Daryn Strauss, Martha Byrne & Frederick King Keller Team up for New Internet Comedy: Weight - A Series Which Looks at the Crazy and Zany Things our Obsession with Weight Makes Us Do

                    

 

 (NYC) - Weight is a new internet comedy series from three heavyweights from multiple platforms: Writers Guild Award-nominated digital writer and producer, Daryn Strauss (Downsized), two time Emmy Award-winning actress and producer Martha Byrne (As The World Turns, Crisis, Gotham The Series) and veteran primetime network television producer and director Frederick King Keller (Crisis, 24, Blue Bloods). #Weighttheseries will begin production this summer. For updates see: https://www.facebook.com/weighttheseries. On Twitter: @Weighttheseries.

Martha Byrne to Play Claire in Weight

The series is penned by Strauss, who was nominated for a Writers Guild Award for her first web series Downsized, a dramedy about middle class New Yorkers trying to adjust to the absurdities of life during the economic crisis. Byrne joins the project as star and producer with King Keller set to direct.

“I like to write shows about everyday issues that make people act nuts,” states Strauss. “Weight is my latest comedy series centered on the age-old adage that weight makes people act totally crazy.”

Weight picks up as Claire, a middle class mom, returns home from a reality weight loss competition 100 pounds lighter but finds she’s gained some extra baggage due to the mixed and sometimes absurd reactions of her dysfunctional family and friends. The smart comedy combines America’s obsession with weight loss and reality television for a look at how weight can bring together and also divide people.

Follow @suzeecurrybts on Twitter for more on Weight

Martha Byrne and Daryn Strauss
team up for #WeightTheSeries

The dramedy examines the complications that ensue as Claire attempts to balance her new regimen and newfound fame/infamy with the realities of needy children, a stressed out husband, nosy relatives, a competitive sibling, judgmental friends, food temptations, and her own unraveling mind, as she deals with the day to day pressures of staying thin and appearing on a reality show.

Martha Byrne states, “I met Daryn a few years ago at a Writers Guild event and I was instantly a fan. When I read Weight, not only did I Iove the characters and the writing overall, I could relate to the role of Claire and the role body image plays in my own career and life. I knew the script was something special and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.”

Weight is ultimately a show about the pressures on a woman to balance her career, marriage, weight, and to raise a family in this often totally surreal, opinionated, weight-crazy country.

King Keller adds, “I had just finished working with the very talented Martha Byrne on Crisis when she showed me the pilot script for Weight. I was immediately captivated by the humor and also by the intelligence of this project and knew I wanted to be involved.”

About Daryn Strauss

Strauss’s online work as a writer, producer, and social media strategist includes MAKERS: Women Who Make America for AOL & PBS, Former MTV Chief Judy McGrath’s new internet venture Astronauts Wanted with Sony Music, Emmy Award-winning transmedia series The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, and the DigitasLBi NewFront. Visit: http://darynstrauss.com/. On Twitter: @digitalchicktv.

 About Martha Byrne

Best known for her longtime work as the beloved “Lily” and later “Rose” on popular daytime drama As The World Turns, Byrne was most recently seen in NBC’s high stakes drama series Crisis. Her previous forays on the internet include the Emmy-nominated drama series Gotham The Series, which she wrote, produced, and starred in, award-winning satire Pretty the Series and the award-winning DC-based drama Anacostia. Visit: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Martha-Byrne/46988206923. On Twtter: @marthaByrne10.

About Frederick King Keller

King Keller brings 25 years of network television experience to the project. His directorial and producer credits include Blue Bloods, New York Undercover, The Pretender, Roswell, Angel, 24, House MD, Numb3rs, CSI: Miami, Justified, and Crisis. WEIGHT marks his return to comedy. Visit: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0445631/

Visit the Indiegogo Campaign: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/weight-a-comedy