By Emma Behrens

Strategy Statement

“Raising Hope” is Fox’s newest family comedy, aimed at Women 18-34 and Teens. It will most strongly appeal to women as it centers around the raising of a baby. The challenge will be to reach the men in this demographic as well as the older population.

To appeal to young men, it is necessary to emphasize the humor with which Jimmy Chance meets the challenges that come from being a new father. Many young men can empathize with the struggles of parenting, so it is important to show that Chance is relatable and down-to-earth in interviews. To achieve this, Lucus Neff will interview with GQ, set in a casual location. He will also appear on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” an appearance which will emphasize the comedic nature of the show.

To appeal to older audiences, it is important to showcase the talent of Cloris Leachman. In particular, we aim to have Leachman interview and appear on the cover of “AARP.”

Cover Letter to the EditorJuly 15, 2010

Dear Editor,

It’s not often that a 23 year old has a one-night-stand with a serial killer. It’s even less often that he survives the encounter and goes on to raise their child by himself. But that’s exactly what happens to Jimmy Chance.

Fox’s new family comedy “Raising Hope,” follows the misadventures of the Chance family as they struggle to raise baby Hope. As Jimmy Chance navigates the challenges of fatherhood, he is simultaneously supported and exasperated by his eccentric extended family. Created by Emmy Award winner Greg Garcia, this show follows four generations of Chances living together as they tackle problems together and apart.

Enclosed is a press kit including an airdate release and storyline, three biographies for the principal characters, a feature bio for guest star, Cloris Leachman, three notes on the production of the show, a quiz on which “Raising Hope” character you would be and an overview of a social media campaign for the show.

Thank you for your time and consideration of these materials. For more information or to schedule interviews, please give me a call at 802-333-0035.

Sincerely,

Emma Behrens

FOX ANNOUNCES ITS NEW FAMILY COMEDY “RAISING HOPE” TO PREMIERE ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

LOS ANGELES – July 10, 2010 – Fox’s new family comedy “Raising Hope,” follows the misadventures of the Chance family as they struggle to raise baby Hope. As Jimmy Chance navigates the challenges of fatherhood, he is simultaneously supported and exasperated by his eccentric extended family. This show, created by Emmy Award winner Greg Garcia, follows four generations of Chances living together as they tackle problems together and apart. It will be telecast on Fox on Tuesday, September 21 (9-10 p.m. ET).

Despite being well-intentioned, 23 year old Jimmy Chance (Lucus Neff) manages to get himself into all sorts of sticky situations. When he goes out to buy bubblegum ice cream for his great-grandmother, he ends up with a lot more than he bargained for, having a one-night-stand with Lucy Carlyle (Bijou Phillips) who, unbeknownst to him, is a wanted serial killer. Luckily, thanks to Jimmy’s mother Virginia’s (Martha Plimpton) quick thinking, Lucy is arrested and sent to death row. Lucy reveals that she is pregnant and gives birth to a bouncing baby girl before she is executed.

Prior to this, Jimmy has had no purpose in life. He lives at home and works for his father, cleaning pools all day. However, he sees this as his opportunity to change his life around. When he decides to raise the baby, he has no idea where to begin, so he turns to the only example he has: his own parents.

Burt (Garret Dillahunt) and Virginia had Jimmy when they were still in high school. They knew nothing about raising a child and took a rather unconventional approach to parenting. Despite their love for Jimmy, they have no interest in helping him and raising another child. Also of little help is Jimmy’s senile great-grandmother, Barbara June “Maw Maw” Thompson (Cloris Leachman).

However, when Jimmy meets Sabrina Collins (Shannon Woodward) at the grocery store, he knows she would be the perfect person to help him raise Hope — if he can find the courage to ask her out.

Eventually, Burt and Virginia have a change of heart and agree to help Jimmy raise Hope but will their combined skills be enough to keep baby Hope (Baylie and Rylie Cregut) safe and out of harm’s way?

Lucus NeffJimmy Chance

Lucus Neff portrays Jimmy Chance in Fox’s new family comedy “Raising Hope,” which follows the misadventures of the Chance family as they struggle to raise baby Hope. Jimmy is a lovable guy with an uncanny ability to walk into unfortunate situations. When Jimmy, who still lives at home, has a one night stand with a serial killer who ends up on death row, he must raise their child alone.

