Tazbah Chavez to Direct NBC’s Native American Community Comedy Pilot
Tazbah Chavez has been tapped to direct NBC’s upcoming single-cam comedy pilot set at a Native American community center, as reported exclusively by Variety.
The ensemble cast for the pilot includes Jana Schmieding, Bobby Wilson, Wes Studi, Rachel Dratch, Frankie Quiñones, Eddie Spears, Brian Bahe, and Sienna Tso. The pilot, which was greenlit by NBC in March alongside the cheerleader comedy pilot “Stumble,” is set at a Native community center in Oakland, Calif. The employees at the center work hard to keep the lights on while also providing support to those in need.
The pilot is written by Sierra Teller Ornelas, Jackie Keliiaa, and Wilson, all of whom are also serving as executive producers. Teller Ornelas is set to be the showrunner, with Morgan Sackett also on board as an executive producer. Universal Television, where Teller Ornelas and Sackett have overall deals, is the studio behind the project.
Chavez’s involvement in the pilot reunites her with several members of the cast and creative team from her previous work on shows like “Rutherford Falls” and “Reservation Dogs.” She has written and directed multiple episodes of both series, as well as serving as a producer on one and a co-executive producer on the other. Chavez’s impressive credits also include work on “Resident Alien,” “Accused,” and “Sex Lives of College Girls,” along with upcoming projects like “IT: Welcome to Derry” and “The Paper.” She is represented by 3 Arts, WME, and Hansen Jacobson.
Currently, NBC’s comedy lineup is relatively small, with only the multi-cam sitcom “Happy’s Place” and the mockumentary “St. Denis Medical” on air. Recent cancellations include “Night Court” and “Lopez vs. Lopez.”
The new comedy pilot directed by Chavez promises to bring a fresh and diverse perspective to NBC’s comedy offerings, with a talented cast and creative team behind the scenes. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting project!
