TV Adaptation Of Tracy Letts' 'Superior Donuts' To Debut On CBS

By Stephen Gossett in Arts & Entertainment on Sep 21, 2016 6:26PM

CBS

After twisting in development purgatory for almost a year, the TV adaptation of Tracy Letts’ acclaimed play (aren’t they all?) Superior Donuts is finally a go. According to Variety, the show will make its midseason debut on CBS. Updated: The show will premier on Feb. 2. on CBS at 8:30/7:30 central.

The show will star Judd Hirsch as a white former yippie type and current donut-shop owner in Uptown and Jermaine Fowler (also executive producer) as a younger, black employee as they traverse intergenerational and interracial dynamics and local issues, like gentrification. As a play, it telegraphed a little bit lesson-y, but not as much as it might sound. The success is incumbent on the actors, and these are two great.

“This show has been very high on our radar since we first put it into development last winter,” said Glenn Geller, CBS Entertainment president, in Variety. “Jermaine Fowler is a rising young star, Judd Hirsch is a comedy legend and the entire cast is full of great comedic talent."

The cast also includes notables such as David Koechner, Maz Jobrani, Rell Battle and Katey Sagal.

The play debuted in 2008 at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, where Letts remains a member. His other notable works include Killer Joe and Bug, both of which were made into great films by director William Friedkin, and the Pulitzer-winning August: Osage County.