6/20/2017 EDGE Media Network :: Tello Films New Comedy 'Secs & EXECS' Features Sandra Bernhard

https://www.edgemedianetwork.com/nightlife/specialevents/news//215449 1/4

Nightlife » Specialevents

Tello Films New Comedy 'Secs & EXECS' Features Sandra

Bernhard

by Winnie McCroyEDGE EditorFriday May 19, 2017

Sandra Bernhard teams up with her old "Roseanne" writingteam for "secs & EXECS," a new six-episode o�ce comedy serieson tello. "secs & EXECS" is set at Kathletics, a women's wearcompany. We follow the �rst day back of Leslie, a new mommy,who struggles between showing her maternal side and being acut throat executive. The series follows four bosses and theirassistants, shifting POV's between the two, very diverse sets ofco-workers.

"My character is motivated to get the job done fast andseamlessly," Bernhard told EDGE. "I think the shifting POV isfresh and unique."

The six-episode o�ce comedy reunites lesbian actressBernhard with "Roseanne" writers James Berg and Stan Zimmerman.

"Sandra and I became friends a while ago when she was just about to head to NYC for 'Without You, I'mNothing,' her �rst big hit solo show," said Zimmerman. "Jim and I at the time were developing a crazy single-cam cable comedy series 'Sandra Bernhard: Trapped in a Movie of the Week.' Each week she's get stuck in aterrible, made-for-TV �lm. Kind of a demented 'Quantum Leap,' obviously ahead of its time. It was just acoincidence that we ended up writing 'Roseanne' when she was on the show. We had actually turned down asta� job on the �rst season of the series."

Starring Bernhard, Olivia D'Abo ("The Wonder Years") andMindy Sterling ("Austin Powers"), "secs & EXECS" is set atKathletics, a women's wear comedy owned by Bernhard'scharacter, Kath Fairchild. The webseries features a large and diverse cast includingNatalie Dreyfuss ("Rita Rocks"), Bayne Gibby ("Enlightened"),Parvesh Cheena ("Crazy Ex-Girlfriend"), Miguel Pinzon ("MysteryGirls"), Travina Springer ("Valentine's Day"), Matthew Smith("America's Next Top Model"), and Daniela Bobadilla ("Anger

Management"). 

The show also marks Sandra Bernhard's reunion with"Roseanne" writers who penned the infamous "lesbian kissepisode," which they were nominated for their second WGAaward for Best Writing.

Bernhard playfully groused about her infamous kiss, saying,"Actually, ABC and the censors blocked my kiss with MorganFairchild under the mistletoe and it was never consummated."

"secs & EXECS" was co-created and co-written by the veteranwriting/producing team of James Berg and Stan Zimmerman("The Golden Girls", "Gilmore Girls" and both "Brady Bunch"�lms, the Lifetime sitcom "Rita Rocks", and "Roseanne"). They

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Sandra Bernhard with Stan Zimmermanand James Berg  

  (Source:www.tello�lms.com)

  (Source:www.tello�lms.com)

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She is reminiscent of, though perhaps with a bitmore "spice" thrown in, the powerfully funnywomen who blazed a trail before her: Carol Burnett,Phyllis Diller, Joan Rivers and Lucille Ball to namefew.

6/20/2017 EDGE Media Network :: Tello Films New Comedy 'Secs & EXECS' Features Sandra Bernhard

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said they actually sold the concept years ago to Lifetime, as two separate half-hours. But the webseriesformat proved a great way to cut back and forth from POVs.

"The audience got to juxtapose their di�ering perspectives at amuch quicker pace. Which also led to more immediatecomedy," said Zimmerman.

Bernhard said that she would love if it writers of the new rebootof "Roseanne" brought back her character.

"Nothing would make me happier," said Bernhard. "I hope theywrite me in to at least one episode. Let's see how it goes!"

Zimmerman echoed this sentiment, saying, "I would love towork on the reboot of 'Roseanne.' It could be very exciting toexplore those characters during this wild political climate."

He also shared this fun fact: "In 2015, I spent four months inMoscow helping them develop a Russian 'Roseanne' show. Nowthat was a pretty fascinating experience."

Zimmerman directed all six webisodes. "secs & EXECS" marksZimmerman/Berg's second series for tello�lms. They recentlycreated "Skirtchasers," a �ve-part series starring ElizabethKeener, Barry Bostwick and Meredith Baxter, which is currentlystreaming at tello�lms.com.

"Stan and James have been part of such iconic TV series andtheir writing for women is so smart and funny that I had tocollaborate with them again," Christin Baker, President of tello�lms. 

tello �lms produces and distributes innovative, high-quality webseries with a lesbian focus. They believe in telling authenticstories about people whose lives are often ignored ormarginalized. tello creates web-series speci�cally for thelesbian/queer community. This means that lesbian/queercharacters are front and center. At tello, they create great newweb content that is intelligent but fun, timely but classic, andtasteful yet sexy, a whirlwind of classic ideas from a lesbianperspective.

Zimmerman said that although network TV wasn't goinganywhere, "younger viewers are using other platforms for theirentertainment viewing. So as writers and directors, we just havemany more canvasses to paint on. Also, network, cable, and theNet�ixes of the world can also look to places like tello to �ndtheir next big TV series - like 'secs & EXECS,' hopefully!"

"Any time you can create a new character that has an outlet, it'sgreat," said Bernhard. "I think [outlets like tello are] anotheraspect of the business and the limitless venues now available."

Watch all six-episode of secs & EXECS at: https://www.tello�lms.com/series/secs-execs

For more information, visit www.tello�lms.com

  (Source:www.tello�lms.com)

  (Source:www.tello�lms.com)

Win Free Stu�!WILD AWAKENING on DVDfrom TLA!

6/20/2017 EDGE Media Network :: Tello Films New Comedy 'Secs & EXECS' Features Sandra Bernhard

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Secs & Execs O�cial Trailer

Winnie McCroy is the Women on the EDGE Editor, HIV/Health Editor, and Assistant Entertainment Editor for EDGE Media

Network, handling all women's news, HIV health stories and theater reviews throughout the U.S. She has contributed to

other publications, including The Village Voice, Gay City News, Chelsea Now and The Advocate, and lives in Brooklyn, New

York.

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6/20/2017 EDGE Media Network :: Tello Films New Comedy 'Secs & EXECS' Features Sandra Bernhard

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