FOX ENTERTAINMENT RENEWS ANIMATION DOMINATION’S NEWEST ENTRY, “BLESS THE HARTS,” FOR A SECOND SEASON

From Creator and Executive Producer Emily Spivey, and Executive Producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller, New Animated Series Features Voices of Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Jillian Bell, Ike Barinholtz and Kumail Nanjiani

October 18, 2019 — FOX Entertainment has ordered a second season of the new animated series BLESS THE HARTS, to air during the 2020-2021 season.  With animation serving as a cornerstone of FOX programming, the network expanded its Sunday night brand this fall with the introduction of a new original voice and concept in BLESS THE HARTS. 

Created and executive-produced by Emmy Award winner Emily Spivey (“The Last Man on Earth,” “Parks and Recreation,” “Saturday Night Live”) and featuring a voice cast of comedy all-stars, including Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Jillian Bell, Ike Barinholtz and Kumail Nanjiani, the half-hour animated comedy follows the Harts, a Southern family that is always broke, and forever struggling to make ends meet. They one day hope to achieve the American dream, but they’re already rich – in friends, family and laughter.

“BLESS THE HARTS is an incredibly sharp, yet sweet, series that complements the FOX Animation Domination block perfectly,” said Michael Thorn, President, Entertainment, FOX Entertainment. 

“It simply doesn’t get much better than having a comedy anchored by talent like Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Ike Barinholtz, Jillian Bell and Kumail Nanjiani. We want to thank creator and executive producer Emily Spivey, whose unique voice and personal experience brought this family to life, as well as executive producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller, and our partners at 20th Century Fox Television. We are thrilled to watch the Hart family experience more adventures, mishaps and boxed wine for another amazing season.”

In the series, JENNY HART (Academy Award and Golden Globe nominee Kristen Wiig, “Bridesmaids,” “Saturday Night Live”) is a single mother supporting her family working as a waitress in the small town of Greenpoint, NC.  While Jenny’s the head of her family, she’s often at odds with, or scheming with, her lottery scratcher-obsessed mother, BETTY (Emmy Award and Screen Actors Guild Award nominee Maya Rudolph, “The Good Place,” “Bridesmaids”), and her witty, creative daughter, VIOLET (Emmy Award nominee Jillian Bell, “Workaholics,” “Fist Fight”). 

Jenny’s doting, eternal optimist boyfriend of 10 years, WAYNE EDWARDS (Ike Barinholtz, “Neighbors,” “Blockers”), is the love of her life and a surrogate father to Violet. He’s a charming dreamer who may never hit the big time, but he’s not going to give up the fight. Jenny’s even got a bit of divine power in her corner, as JESUS (Academy Award nominee Kumail Nanjiani, “The Big Sick,” “Silicon Valley”) regularly appears to her while she waits tables at neighborhood restaurant The Last Supper. In the end, the Harts may not have much, but they may just have everything they need.

BLESS THE HARTS is averaging 3.3 million viewers across all platforms and a 1.0/4 L7 rating. In week two, BLESS THE HARTS built +63% from its premiere with a 1.3/5 L7 rating, ranking as the second-highest rated telecast for a new comedy this season (tie).

BLESS THE HARTS is a co-production of FOX Entertainment and 20th Century Fox Television. Animation is produced by Titmouse. 

Emily Spivey created the series and wrote the pilot. The series is executive-produced by Spivey, Academy Award winner and Emmy Award and Golden Globe nominee Phil Lord (“The Last Man on Earth,” “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” “The LEGO Movie”), Academy Award winner, Emmy Award and Golden Globe nominee Christopher Miller (“The Last Man on Earth,” “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” “The LEGO Movie”), Kristen Wiig, Seth Cohen (“The Last Man on Earth,” “Drunk History”) and Andy Bobrow are executive producers. Spivey and Bobrow serve together as showrunners.

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