Article Detail

University of Evansville Graduates Premier New Comedy on the FX Network

Posted: Wednesday, March 5, 2014

George Lopez stars in “St. George,” a new comedy premiering Thursday, Mar. 6, at 8 pm (CST) on the FX network.  University of Evansville Department of Theatre graduates, Matt Williams and David McFadzean, created the series and will serve as executive producers and writers, and UE Department of Communications graduate, Dete Meserve, will serve as executive producer.

“St. George” is a half-hour, multi-camera ensemble comedy that follows the chaotic life of “George Lopez,” a recently divorced working-class Mexican-American turned successful entrepreneur caught between two cultures.  He struggles to balance the parenting demands of his All-American Anglo ex-wife and the cultural expectations of his overbearing Mexican-American mother.  As George attempts to relate to his 11-year-old son, his fun loving, but freeloading, uncle and cousin further complicate his life.  As a wealthy businessman, George also gives back by teaching history to a class of multi-cultural students, at a night school in downtown Los Angeles, where his supervisor is a tough and sexy assistant principal.  “St. George” is a celebration of a multi-generational family that humorously wrestles with cultural differences in today’s society. Visit the following link for “St. George” promos: http://www.youtube.com/user/SaintGeorgeOnFX 

Matt Williams is an Evansville native, graduate of Harrison High School, and a 1973 UE graduate.  He is best known as the creator and executive producer of the groundbreaking hit series “Roseanne” and the co-creator and executive producer of “Home Improvement,” one of the most successful programs in television history, earning him three Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Comedy Series.  Williams started his television career as a writer/producer on “The Cosby Show.”  For his work on the series, he was nominated for a Humanitas Award, three Emmy Awards, and was honored with a Peabody Award for Outstanding achievement in Television Writing.  Williams also served as co-creator of the Cosby spin-off, “A Different World.”  In film, he co-wrote and produced Disney’s award-winning “Wild Hearts Can’t be Broken.”  Williams also served as executive producer on the critically acclaimed drama “Firelight,” produced and directed “Where the Heart Is,” produced Nancy Meyer’s romantic comedy, “What Women Want,” and co-wrote, produced and directed “Walker Payne.”

David McFadzean, a 1973 UE graduate, is a partner with Matt Williams in Wind Dancer Films.  With Williams and Carmen Finestra, McFadzean created and executive produced “Home Improvement.”  Prior to that, he served as the executive story editor on the premiere season of “Roseanne.”  Under the Wind Dancer banner, McFadzean went on to executive-produce and co-create several television shows for stars including Carol Burnett, Ed Asner, Dan Aykroyd, and Dave Chappelle.  Additionally, McFadzean has produced numerous feature films, including the critically acclaimed “Bernie,” which premiered on the UE campus.  Beginning his writing career as a playwright, his play “Oklahoma Rigs,” produced at UE, was selected for the national Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in 1987, and was the resident playwright for the Lamb’s Players Theater Company in San Diego for five years.

Dete Meserve, a 1984 UE graduate, is president of Wind Dancer Films and oversees all aspects of Wind Dancer’s film and television slate.  In addition, she leads the company’s growing animation brands, including production of the pilot for “Jet Propulsion” for PBS, “Not a Box,” the animated TV series, and “Nightglider,” an animated feature film with Ireland’s Brown Bag Films.  Meserve’s career with Wind Dancer includes working on the financing and production of all the company’s films including “Where the Heart Is,” “What Women Want,” and “Bernie,” in addition to the television series “Home Improvement,” “Soul Man,” starring Dan Aykroyd.  Prior to joining Wind Dancer, Merserve was Vice President of USC Radio, the University of Southern California’s radio network and was instrumental in USC Radio’s acquisition of the radio production of the national daily business series “Marketplace” and “Marketplace Morning Report.”  Meserve began her career as station manager for Evansville’s WNIN radio station and assistant station manager for WNIN television.

Photo of Matt Williams, David McFadzean, Dete Meserve

Share this article:

Facebook Icon Twitter Icon Email Icon Google Icon