I don't know who in the world greenlighted this move, but the Independent Film Channel (IFC) unveiled its 2012 – 2013 original programming line-up this week, and surprise, surprise–  it includes a new installment of singer R. Kelly’s “hip-hopera”, Trapped In The Closet.

Tambay first told us in December that Kelly had written 32 new chapters to the melodramatic series that debuted in 2007, and was looking for investors to bankroll the project.  I guess he found them.

Needless to say, I'm not a fan of the "series".  But the IFC seems to believe that there's still a big-enough audience out there for this type of material.  We'll see how long this lasts.

Here's the official release from IFC:

TRAPPED IN THE CLOSET(1×60)
Premieres 4Q 2012

Part contemporary movie musical, part urban operetta and part epic music video, TRAPPED IN THE CLOSET initially debuted on IFC and ifc.com in 2007 delivering the network’s most robust online audience ever. The premiere chapters were a suspenseful, mysterious, humorous and dramatic story, packed with cliffhangers and unexpected twists and turns.

Now, Sylvester, Rufus, Cathy Gwendolyn, Bridget, Big Man, Rosie the Nosy Neighbor, Twan and Pimp Lucius are back This year, the crew reunites on IFC in the next installments of R. Kelly’s continuing hip hopera about a group of characters interconnected by sexual exploits, little people and a mysterious package.

TRAPPED IN THE CLOSET is produced by Sylvester Films and Fuzzy Bunny Films; R. Kelly executive produces, writes, stars, and co-directs with Jim Swaffield; Ann Carli is the producer. For IFC, the show is executive produced by Jennifer Caserta, Debbie DeMontreux, Christine Lubrano and Evan
Shapiro.