Praise Petey

***Praise Petey*** is an American adult animated series created by Anna Drezen for Freeform. The series is co-produced by Bandera Entertainment, ShadowMachine and 20th Television Animation, being distributed by Disney Platform Distribution. It stars Annie Murphy, John Cho, Kiersey Clemons, Stephen Root, Amy Hill and Christine Baranski and premiered on July 21, 2023 on Freeform.

In November 2023, the series was cancelled after one season.

## Premise

The series follows Petey, a New York City “it” girl who has it all until her life comes crashing down around her. As luck would have it, a mysterious gift from her father gives her a new lease on life: She’s going to “lean into” modernizing his small-town cult.

## Press Information

News of the series was first announced on December 9, 2021 by Jamila Hunter, EVP programming & development for Freeform. The network handed *Praise Petey*, from *SNL* head writer Anna Drezen and executive producers Monica Padrick, Mike Judge and Greg Daniels, a series order. Additional executive producers are Bandera Entertainment’s Dustin Davis, and ShadowMachine’s Alex Bulkley and Corey Campodonico. The series is produced by 20th Television Animation, with animation by ShadowMachine.

Hunter said, “It’s kind of the A-team. It was a spec script that we bought and Annie Murphy got attached early on. We’ve had such a great opportunity to attract talent because Anna [Drezen] is so incredibly funny and smart. Animation has a great opportunity to be funny and thought provoking. That’s what we love about it.”

Drezen said, “I can’t believe I get to make this show with so many funny and smart people. Getting to work with Monica, Bandera, Freeform, ShadowMachine, 20th Television Animation and this amazing cast has been a blast and dream — a bleam. This rules.”

*Praise Petey* began production in early 2022.

On December 23, 2021, Drezen left *SNL* to focus on *Praise Petey*.

## Cast

### Main Cast

* Petey St. Barts: Who was once the girl who had everything, now she has to use her city smarts to revamp her father's failing cult and be a better leader than he was, a much more laidback one - a nice one - a girl boss! (voiced by Annie Murphy)
* Bandit: A potential love interest for Petey and a cult member since childhood whose mother was a high-ranking member. (voiced by John Cho)
* Eliza: A bartender at the local bar and reluctant BFF to Petey, working at her new cult. (voiced by Kiersey Clemons)
* Mae Mae: Bandit’s Southern mama oozing with Southern hospitality who happens to be the right-hand woman of a cult leader. (voiced by Amy Hill)
* White St. Barts: Petey’s mother, a magazine editor, Manhattan society woman and a terrifying perfectionist who’s never eaten, tasted or seen ketchup. (voiced by Christine Baranski)
* Petey's Dad: Petey’s loving father, a charming, homespun, stone-cold cult leader with some pretty unique ideas about meditation, space, jumping up and down in a field, and how his bloodline is necessary for the salvation of mankind. He may or may not be dead. (voiced by Stephen Root)

## Broadcast

*Praise Petey* is premiered on Freeform on July 21, 2023 at 10 p.m., with two back-to-back episodes airing each week until August 18.

## Trivia

* The series has been in development since February 17, 2021.
* The series was announced on December 9, 2021.
* The series also marks the first original animated series to hail from Freeform.

## References

Template:Praise Petey Navigation

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Freeform Sets Premiere Dates For ‘Grown-ish’ Final Season & ‘Cruel Summer’ Season 2
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 *Praise Petey* Canceled At Freeform After One Season
3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 Annie Murphy, John Cho & Christine Baranski Star In Animated Series ‘Praise Petey’ From Anna Drezen For Freeform As Network Takes Another Crack At Genre
4. ↑ ‘SNL’: Head Writer Anna Drezen Leaving NBC Show To Focus On Freeform’s ‘Praise Petey
5. ↑ Praise Petey