Neff is a relatively fresh face in the entertainment world. He stumbled upon a career in acting when the University of Illinois accidentally placed him in their performing arts department. There he was involved in numerous local theater productions. His first television role was in an episode of “The Beast.” He has also been in the film “Amigo.”

In addition to acting, Neff also enjoys writing plays. His play “The Last Duck” was nominated for a Joseph Jefferson Award for Best New Work.

Martha PlimptonVirginia Chance

Martha Plimpton portrays Virginia Chance in Fox’s new family comedy “Raising Hope,” which follows the misadventures of the Chance family as they struggle to raise baby Hope. Virginia, Hope’s grandmother, originally wants nothing to do with raising another child. However, underneath her rough and sarcastic exterior, she is kind, caring, and, ultimately, willing to sacrifice everything to help her family.

Plimpton is best known for her performance as Stef Steinbrenner in the classic cult movie “The Goonies.” She had show business in her blood from the time she was born to actors Keith Carradine and Shelley Plimpton who met on a Broadway production of “Hair.” She began taking acting classes at a young age and appeared in her first movie, “The Rollover”, at age 10. Other film credits include “Beautiful Girls,” “Another Woman,” “Parenthood,” “Running on Empty,” and “The Mosquito Coast.” Her television credits include starring roles in “How to Make It In America,” “Daybreak” and “The Sleepytime Gal.” She has also guest starred on several shows, including “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit” which she received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Claire Rinato. She won an Emmy in this category in 2012 for her recurring role as attorney Patti Nyholm on “The Good Wife.” Her talent hasn’t been limited to the screen though; she worked for many years on the stage, both on and off Broadway and was nominated for three Tony Awards for her performances in “The Coast of Utopia,” “Top Girls” and “Pal Joey.”

Garret DillahuntBurt Chance

Garret Dillahunt portrays Burt Chance in Fox’s new family comedy “Raising Hope,” which follows the misadventures of the Chance family as they struggle to raise baby Hope. While Burt, Hope’s grandfather, isn’t the sharpest tool in the tool shed, he’s passionate about landscaping and cares deeply for his wife and family.

Dillahunt is best known for playing Deputy Wendell in “No Country for Old Men,” for which he won a SAG Award for Best Ensemble Cast on a Motion Picture. Other film credits include the “Last House on the Left,” “The Road,” and “The Assassination of Jesse Kames by the Coward Robert Ford.”

Dillahunt’s versatility has allowed him to play a depth of diverse characters throughout his career. After getting his MFA in acting from New York University, he began performing in shows both on and off Broadway. He then transitioned to television where he had a leading role on “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles” as Cromartie. He has also had reoccurring roles on “Deadwood,” “The 4400,” “John from Cincinnati” and “Life.” He’s been seen in guest roles on well known shows including “The X Files,” “NYPD Blue,” “Criminal Minds” and “Law & Order: SVU.”

Though Dillahunt currently resides in Castro Valley, California, he grew up in Washington, studying journalism at the University of Washington. It wasn’t until his senior year, when he took Acting 101 to fulfill his major requirements, that he even considered being an actor.

Feature Bio: Cloris LeachmanBarbara June “Maw Maw” Thompson

Cloris Leachman steps out of her gray convertible and walks into a nondescript diner in Topanga Canyon. She’s wearing a flowing, tribal-print blouse with matching orange earrings. She waves to the waitress behind the counter and slides into a worn red-leather booth. Leachman plays Barbara June “Maw Maw” Thompson, the kooky great-great grandmother to baby Hope on Fox’s new family comedy “Raising Hope” but her radiant, albeit eccentric, personality, extends well past her character. “I’d like a bacon, egg and cheese— hold the bacon and a coffee with—” “Cream and two sugars,” the waitress finishes, smiling; it’s clear Leachman is a regular here. Apparently, ‘holding the bacon’ is common for the long-time vegetarian and animal rights activist. Just recently, she completed a campaign for PETA where she dressed in nothing but red cabbage and lettuce to encourage vegetarianism. She reveals that those ads aren’t the last time she’ll be seen wearing questionable amounts of clothing though. In “Raising Hope,” her character, Maw Maw, who suffers from dementia, is seen on several occasions having forgotten her shirt, wearing just a bra or sometimes even nothing. “I think there were body parts on myself I hadn’t even seen and I can’t see. But I’m sure that millions of people will see shortly,” Leachman muses. Not that this bothers her in the slightest. In fact, when asked how creator Greg Garcia convinced her to do this, she explains that these bits were actually unscripted and entirely her idea. “They have a harder time trying to get me to put my shirt back on,” she jokes.

