EXCLUSIVE: Hannah Berner and Paige DeSorbo, reality stars from Summer House and podcast stars via their popular Giggly Squad, are now looking to become comedy series stars. Netflix is developing a half-hour scripted comedy co-written and headlined by the longtime best friends, which the streamer landed in a competitive situation. It is produced by Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation, SNL), with Kay Cannon (Pitch Perfect, 30 Rock) co-writing and serving as showrunner. Universal Television, where Poehler’s Paper Kite Prods. is based, is the studio.
Set in NYC, the Untitled Hannah and Paige project stars Berner and DeSorbo as fictionalized versions of themselves as they become the ultimate ride-or-dies, helping each other shed their baggage and emerge as the people they’ve always wanted to be.
Berner and DeSorbo executive produce alongside Cannon and Kite Prods’ Poehler and Kim Lessing for Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.
The project stems from an idea by Berner and DeSorbo who first met while working briefly for the same company in New York. They bonded during their time together on Bravo’s Summer House, which they both joined for its third season. Berner left after Season 5 when she kicked off her stand-up career. DeSorbo departed after last year’s Season 9 and has been focused on her career as fashion influencer, including launching her Daphne sleepwear line.
Together, Berner and DeSorbo co-host Giggly Squad, which recently won Podcast of the Year at the 2026 iHeartPodcast Awards. They also have been taking on acting roles, including in Mindy Kaling’s upcoming Hulu comedy series Not Suitable For Work.
As a stand-up, Berner opened for Poehler and Tina Fey in May 2025, and Berner and DeSorbo were guests on Poehler’s podcast Good Hang around the same time, which is how Poehler came on board their comedy project. It also wasn’t lost on Berner and DeSorbo that Poehler executive produced Comedy Central’s Broad City, which similarly starred real-life friends Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson as two best friends navigating life in New York City. Poehler, in turn, brought in her longtime friend Cannon with whom she goes back to their early days on the Chicago comedy scene.
The comedy was set up at Universal TV through Poehler’s exclusive deal there. The pitch was taken out, garnering interest from multiple buyers and landing at Netflix with a script-to-series commitment.
Universal TV has become one of Netflix’s top comedy series suppliers via talent on the studio’s overall deal roster with such shows as Mike Schur’s The Man On the Inside, Fey’s The Four Seasons and Darren Star’s upcoming Uncorked.
In 2024-25, Berner and DeSorbo took their Giggly Squad podcast on a tour in the U.S. and Canada, including two sold-out shows at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall. The duo also are the authors of the bestselling book How to Giggle: A Guide to Taking Life Less Seriously.
Separately, Berner headlined the 2024 Netflix comedy special Hannah Berner: We Ride At Dawn while DeSorbo recently hosted the red carpet at the Actor Awards for Netflix. Berner is repped by WME, Entertainment 360 and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller; DeSorbo is with WME and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller.
Cannon is directing the upcoming Netflix romantic comedy One Attempt Remaining starring Jennifer Garner and John Cena and recently directed the Hulu comedy pilot Don’t Get High. She is repped by WME and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller.
Poehler, who recently won the first podcast Golden Globe for Good Hang, co-created with Schur and stars in their upcoming Peacock comedy series Dig. She is repped by WME, 3 Arts and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern.
