Single Camera Comedy Starring Emmy Award Nominee Joel McHale Also Marks Most-Streamed Live-Action Comedy Telecast in FOX History.
The Thursday, February 16, world premiere of FOX’s all new single-camera comedy Animal Control, starring Emmy Award nominee Joel McHale, launched as the network’s most-streamed scripted debut ever in Live + 3 Day ratings. Posting 4.5 million multi-platform viewers, a lift of +114% from Live + Same Day, Animal Control registered 1.3 million streaming viewers on Hulu and FOX NOW. Wholly owned by FOX Entertainment, Animal Control also marks FOX’s most-streamed live-action comedy ever, outpacing the 2015 launch of The Last Man on Earth, while also marking FOXs most-watched comedy telecast since the 2021 series finale of Last Man Standing.
Animal Control’s debut was FOX’s most-watched (3.1 million P2+) comedy telecast since the series finale of Last Man Standing (5/20/21, excluding post-NFL).
Animal Control follows a group of local Animal Control workers whose lives are complicated by the fact that animals are simple, but humans are not. McHale stars as Frank, an opinionated, eccentric Animal Control officer who may not have gone to college but is still the most well-read person in the room. A former cop, Frank tried to expose corruption in his department, but his efforts got him fired, which may explain why he’s so cynical and curmudgeonly. He has an almost superhuman ability to understand animals. Humans…not so much. Frank is assigned a new partner, Fred “Shred” Taylor (newcomer Michael Rowland), an optimistic rookie Animal Control officer. They both report into their sweet-natured and endearingly awkward boss Emily Price (Vella Lovell, Mr. Mayor). Amit Patel (Ravi Patel, Master of None) and Victoria Sands (Grace Palmer, Shortland Street) are also partners in the Animal Control office – though they could not be more opposite. Rounding out the precinct is veterinarian Dr. Summers (Alvina August, The Boys), receptionist Dolores Stubb (Kelli Ogmundson, Cavendish) and Templeton Dudge (Gerry Dee, Mr. D), an Animal Control officer from a neighboring precinct with a real chip on his shoulder. Animal Control is produced by FOX Entertainment Studios and executive-produced by Bob Fisher (Wedding Crashers, Sirens, The Moodys), Rob Greenberg (Frasier, How I Met Your Mother, The Moodys), Dan Sterling (Long Shot, The Interview, Girls, The Office, King of the Hill), Tad Quill (Scrubs, The Moodys) and McHale.