(Part 1 of 2)

Feature Bio: Cloris LeachmanBarbara June “Maw Maw” Thompson

Leachman took an early interest in entertainment, fostered by her supportive mother. She enjoyed playing piano and acting and eventually went to Northwestern University on a drama scholarship. While in college, she competed in the Miss America Pageant and, though she didn’t win, used her winnings to move to New York City to pursue acting. Here she had a successful career on Broadway, appearing in shows such as Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” and the original run of “South Pacific.” She eventually transitioned into film and television, playing an immense range of roles in productions crossing all genres from hard-hitting dramas to gut-busting comedies. She is best known for her Academy Award-winning performance in “The Last Picture.” She also won a Golden Globe for Best TV Actress in a musical/comedy for her role in “Phyllis” and holds the record for most Emmy Awards received by a performer— nine in total. Despite her impressive resume, she sees each and every member of the cast as an equal. “I think we all respect each other very much and look forward to the scenes we’re going to do to see what each one is going to do with it.” Leachman even admits that, in spite of years of acting experience, she manages to ruin takes by cracking up when she hears how people deliver their lines. As she describes it, they’ll “..do something that’s completely surprising in some reaction and I just go south.” Though on “Raising Hope” Leachman plays a senile old woman who has been hit hard by time, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Pushing 85, Leachman is (almost) as spry always, having competed on “Dancing with the Stars” two seasons ago. She shows no sign of slowing either. When asked if she planned to retire soon, she replied that to get her out of show business, “They're gonna have to hit me with a tire iron.”

(Part 2 of 2)

The Good Natured Folk

Greg Garcia, creator of “Raising Hope,” was born and raised in small-town Virginia. No stranger to working-class woes, he tries to authentically replicate the struggles and victories facing the down-and-out folk he’s familiar with. Garcia works hard to make sure that people are laughing with his characters, not at them. He wants to humanize them, making their problems relatable while maintaining a humorous tone. “I want to root for them,” Garcia says, “and I want to spend time with them rather than a bunch of characters who seem like they've got a lot of cash." “Raising Hope” isn’t the first time that Garcia has produced a show that focuses on America’s working-class. Both of his previous shows, “Yes, Dear” and “My Name is Earl,” revolved around characters in this same world. Speculating why he’s so enamored with working-class characters, Garcia said, “I think that I probably get enough of the crazily rich and insane idiots in real life in Hollywood, so maybe I need an escape to get back to what my roots are which is a more good natured, similar folk.”

Double the HopeNot even a year old, Baylie and Rylie Cregut star as baby Hope in the new comedy “Raising Hope.” As they make their acting debuts, they’ll have to share the spotlight, which is not uncommon in movies and TV shows featuring children. Movies and shows often cast twins in a single role because of strict union rules protecting child actors. Until Baylie and Rylie were six months old, they could each work no more than 20 minutes a day. From six months old until age two, they’ll be able to work up to two hours per day. Having twins play Hope gives the crew some flexibility in their shooting schedule and allows Baylie and Rylie to get much needed downtime. Each day as they head to set, they’re accompanied by their mother, a nurse and a studio teacher, which is quite the entourage for the young actresses who can’t yet walk or talk. Though their real parents are always with them, the entire cast has taken them underwing, taking their on-camera relationships off the screen. “The only thing sweeter than having a granddaughter as lovely as Hope,” says Martha Plimpton, who plays Virginia Chance, grandmother of Hope, “is having two granddaughters.” Lucas Neff, who plays Hope’s father, Jimmy, jokes about why there are two baby Hopes: “We’ve got two, so at least one’s expendable,” he jokes, “But in all seriousness, I love the babies. I can’t really say it loud enough. I would rather work with babies than most adults. They always know their lines and they’re really cute.”

