, Jack Black's production firm ink deal on new Web series
The series, called "Ghost Ghirls," will debut on Yahoo Screen in the spring. Black will not star in the show, but will make at least one cameo.
Yahoo Screen is getting a new Web series in the spring.
Electric Dynamite Productions, a production company owned by actor Jack Black, has inked a deal with Shine America to deliver a Web-based comedy series named "Ghost Ghirls" to Yahoo Screen, the companies announced today. Shine America is best known as the production company behind popular shows, "The Biggest Loser" and MasterChef," among several others.
Yahoo Screen is the online company's Web-based video portal. The company offers online videos from third parties, as well as original comedy programming, like "Burning Love" and "Sketchy." Comedy has proven desirable to Yahoo Screen's viewership.
"Our users come to Yahoo Screen for their daily dose of comedy, and we're excited to bring them 'Ghost Ghirls,'" Yahoo's vice president and head of video and originals, Eric McPherson, said today in a statement. Speaking to Ad Age in an interview published today, McPherson said that Yahoo Screen's original comedy "Burning Love" was the top referral search term to Yahoo in June.
Yahoo's search for original programming comes as Google-owned YouTube is also trying to establish itself as a destination for non-user-generated videos. That company has invested $100 million in the development of a broad array of original programs for its service.
Actually succeeding at original programming, however, has proven troublesome for many of the companies YouTube partnered with. Looking ahead, YouTube will reportedly only continue to fund 30 percent to 40 percent of the original programming created by providers.
"Ghost Ghirls," which Black called "the funniest idea for a TV show that we've seen" since founding the production studio, follows two female ghostbusters played by actresses Amanda Lund and Maria Blasucci. The characters are charged with solving paranormal issues, but must also convince their clients that what they're doing is legit.
"Ghost Ghirls" started production earlier this month, and will deliver 12 episodes to Yahoo Screen. The first episode will air sometime in the spring.