Netflix Orders 1990s Coming of Age Comedy Everything Sucks

While the insane array of originals on Netflix’s backlog probably can’t be accurately categorized by any one offering, the streaming giant has taken a special shine to retro comedies, evidenced by its fostering of the 2001 cult film Wet Hot American Summer into a television franchise, as well as Full House spinoff Fuller House. However, a developing teen comedy series called Everything Sucks! brandishes a mantra that fits in the angsty era in which it will take place: the 1990s.

Netflix has announced the development of Everything Sucks!, which will manifest as a half-hour dramedy with a 10-episode inaugural season. The series, which will properly tap into 1990s nostalgia, setting itself in 1996, is the brainchild of writers/executive producers Ben York Jones (Like Crazy) and Michael Mohan (Save the Date). The duo will also direct some of the episodes. As the Jones/Mohan team express in a statement:

“Some of our favorite shows of all time — The Wonder Years, Happy Days, That 70s Show, Freaks and Geeks — looked back at bygone eras with 20 years of hindsight. We think this is a great time to take a look back at high school and relive the fashion, music, and attitudes of the mid-’90’s the way we remember it. Not sensationalized, not watered down; but desperate, heartfelt, awkward, and exciting.”

Everything Sucks! is being described as “a quirky, funny coming-of-age story that follows two groups of high school misfits, an A/V club and a Drama club who collide in 1996 Oregon.” The two main star students in the series are Peyton Kennedy (American Fable) as Kate Messner and music/acting prodigy Jahi Winston (The New Edition Story) as Luke O’Neil. They are joined by parental figures with Patch Darragh (Boardwalk Empire) as Kate’s father and Claudine Nako (Grimm) as Luke’s mother. Sydney Sweeney (Emaline), Elijah Stevenson (Oliver), Quinn Liebling (Tyler) and Rio Mangini (McQuaid) also appear.

Joining Jones/Mohan for Everything Sucks! are producers Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec, Jeff Pinkner and Scott Rosenberg; a quartet, operating under the collective name Midnight Radio. Their company is responsible for the CBS sci-fi drama Zoo and the upcoming History Channel Templar Knights series Knightfall.

Everything Sucks! has yet to announce premiere details.