Taking a Chance

Greg Garcia knew that the success of his new show would fall on the abilities of his leading man, whoever played Jimmy Chance. He put out a national casting call and the audition tapes began to roll in. As Garcia sat at home watching hundreds of tapes, he stumbled upon Lucas Neff’s. “I watched about half of the first scene that he did on tape. I knew that this was the guy,” Garcia said. “He was very funny … Also, he just felt very real to me; he felt very honest. I found myself rooting for him as a character.”

However, Neff had little experience. He was fresh out of college, having acted only in local theater productions and a few small film and television projects. In this role, he would have to hold his own next to strong personalities such as Martha Plimpton and Cloris Leachman. Garcia knew that giving this role to such an inexperienced actor was a risk. However, he continued to push Neff through the audition process.

When Neff came to in-person auditions, he was starstruck. He walked up and down the hallways of the studio talking selfies with the portraits of celebrities that hung on the walls. Garcia describes that it was exactly this “sense of wide-eyed optimism mixed with legitimate feelings of being potentially overwhelmed” that drew him to Neff. Garcia knew then that he had found his Jimmy Chance.

Your Place in the FamilyWhich member of the Chance family are you?

What do you eat for dinner? A. Pickles and bubblegum ice creamB. Mom’s homemade hotdog and macaroni casserole with spray cheeseC. Burgers that I grilled over a shopping cartD. Steak and lobster. But only if I can barter for it!

What is your spirit animal? A. What was the question? Oh animal. A tarsier.B. A deer like picture of a deer that was my only friend as a childC. A tree. They’re just such majestic creatures. D. A cute little piggy

What do you drink to forget? A. I don’t need alcohol to forget. I drink to remember. B. My Great-grandmother thinking I’m her dead husbandC. That my granddaughter’s mother is a serial killer D. My sister who tries to one-up me in everything

What’s your favorite song? A. Love me some Grateful Dead. Those were the good old days.B. Livin’ On a Prayer by Bon JoviC. Any song sung by someone with awesome 80s hairD. Danny’s Song by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, sung acoustically

What’s your addiction? A. Playing TetrisB. Making sure my daughter has a good childhoodC. Gambling. It’s not an addiction. I bet I can stop anytime. D. Collecting odds and ends from rich people

Tally how many of each letter you selected. Which

do you have the most of? Turn to the next page to see which

Chance you are!

Quiz ResultsCongratulations! You’re Barbara June “MawMaw” Thompson, the senile great-great grandmother to baby Hope. While you may technically own the house that the Chances live in, you’re rarely lucid enough to remember your own name. You are often seen in running around the neighborhood in you bra or getting into trouble in the house. In spite of your age, you’re quite the wild child.

B

A

Congratulations! You’re Jimmy Chance, father of baby Hope. Despite being well-intentioned, you always manage to get yourself into sticky situations. You didn’t graduate high school, still live with your parents and have horrible luck with girls. However, you care deeply about your daughter and strive to give her the best possible future.

Quiz ResultsC

D

Congratulat ions! You’re Burt Chance, grandfather of baby Hope. You love your job as a gardener and find amusement in the little things in life. Though you don’t have lots of money, you’re incredibly resourceful with what you do have. You are incredibly faithful and adore your family.

Congratulations! You’re Virginia Chance, grandmother of baby Hope. While you dream big, you are also a realist. You never let cleaning the toilets of rich people get you down and find the light in every situation. Both smart and sarcastic, you are often the voice of reason in your home.

#Kidism #RaisingHopeIf there’s one thing parents like, it’s sharing photos of their children. The online strategy for “Raising Hope” will take advantage of this by encouraging parents to share photos of their child, accompanied by a “kidism” their child said. A kidism is something a child says that is both cute and ridiculous. These things usually seem logical to children, but absurd to adults. Adults find these things funny and will enjoy sharing these stories. Posts should be tagged with “#Kidism” and “#RaisingHope” to be entered into a contest. One winner will be selected per episode and will have their kidism read over the credits at the end of the episode.

Kidismnoun || kid˙is˙m

Things children say that are both cute

and ridiculous