Adult Swim star Corddry eyeing movie, spinoff
‘Childrens Hospital’ creator committed to making film with show’s cast a reality
NEW YORK — Now that “Childrens Hospital” is in its fourth season on Adult Swim, its creator, writer, director and star Rob Corddry is looking for ways to bring its cast to the big screen. Not in a film adaptation of the satirical show, but a film using its actors.
“We have talked about doing a movie, and we are committed to doing it at some point. It’s going to take one of us to just sit down and write it but it’s not gonna be based on ‘Childrens.’ It’s not going to have the same cast of characters but it will have the same cast,” Corddry said in a recent interview. “That’s what I’m interested in doing, ... putting this ensemble in other places. So we’ll probably do sort of like a parody or something.”
“Childrens Hospital” is about a TV show that’s billed as the longest-running medical drama ever in television history. It mocks other medical dramas such as “Grey’s Anatomy” and “ER.” The cast includes Lake Bell, Ken Marino and Malin Akerman.
The show, which started as a Web series, airs Thursday nights, pulling in more than 1 million viewers per episode. It is nominated for an Emmy Award in the short-format live action category.
“It’s only caught up with me now I think,” Corddry said when asked about the show’s success. “I’m still kind of like, ‘It’s got to be a mistake because aren’t we on the Internet?’”
The show has wacky premises that seem farfetched but somehow work. For example, one Season 4 episode is about the British adaptation of the “Childrens Hospital” show-within-a-show that Corddry says has a British cast and crew.
Another future episode will be a law episode with the regular “Childrens” actors and the same character names but has nothing to do with a hospital. There’s even a “Childrens Hospital” spinoff in the works called “Newsreaders,” a satire of TV newsmagazine shows that Corddry also executive produces.
Corddry, 41, was a correspondent on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show.” He’s appeared in numerous TV shows and films and has signed on for a recurring role on the upcoming season of the comedy “Happy Endings” on ABC. His next film, “Butter,” also starring Ty Burrell and Jennifer Garner, opens in October.
He says keeping busy is the key to staying creative and productive.
“We just wrapped (shooting) our spinoff ‘Newsreaders,’ and it’s been two or three weeks. I haven’t had to write anything or tell a joke, and I really feel like the well gets shallower and I don’t feel as smart, I don’t feel as funny. Really you know that old adage if you want something done, ask a busy person? It’s so true.”