The comedy marketplace is coming off a tough year with few buys and even fewer greenlights as the number of networks and platforms focused on comedy fare shrunk further with Amazon Freevee’s shutdown after Comedy Central, TBS, TruTV and IFC had all gotten out of the live-action scripted comedy business over the last couple of years. The broadcast networks produce a fraction of the comedy output they had just a decade ago, and streamers prioritize noisy dramas over comedies in pursuit of subscriber acquisition and retention.

Amid the pullback, HBO has spent the last year rebuilding its comedy slate after the departure of stalwarts like Curb Your Enthusiasm and Barry. In 2024, the network ordered two comedy pilots from writer-performers, Tim Robinson’s The Chair Company and an untitled Rachel Sennott half-hour, both of which were picked up to series that are currently being written. Additionally, HBO last May gave...