Pop is launching Nightcap… – a satirical poke at late night television – in partnership with Lionsgate.
Set behind the scenes of the fictitious Nightcap with Jimmy – a nightly talk show featuring A-list guests – Nightcap takes a look at the heightened chaos going backstage as the show’s head talent booker, Staci (Ali Wentworth) tries to deal withher dysfunctional staff and guests like Gwyneth Paltrow, Paul Rudd, Denis Leary and more.
Nightcap premieres on Wednesday, November 16th (8/7C). Follow the jump for further details – including a compete list of guests and taglines for the first season’s ten episode.
THE SHOW MIGHT GO ON…
SATIRICAL COMEDY SERIES “NIGHTCAP” TO PREMIERE ON POP WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16
A Hilarious Poke at Late Night Television Stars Ali Wentworth as a Lead Talent Booker Who Wrangles A-List Celebrities Each Week in a 10-Episode Original Scripted Series from Lionsgate
LOS ANGELES, CA – July 31, 2016 – Diving into one of the most watched, digitally shared and talked about genres of entertainment—late night television—Pop teams up with Lionsgate, producer/actress Ali Wentworth (“In Living Color”, “Head Case,” “It’s Complicated”, “Office Space”) and showrunners Tom Brunelle and Brad Wollack (“Chelsea Lately,” “After Lately,” “The Comedy Get Down”) to bring viewers a scripted, culture-commentary comedy series NIGHTCAP premiering on Wednesday, November 16 at 8:00 p.m., ET/PT.
NIGHTCAP is a laugh at itself, satirical look at the late night landscape set behind-the-scenes of a fictitious show “Nightcap with Jimmy” where every week, A-list celebrities stop by as they would on any real-life talk show—only this time, viewers get an exaggerated look at the hilarity backstage. Guest starring this season on NIGHTCAP are: Gwyneth Paltrow, Sarah Jessica Parker, Paul Rudd, Kelly Ripa, Debra Messing, Whoopi Goldberg, George Stephanopoulos, Denis Leary, Michael J. Fox, Mario Batali, Wendy Williams, Nate Berkus, Jason Biggs, Andy Cohen, Mark Cuban, Mark Consuelos, Jim Gaffigan, Janeane Garofalo, GiGi Gorgeous, Tim Gunn, Mariska Hargitay, Stephanie March, Jim Norton, Rosie Perez, Joel Schumacher, and Beth Stern.
Insanity, absurdity and urgency reign backstage at “Nightcap with Jimmy” and it’s up to head talent booker Staci (Ali Wentworth) to wrangle her dysfunctional staff, as well as the myriad of celebrities who bring their quirks, diva demands and peculiar antics each week.
“I’m not saying this just because I created and star in the show, but the series is hilarious and Ali Wentworth is phenomenal!” says Wentworth.
NIGHTCAP on Pop will include the following episodes:
BABYMAKER
Celebrity publicist, Malik, needs to find a surrogate for her clients Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos, and Staci puts Penny up for the job. Sarah Jessica Parker forms an unlikely bond with a member of the Nightcap staff.
A-LIST THIEF
Gwyneth Paltrow surprises everyone by being a serial thief and overall filthy woman, leading to a confrontation with fellow guest, Jim Norton. Jimmy’s dog Monty moves into the office, and famous interior decorator Nate Berkus comes to design an office suitable for late night dog royalty.
THE CANNON
Staci has to convince a reluctant Michael J. Fox to be shot out of a cannon on the show. Jim Gaffigan does everything in his power to hawk his new energy drink, EnerrJesus, on Nightcap.
THE UNWANTED GUEST
Todd uses questionable means to persuade Nightcap guest, Debra Messing, to make a video for him in character as “Grace.” Meanwhile, Tim Gunn pops by the studio claiming Jimmy asked him to come in for an impromptu appearance on the show, forcing the staff to juggle Jimmy’s wishes with the scheduled guest, a sloth.
THE HORNY HOST
Transgender personality, GiGi Gorgeous, is a guest and Staci has to convince her to go on a date with Jimmy. Ana is pitching her makeup line and wants Stephanie March to be her new spokesmodel, with unpleasant consequences.
IBS-ISIS
Famed chef, Mario Batali, tries to aide Staci as she struggles through a horrible bout of IBS. George Stephanopoulos schools Penny on ISIS, an organization she is worried is trying to recruit her.
LICE-ISM
A lice outbreak at Nightcap forces the whole staff to be treated. But when Whoopi Goldberg arrives for her Nightcap appearance, she thinks the staff’s “treatment” hairstyles are racist, and Staci must decide which is a worse admission – that Nightcap is racist, or has a filthy lice infestation. Booked guest Denis Leary calls in sick, but Staci isn’t having it.
MEAN GUEST
Everyone on Nightcap is excited to have Jason Biggs on, but it turns out he’s become a completely different person since the last time he was on the show. Beth Stern has brought kittens that are available for adoption to promote the North Shore Animal League, but there is a problem when one goes missing.
GO-FUND-YOURSELF
Jimmy starts a GoFundMe to make a biopic about himself, and Staci’s job is to get Nightcap guest, Paul Rudd, attached to play “Jimmy.” Wendy Williams is also on the show and bonds with an unlikely person over her wig collection.
GUEST IN A SNAKE
Staci interviews for an Executive Producer position at Wendy Williams and seriously considers leaving Nightcap. Mariska Hargitay has agreed to be eaten by an anaconda on air, and Todd gets to direct his first shoot starring Rosie Perez—until Joel Schumacher intervenes.
NIGHTCAP is produced by Lionsgate Television, Dakota Pictures and Trout the Dog Productions. Wentworth, Tom Brunelle (“Chelsea Lately,” “After Lately”) and Brad Wollack (“Chelsea Lately,” “After Lately”) of Free 90 Media, Troy Miller (Lionsgate Television’s “Deadbeat,” “Flight of the Conchords”), and Lydia Tenaglia, Chris Collins and Craig Shepherd of Zero Point Zero Production serve as Executive Producers.
ABOUT POP
Fans don’t sit at the outskirts of pop culture making snarky comments. They live right smack in the middle of it, sharing, creating, and connecting their passions with others. At Pop, fans finally have a destination that celebrates the fun of being a fan. Fans aren’t even fans anymore — they’re gladiators, tributes, human beings and blockheads. Seen in more than 80 million homes, Pop gives fans a dedicated channel that loves being a fan as much as they do. A channel that respects talent over celebrity. A channel filled with optimism, passion, humor, and excitement. A channel that understands the fun doesn’t stop when the credits roll… it’s really just the beginning.
Pop is a joint venture of CBS Corporation (NYSE: CBS.A and CBS) and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF). The partnership combines CBS’s programming, production and marketing assets with Lionsgate’s resources in motion pictures, television and digitally delivered content. Pop’s ownership structure is comprised of the company with the #1 broadcast network and many of the top first-run syndication series (“Entertainment Tonight,” “The Insider”) and the studio that produces and distributes the blockbuster “Hunger Games,” “Twilight” and “Divergent” franchises and produces such award-winning TV series as “Mad Men” and “Orange is the New Black.”
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