A brand new CBS sitcom venture from producer Kenya Barris and actor Mike Epps sparked controversy resulting from its setting: Altadena, California, within the aftermath of the latest Eaton Hearth.
Information of the venture broke final month, with Deadline reporting that Barris was creating and writing the multi-camera sitcom and that BET Studios and CBS Studios had been producing.
“Within the untitled half-hour, after wildfires sweep via Altadena, two estranged Black brothers — one performed by Epps — reunite to promote their late grandmother’s home to personal builders,” the logline reads, per Deadline. “However once they be taught her caretaker now owns a part of the house and refuses to promote, they’re pressured to dwell collectively and confront their variations — and what neighborhood, legacy, and household actually imply.”
CBS Growing Kenya Barris–Mike Epps Comedy Set in Submit-Wildfire Altadena
CBS is reportedly creating a half-hour multi-camera comedy from Kenya Barris and Mike Epps, set in Altadena within the aftermath of the Eaton Hearth. The untitled sequence will discover themes of household,… pic.twitter.com/bURdzTrMzu
— Pasadena Now (@ePasadenaNow) August 23, 2025
Altadena, an space in Los Angeles County, is the place the Eaton Hearth began this January. The hearth unfold over greater than 14,000 acres and weeks to include, and it led to the deaths of 18 civilians and the destruction of greater than 9,000 buildings, in accordance with Cal Hearth. As builders rushed in to purchase out broken and destroyed properties, Altadena residents rallied across the motto “Altadena will not be on the market,” per the Los Angeles Public Press.
A latest Instagram replace posted by artist and entrepreneur Anjelika Perry and the Instagram accounts @inrealtimela and @altadenarising encapsulates the backlash to Barris’ sitcom.
“A few of us are nonetheless displaced. Nonetheless preventing insurance coverage. Nonetheless grieving what by no means made it out,” the put up reads. “So once I noticed that CBS and Kenya Barris are partnering to develop a comedy ‘set in post-wildfire Altadena,’ I couldn’t consider it. A sitcom. In regards to the ashes we haven’t even completed sweeping. And essentially the most painful half? It’s being led by creatives who ought to know higher. Who declare to signify us — however selected revenue over folks. This isn’t storytelling. It’s desecration.”
The put up continues: “The concept that somebody, anybody, would mine that grief for comedy whereas survivors are nonetheless rebuilding seems like a slap within the face. … Not the whole lot must be content material. Particularly not our disaster. This hearth wasn’t metaphor. It wasn’t a plot system. It was my mom’s residence. It was my niece’s bed room. It was the whole lot we had, and we watched it burn. … Cancel the sitcom. Respect the grief. We don’t desire a chortle monitor over our losses.”
As The Hollywood Reporter notes, KBLA journalist and Dialog Reside: Altadena Rising host James Farr provided his tackle the venture in an announcement to KBLA’s RSVP With Jill Monroe. “Love them [Barris and Epps] each, however there’s not something humorous taking place,” Farr stated. “I’m certain they’ll ship mental humor with loads of ‘message’ as a via line. Nevertheless, I don’t understand how I really feel about it. Nice for protecting Altadena within the nationwide dialog, although.”
Within the feedback on the unique Deadline article, readers argued in regards to the thought.
“Whereas I sympathize with everybody who misplaced their houses within the fireplace, none of us is aware of how the tragedy might be even highlighted,” one wrote. “All of the triggered of us right here assume you possibly can’t discover happiness after a tragedy?”
One other commenter replied, “A narrative-oriented narrative that’s sometimes humorous? Positive, as a result of life is typically humorous, even in tragedy. However a straight-out comedy-oriented narrative? No. ‘Learn the room.’ Positive, ‘Tragedy + time = comedy,’ however we’re lacking the ‘time’ half.”
Another person commented, “Is that this a joke? It’s manner too quickly. We as victims are nonetheless struggling on daily basis. We’d like assist and dwell and our actual tales informed. There’s a time and place for this humor, nevertheless it’s not now.”
As for Barris, he defended the venture on Instagram, THR stories. “What manner may you consider supporting it then [sic] by doing what I understand how to do and attempting to convey a light-weight to a spot that many have already forgotten,” the Black-ish creator commented, responding to 1 consumer’s criticism. “I perceive your worry, however know that I solely plan to do the very best I can to ensure the world sees you.”