MTV has added two comedies to its original programming roster. High-school set entry Faking It and theme park comedy Happyland have been picked up to series, each receiving orders for eight episodes.
Faking It hails from Carter Covington (Greek, Hart of Dixie) and revolves around two best friends who will do almost anything to fit in and be popular in high school, including pretending to be something they're not. The cast includes Bailey Buntain, Gregg Sulkin, Katie Stevens, Michael Willett and Rita Volk.
Happyland, from Ben Epstein (Daddy's Girls), is a soapy teen comedy exploring the underbelly of one of the country's most popular theme parks and those who work there. The project centers on Lucy, a cynical teen whose mother makes a living as a fairy tale princess, and explores the realities of growing up and falling in love while living in a make-believe world. Smash's Neil Meron and Craig Zadan will executive produce. Bianca Santos, Zulay Henao, Shane Harper, Katherine McNamara, Cameron Moulene, Brandy Smith and Ryan Rothman star.
The two comedies join Awkward on the schedule as the network continues its push into original scripted programming. On the drama side, the network recently renewed Teen Wolf for a fourth season with a companion talk show.
Drama pilots Scream, Finding Carter and Eye Candy remain in the mix at the network. Casting on the latter two has already begun, with Scream on the back burner.
The series orders come as no surprise as MTV programming president Susanne Daniels told THR in July after both comedies were ordered to pilot that she was looking to add one drama for 2014 and either one or two more comedies.
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