Comedy Central wants ‘Delco Proper’ network pilot
The “Delco Proper” boys are losing the ankle monitor with an announcement of a pilot order to Comedy Central for the digital series based on living in Delaware County.
After a successful run of four online-only shorts, the network announced Wednesday a of pilot order for nine shows, including “Delco Proper” which will start shooting locally in May.
Each short features the crude, booze-infused, fbomb-laden antics of coworkers at a Delaware County-based lumberyard, whose boss in one episode thought it appropriate to advertise with the slogan, “Don’t get Pearl Harbor’ d by the price of lumber!” for a Dec. 7 sale.
The series was written by and features native Philadelphian John McKeever and Tommy Pope, who grew up in the Drexel Hill section of Upper Darby.
Pope, who was born Thomas Papa and graduated from Monsignor Bonner High School, struts into a local VFW in the fourth episode wearing a baseball T-shirt with the words “Delco’s Finest” printed on the front, says to the gang: “11 RBIs, 12 strikeouts and 13 beers, that is a Delco tripledouble.”
McKeever and Pope chose to focus on Delaware County and the Philadelphia area because, said Pope, they felt their hometowns have not gotten the exposure they deserve.
“It was easy to write because we lived it,” noted Pope in a Daily Times interview in 2015.
In the first episode, the filming was done at O’Leary Funeral Home in Springfield where the three protagonists rally in the parking lot to find an emotion to be mistaken for sorrow at a funeral viewing.
“We’re not fighting and we’re not hooking up,” said John, played by McKeever. “Just go in there and pray and pretend we’re sad.”
Even though the series is dubbed “Delco Proper,” Pope said episodes would be filmed in both Delaware County and Philadelphia.
“I think it is very specific to Delco,” Pope said. “The attitude, aggression, the sense of humor — it’s very dark and personal.”
In the series, Pope and McKeever play Tommy and John, respectively, employees at Potter Lumber with buddy, Izzy, portrayed by Tim Butterly, who in the second episode can be seen wearing the Upper Darby Police Department shirt with the well-known slogan, “Not in my town, scumbag!”
“Delco Proper” is one of a multitude of movie and television programs drawn to the region in recent years.
Sun Center Studios in Chester Township brought the production of “Silver Linings Playbook,” starring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence, who could be seen dining in Llanerch Diner and jogging along the streets of Ridley Park.
Sylvester Stallone checked out a gritty gym in Chester for scenes in “Creed,” which had been produced at Sun Center.
Director M. Night Shyamalan, a Bucks County resident, field the Will Smithled feature “After Earth” in Sun Center.
And currently the production of “Untouchable” starring Bryan Cranston and Kevin Hart was filmed at the Chester Township studio. Hart recently posed for photos with a group of Chester-area students who came to witness a Hollywood production in their backyard.
“Delco Central,” which touts the phrase, “It’s hard to change in a town that doesn’t,” will inch the online-project closer to becoming a full series, with the planned pilot order as the next big step beyond the four six-minute episodes available online.
Pope and McKeever are credited as the pilot’s writers, with McKeever set to direct the pilot in Delaware County locations using local actors.