FX’s new comedy What We Do in the Shadows didn’t hide in the dark from viewers. The network launched the hysterical comedy on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 and 1.4 million viewers tuned in to watch the odd assortment of vampire roommates go about their daily undead lives. The viewership numbers were high enough to place it at #6 among all cable comedy premieres since 2017, according to FX. Add in the encore episodes and the VOD streaming views and the total rises to 2 million through March 31st.
FX also reports What We Do in the Shadows had the “highest three-day lift of any primetime cable comedy series premiere” since 2017. In addition, it rang up the highest three-day lift of any series premiere of any genre in the network’s history.
The comedy’s based on the award-winning feature film by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi. Clement created the show and serves as an executive producer along with Waititi, Paul Simms, Scott Rudin, Garrett Basch, and Eli Bush. The cast includes Matt Berry, Kayvan Novak, Natasia Demetriou, Harvey Guillén, Beanie Feldstein, and Mark Proksch.
The Season 1 Plot:
“What We Do in the Shadows is a documentary-style look into the daily (or rather, nightly) lives of four vampires who’ve “lived” together for hundreds of years. In Staten Island.
The self-appointed leader of the group is Nandor The Relentless (Novak), a great warrior and conqueror from the Ottoman Empire, who has taken the helm of the group despite many of his Old World tactics resulting in what some might politely refer to as bupkis. Then there’s the British vampire Laszlo (Berry) – a bit of a rogue and a dandy and a fop, he might say. He’s a lover of mischief and a great soirée, but not as much as he loves seeing Nandor fail miserably in every attempt. And then there’s Nadja (Demetriou): the seductress, the temptress, the vampiric Bonnie to Laszlo’s Clyde. Her wisdom and provocative tales from times past allow us insight into the many ups and downs of living an immortal life.
Also cohabiting in the vampire household is Guillermo (Guillén), Nandor’s familiar (a.k.a. servant/protector during the daylight hours), who wants nothing more than to be made a real vampire just like his master. Also lurking about is Colin Robinson (Proksch), an energy vampire and day-walker of sorts — he feasts on humans, but not on their blood. A frequent visitor is Nadja’s new friend, Jenna (Feldstein), a student at a nearby community college. She loves LARPing, boys, and art history, and for some reason has been rather confused lately as to why it is she so ravenously craves the flesh of the living.
After an unexpected visit from their dark lord and leader, Baron Afanas, the vampires are reminded of what they were initially tasked with upon their arrival in Staten Island over a hundred years ago – total and complete domination of the New World. But what exactly is the best way to go about achieving said domination? Our vérité camera crew follows along as the vampires set out to answer this query.”
- Mark Proksch on Playing an Energy-Sucking Vampire in What We Do in the Shadows
- Exclusive Interview with Kayvan Novak on Season 1 of What We Do in the Shadows
- One on One with Natasia Demetriou
- Harvey Guillen Provides the Scoop on Playing Guillermo
