'Grey's Anatomy,' 'HTGAWM' Shondaland adopts new cable series 'I'm Judging You'

Shondaland by Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers recently acquired the rights to “I’m Judging You.” The book is set to be adapted into a cable comedy series, under Shondaland’s overall deal ABC Studios and the ABC Signature cable division.

“I’m Judging You: The Do Better Manual” is a hilarious essay collection by Luvvie Ajayi that teaches people how to do better at life. It encourages readers to maximize their potential.Ajayi is also the creator of the AwesomelyLuvie.com blog, which grabbed the attention of Shonda Rhimes after featuring recaps of the Shondaland series, “Scandal.” Rhimes praised Ajayi’s work and tweeted the loved the output, writes Deadline.

Rhimes noted that she first noticed Luvvie for her “Scandal” recaps, which compelled her to read her other works. The TV producer described Luvvie as hilarious, intelligent and insightful. According to Rhimes, Ajayi speaks for a group of people and a generation that do not get heard often in powerful circles.

According to Glamour, the “I’m Judging You” manual is divided into sections, covering topics like life, fame, social media and culture. “I’m Judging You” is set to become a cable series with less family-friendly content, so it will not be joining “How to Get Away With Murder,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Scandal” for TGIT. ABC productions will still produce the new comedy.

Shondaland currently has five drama series on ABC and is planning to expand its portfolio into comedy. Through the years, Shondaland has built a reputation for featuring captivating melodramas and touching monologues. “I’m Judging You” will be the company’s first comedy, although it is supposed to be more mature than some shows in the present lineup.

Ajayi is represented by ICM Partners, Folio Literary Management, Diamond Brand Amplification and Frankfurt Kurnit. She tweeted that having Shondaland acquire her bestselling book is a dream come true. It has not been confirmed whether Ajayi will be brought in to help with production, but fans believe that she can inject more humour and wit to introduce her work to a wider audience.

The specifics and cast of “I’m Judging You” has yet to be announced, since the potential series is still in its early stages. There is still no confirmation on the planned release date, although it will most likely air on a different day than Shondaland’s thrillers and melodramas.

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