The American adaptation of True Story with Hamish & Andy premiered on January 20, on NBC’s streaming service, Peacock.
True Story with Ed & Randall, which was first created by the Australian comedy duo for Channel Nine, will recreate outrageous and hilarious stories as told by ordinary people and dramatised by actors.
The six-episode comedy series has received the celebrity treatment with hosts Ed Helms (The Office, Hangover) and Randall Park (Fresh Off The Boat, WandaVision).
It will feature a slew of famous faces such as Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, White Chicks), Adam Pally (Happy Endings, The Mindy Project), and Rob Riggle (American Dad, Holey Moley).
The U.S. reproduction was announced in February 2020 and at the time Helms – who also serves as executive producer for the series – said: “I can’t wait to bring True Story to American audiences with my buddy, Randall Park.”
“It’s an incredibly warm, hilarious and kind-spirited show that celebrates the lost art of laughing at ourselves… with a little help from epic reenactments,” he added.
Park said: “I’m so excited to be a part of a show that combines three of my favourite things: great stories from real people, my pal Ed Helms and couches.”
Hamish Blake and Andy Lee will executive produce the American version along with their Tim Bartley, Ryan Shelton, Helms, Mike Falbo and Nicolle Yaron.
True Story with Hamish & Andy made its debut on Australian TV back in 2017 on Channel Nine to 1.282million metro viewers.
The show follows the format of everyday Australia’s recalling their wacky true story to the comedians, as well-known local actors recreated their tale.
After a successful first season, the network ordered a second season for 2018.
Back in 2018, Andy told TV Tonight celebrating ‘the everyday person’ is something Australian’s do but something that the U.S. viewers ‘doesn’t buy into that a lot.’
Hamish added: “They buy into how it sounds. They were saying ‘Yeah cool. But in reality we cast the people? You don’t really let normal people be on TV! We’ll put that in the marketing, but obviously we’ll get actors!”
“The fact that it was really real, and not marketing-real, was possibly an element that surprised them!”