Nick Swardson gets another shot with Comedy Central

The Minneapolis comic will star in a new digital series about a Midwesterner trying to make it in Hollywood.

March 31, 2016 at 3:31PM
(The Minnesota Star Tribune)
(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Nick Swardson/photo by Tom Wallace

If at first you don't succeed, mug, mug again.

Minneapolis native Nick Swardson will star in and develop a new digital series for Comedy Central called "Typical Rick," a five-episode comedy about a Midwesterner (Swardson) whose Hollywood aspirations are consistently sabotaged by the party-boy antics of his childhood friend Rick (Simon Rex).

Swardson, who got his start doing open-mike nights at the Acme Comedy Co. and is a member of the unofficial Adam Sandler Rat Pack, previously starred in Comedy Central's short-lived sketch show, "Nick Swardson's Pretend Time."

The new series was co-created by Nicholaus Goossen, who directed Swardson in "Grandma's Boy."

The project was announced Thursday as part of Comedy Central's extensive development slate, which includes series and specials featuring "Daily Show" correspondent Jordan Klepper, Jeff Ross and "SNL" cast member Pete Davidson.

The most high-profile series to be green-lit: "Kevin Hart Presents: Hart of the City," which will feature the red-hot talent exploring the comedy scenes in eight different cities. Minneapolis is not among them.

Sounds like Swardson has some additional work to do.

about the writer

about the writer

Neal Justin

Critic / Reporter

Neal Justin is the pop-culture critic, covering how Minnesotans spend their entertainment time. He also reviews stand-up comedy. Justin previously served as TV and music critic for the paper. He is the co-founder of JCamp, a non-profit program for high-school journalists, and works on many fronts to further diversity in newsrooms.

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