Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers’ Shondaland, along with ABC Signature Studios, have acquired rights to Luvvie Ajayi’s debut book titled “I’m Judging You: The Do Better Manual,” with plans to develop it into a cable TV comedy series.
Here’s an official summary of “I’m Judging You”: With over 500,000 readers a month at her enormously popular blog, AwesomelyLuvvie.com, Luvvie Ajayi is a go-to source for smart takes on pop culture. ‘I’m Judging You’ is her debut book of humorous essays that dissects our cultural obsessions and calls out bad behavior in our increasingly digital, connected lives. It passes on lessons and side-eyes on life, social media, culture, and fame, from addressing those terrible friends we all have to serious discussions of race and media representation to what to do about your fool cousin sharing casket pictures from Grandma’s wake on Facebook. With a lighthearted, razor sharp wit and a unique perspective, I’m Judging You is the handbook the world needs, doling out the hard truths and a road map for bringing some “act right” into our lives, social media, and popular culture. It is the Do-Better Manual.”
We follow Ms. Ajayi on Twitter, by the way, as I’m sure many of you do as well! So you should be familiar with her incredible hustle, attitude, aptitude and hard work that continues to pay off. So kudos Luvvie! We will most certanly be watching for what comes next!
If greenlit to series — and any Rhimes project has strong odds — the comedy would mark Shondaland’s sixth (potentially 7th) series on the air: “Scandal,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “How to Get Away with Murder,” “The Catch,” and an upcoming “Still Star-Crossed,” and the recently ordered (to pilot) untitled legal drama, all at ABC. This new potential series based on Ajayi’s book will go to cable however.
Ajayi is repped by ICM Partners, Diamond Brand Amplification and Frankfurt Kurnit.
Deadline was first to report the news of the acquisition of “I’m Judging You.” Pick up a copy of the bestseller by clicking the image below:
