Italian
Kit Williamson’s new scripted half-hour comedy series “Unconventional” has been acquired by LGBTQ streaming network Revry.
Williamson, a six-time Emmy nominee best known as the creator and star of “Eastsiders,” stars in “Unconventional” as Noah Guillory, a queer millennial struggling with his 10-year marriage, possibly starting a family, and the future of his PhD program while also acting as the sperm donor to his sister Margot’s wife, Eliza.
The nine-episode season – each episode follows a month of Eliza’s pregnancy — will premiere on Revry on Feb. 11.
“‘Unconventional’ comes at a time where stories about marginalized communities are more important than ever and ‘Unconventional’ is an unapologetically queer show,” Williamson said Thursday. “Unfortunately, LGBTQ representation has diminished considerably since ‘Eastsiders’ ended, and mainstream depictions often shy away from the complex realities of queer love. Revry is the perfect home for the series and I couldn’t be more excited about the acquisition.”
Popular on Variety Co-star James Bland (“Giant”), who plays Noah’s husband Dan, was also a key member of the creative team, serving as a writer, director, and producer. Other leads include Aubrey Shea (CMT’s “Nashville”) and Briana Venskus (ABC’s “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” Supporting cast includes Kathy Griffin, Beau Bridges, Willam (“RuPaul’s Drag Race”), Jenna Ushkowitz (“Glee”), Tuc Watkins (“Uncoupled”), Dana Wheeler-Nicholson (“Friday Night Lights”), James Urbaniak (“Difficult People,” Constantine Rousouli (off-Broadway’s “Titanique”), Laith Ashley (“Pose”) and Miranda Bailey (“Diary of a Teenage Girl”).
“‘Unconventional’ is exactly the type of programming Revry was created for, stories that capture the nuance and complexities of modern LGBTQ+ life,” Revry co-founer and CEO Damian Pelliccione said. “Genuine queer storytelling is at the heart of everything we do and we’re proud to be leading the way when it comes to bringing queer representation to larger audiences.”
“Unconventional” was developed at the Sundance Lab and shot on location in Palm Springs and Joshua Tree. In addition to Williamson and Bland, the creative team included executive producers Miranda Bailey Christopher Miller, Edward Ruttenberg, Madison McKinley, Jason Beck, Erwin More, and Larissa James, and writers Brea Grant, Trey Anthony and Chad Callaghan. Grant and Bailey also directed episodes. “Unconventional” was produced by Cold Iron Pictures and The Money Pool.
