NCISstar Wilmer Valderrama is producing a new comedy for CBS. Known for his breakout role as Fez inThat ’70s Show, Valderrama joined the long-running procedural as Special Agent Nicholas “Nick” Torres in theNCISseason 14 premiere. He’s been a mainstay of the franchise since then, helping to bridge the gap betweenMark Harmon’s exitand Gary Cole’s arrival.
Valderrama has ventured beyond the screen, working as a director and a recording artist. He also published a memoir,An: American Story: Everyone’s Invited, which was released in September 2024. The veteran performer is moving forward with another venture that’s slowly taking shape.
Deadlinereports thatValderrama is part of the producing team behindBlanks, which centers on a serial dater who has his life upended when he learns that his biological clock is running out. This is made even worse by the fact that he’s met the woman of his dreams, though she’s not ready to settle down just yet.
The project, which is described as being in its early stages, hails from comedian Aaron Karo. He’ll also write the script and executive produce alongside WV Entertainment, Valderrama’s production banner, and CBS Studios.
What This Means For CBS
Comedy Is Making A Comeback
CBS and broadcast television are generally robust with procedurals of all stripes, includingthe returningNCIS. Butthere are far fewer comedies. With the ending ofThe Connersearlier this year, ABC has onlyAbbott ElementaryandShifting Gearsin its comedy ranks. NBC hasHappy’s PlaceandSt. Denis Medical. CBS also has two, withGhostsand theYoung Sheldonspinoff,Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage.
DMVis based on the short story by Katherine Heiny.
The three major networks are making moves to strengthen their comedy offerings. CBS has a number of comedy pilots in the pipeline. The most fully realized, so far, isDMV. It’s a single-camera comedy about the place that everyone dreads having to go to, the DMV, with a cast that includes Harriet Dyer, Tim Meadows, Molly Kearney, Alex Tarrant, Tony Cavalero, and Gigi Zumbado. It has been picked up to series.
Our Take On Blanks
A Fresh Focus
Dating comedies have typically been the domain of streaming television in recent years, with shows likeAdultson Hulu andNobody Wants Thison Netflix. The announcement ofBlanks, if it moves forward, will bring romance and questions of courtship back to broadcast in a way that hasn’t been seen as much. Although romance is a part of any network series, it isn’t always forefronted.
