Press release from IFC, April 5, 2017:

On the day of its series premiere, IFC announced that acclaimed new comedy Brockmire has been picked up for a second season slated to air in 2018. Starring Hank Azaria (The Simpsons), with Amanda Peet (Togetherness), Tyrel Jackson Williams (Pants on Fire), and created with Funny Or Die, IFC has ordered eight new 30-minute episodes.

The highly anticipated series has already received critical praise and makes it series debut tonight, Wednesday April 5 at 10:00 PM on IFC, with two back-to-back episodes. IFC made the first episode available to watch on a variety of platforms including VOD, IFC.com the IFC Facebook page and FunnyOrDie.com in advance of its linear premiere, and so far, the episode has already notched over 2.3 million digital views.

“We love everything about Brockmire – from the writing, to the cast, to all the sports puns we get to use,” said Jennifer Caserta, president of IFC. “The show has already gotten an amazing reception from fans and critics alike, and we are thrilled to be ‘keeping it Brockmire’ with our partners at Funny or Die and Hank Azaria for another season on IFC.”

Said executive producer and star Hank Azaria: “This show is the most fun I’ve ever had. Well, the most fun I’ve ever had while working, anyway. It is truly my favorite thing I’ve ever done. Well, while being filmed, that is. Thanks to IFC for letting us do whatever we wanted to. Well, mostly.”

Brockmire follows Jim Brockmire, played by Azaria, a famed major league baseball announcer who suffered a notorious public breakdown after stumbling upon his wife’s infidelity; a breakdown so bad in fact that “Brutal Brockmire” becomes a viral internet meme. The series picks up a decade later as Brockmire looks to reclaim his career, reputation, and love life.

Brockmire originally appeared as a viral short video on the award-winning comedy website Funny Or Die. The series is written by Joel Church-Cooper (Undateable), directed by Tim Kirkby (Veep), and executive produced by Azaria, Church-Cooper, Kirkby and Funny Or Die’s Mike Farah, Joe Farrell and Anna Wenger.

IFC’s parent company AMC Networks recently purchased minority ownership stake Funny or Die after a series of successful collaborations with IFC. The partnership paves the way for Funny or Die and IFC – two strong, leading comedy brands – to further expand by creating smart, culturally relevant comedy across television, digital and social platforms. Brockmire is the first major collaboration since the IFC and Funny Or Die made the announcement in late 2016.

IFC is the home of offbeat, unexpected comedies. Original series Portlandia, Documentary Now!, Stan Against Evil and Brockmire air alongside fan-favorite movies and comedic cult TV shows. IFC is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc., and available across multiple platforms. IFC is Always On Slightly Off.