Comedy Central's 'Detroiters' to shoot in the Motor City

Real-life former Detroiters Sam Richardson and Tim Robinson say they will film their Comedy Central pilot "Detroiters" in the Motor City sometime this spring.

"The plan is to shoot everything in Detroit," says Robinson, a "Saturday Night Live" writer who spent the 2012-13 season as a featured player. "That's really important to us."

Richardson, a new cast member of "Veep" on HBO, says, "It's like the third character of the thing is the city of Detroit. Why put it anywhere else but there?"

The news broke last week that Comedy Central had ordered the pilot for consideration as a regular series. The cable network is getting much attention these days for its lineup of cutting-edge comedies like "Broad City," "Inside Amy Schumer" and "Workaholics."

Richardson, who grew up in Detroit, and Robinson, who hails from Clarkston, are both graduates of the local improv community. They will star in "Detroiters," which they created with "SNL" writers Zach Kanin and Joe Kelly.

But it was "SNL" alumnus Jason Sudeikis ("Horrible Bosses") who prodded the two to put together a TV pilot. Sudeikis will executive produce the project.

"It was Jason's idea. He said, 'Why don't the two of you do a show together?' " says Robinson, who knows Sudeikis through "SNL." Richardson has appeared in two Sudeikis films, "Horrible Bosses 2" and "We're the Millers."

When the two friends batted around premises for a series, "Sam and I talked about our time doing comedy in Detroit and how fun it was," explains Robinson. "We said we have to set it there and shoot it there. That's how it kind of came about."

Detroit also plays a major role in the occupation they selected for their characters. They'll play ad men who make local TV commercials like the kooky classic ads of their own childhoods.

Says Robinson, "Growing up in this area, Sam and I were such big fans of Gardner-White with Bill Bonds, Mel Farr superstar. …"

" 'Me and dog want you to go to Telegraph Road and get a great deal,' " chimes in Richardson, referring to an old Ford dealer jingle.

"Detroit has the best local commercials, and we really wanted that to be a part of it," says Robinson.

The advertising angle also will serve as a vehicle for guest stars. "It's a nice way to get our friends involved, too, to have Jason Sudeikis come in and play a local business owner. A Gordy from ABC Warehouse type. Remember Gordy?" says Richardson.

The two comic actors met about 12 years ago working for Second City Detroit and became fast friends. They did improv there and at Planet Ant in Hamtramck before joining separate touring companies of Second City.

Eventually, they wound up together on the fabled main stage of Second City Chicago, which has produced stars like Bill Murray, Steve Carell and Tina Fey.

Richardson moved next to Los Angeles, where he's been busy with TV and movie roles. A recurring guest role on the third season of "Veep" led to a regular spot on the staff of Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) when the fourth season starts in April.

Robinson, who headed to New York after Chicago, continues to write for "SNL" and stood out as a featured player in skits like the "Z Shirt" parody ad with Kevin Hart.

Both performers return to Detroit often and perform at events like the Detroit Improv Festival and their former stomping ground Planet Ant. They have their theories on why Detroit, a hometown for funny people like Lily Tomlin, Tim Allen and Keegan-Michael Key of "Key & Peele," is such a thriving place for comedy.

"Because the comedy community in Detroit is so tight-knit and the improv community is not a competitive one but is a nurturing one, you have so many comedians who are helping each other get better and better," says Richardson. "It just grows and aggregates."

Says Robinson, "Starting in Detroit, I wouldn't trade it for anything."

Contact Julie Hinds: 313-222-6427 or jhinds@freepress.com .