The Neighbors

This past week, with little fanfare, Hulu unveiled two more episodes of The Neighbors, Tommy Wiseau’s so-bad-it’s-horrendous-not-to-mention-weirdly-racist-and-frankly-borderline-unwatchable sitcom. It turns out that—at least according to the auteur behind the project—the reason for this has to do with awards season. Specifically, Emmy awards, and how Tommy would like to win a couple. In a new interview with Fusion, Wiseau explains that the episodes had to come out, if he wanted the show to be eligible for consideration:

We have a contract with Hulu that we releasing total of 12. Eight, actually. I think it’s eight, or 12. But we needed two more to qualify for Emmys, so we actually submitted to Emmys—there was deadline [Tuesday]. I don’t know which episode you saw, but we’re very happy what’s happening. It’s a creative process that I like.




Beyond the bold declaration that whatever led to the creation of The Neighbors is a “creative process,” Wiseau proceeded to run down the list of categories in which he submitted the show for consideration. The Neighbors is looking for awards in directing, choreography, writing, supporting actor, supporting actress, and of course “Outstanding Comedy Series.” He says he submitted four actors in the two categories, perhaps assuming the academy will simply unanimously choose to hand out dual awards for actor and actress, given the unassailable quality of the material.

More excitingly for all you Wiseau-heads out there, however, comes the news that Wiseau has a new idea for a movie, one ideally suited to his sensitive understanding of race relations in America. “I want to actually do a movie about slavery, in New Orleans. To go back to the history and present the way it was,” he says. Surely Wiseau realizes that the sensitive topic of slavery in New Orleans’ history was perfectly depicted in American Horror Story: Coven. Of course, that didn’t have a guy awkwardly tossing a football or basketball around, so it’s due for a little of the old Wiseau magic.