New Girl Reunion: Hulu Series Puts a Fresh Spin on a Jim Carrey Classic

Jake Johnson and Damon Wayans Jr. – yes, that oddball duo from New Girl who spent years bickering in lofts – are back at it together, this time on Hulu. They've landed themselves the chance to front a new comedy pilot, though the streaming overlords haven't quite given the official green light for a full series yet. The show doesn't even have a title, so for now, let's just call it 'that thing inspired by The Cable Guy'.

What's Going On, Then?

Here's the deal: Hulu has asked for a pilot episode (not a series yet – important distinction), with Johnson and Wayans Jr. starring and also wearing executive producer hats. Neal H. Moritz and Pavun Shetty, no strangers to TV deals thanks to their work with Original Film, are also involved, and the whole thing is being put together under Sony Pictures Television.

Now, it's not a straight remake of the infamous 1996 Jim Carrey–Matthew Broderick film, but it leans very hard on the source material. Johnson is set to play Chip Douglas (yes, the original stalker-cable-operator name), while Wayans Jr. takes on Steven Stephens, the nervous bloke with an unfortunate knack for attracting weirdos.

The official line goes something like this:

'In a world of endless streaming, binging, and algorithms, old-school cable technician Chip Douglas (Johnson) languishes alone – until Steven Stephens (Wayans Jr.) calls to have his cable turned back on, reconnecting Chip with a childhood friend he never forgot. The relationship gives each man something he’s been missing... until Chip’s enthusiasm turns into obsession. Inspired by the movie, the show explores the darkly absurd side of modern-day male friendship.'

Who's Actually Writing This?

The script is coming from Rob Rosell, Joe Piarulli, and Luan Thoma. They’re also down as co-showrunners and executive producers, so expect their fingerprints all over the tone of this thing. If you’re wondering why this sounds in the same postcode as TV’s Fargo (which didn't rehash the original film but did its own wild riff on it), that's no accident – Deadline are already making that comparison. Johnson and Wayans Jr aren’t just standing in for Carrey and Broderick, they're putting their own spin on these infamous characters.

A Quick History Lesson, Since It’s All About The Cable Guy Now

• Film's released: 1996, directed by Ben Stiller (back when $47 million was a massive studio comedy budget)
• Box office: $102 million worldwide – not an outright flop, but not big laughs at the time, either
• Critical reception: Bit of a Marmite situation – reviews were all over the place, but it grew a cult following in later years
• Status today: Some folks call it Carrey's best role; others remember it as 'that film where Jim Carrey was unsettling in a raincoat'

There's a bit of a ‘back to the nineties’ vibe, and this pilot order dovetails with the film's 30th anniversary – which may be part cynical PR move, part actually good timing. Whether Hulu will actually pony up for an entire series rests on how this pilot lands.