Pivot’s New Series ‘Welcome to Fairfax’ and ‘Freestyle Love Supreme’ to Premiere October 17

LOS ANGELES (July 11, 2014)—On Friday, October 17, Pivot will debut two new half hour series during the 10 p.m. hour, Freestyle Love Supreme, a new comedic improv series inspired by the acclaimed stage show from Tony and Grammy award-winners, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Thomas Kail. And Welcome to Fairfax,a series that explores the vibrant and arts district of Los Angeles and the entrepreneurs whowork and live on these blocks. Freestyle Love Supreme, the high-energy, comedic hip-hop improv show from Lin-Manuel Miranda and Thomas Kail, creators of the Tony and Grammy award-winning musical, “In The Heights,” made its television debut on Pivot as an original special, and was picked up for 10 half-hour episodes. Touted by The New York Times as “masters in the art of Freestyle rhyme,” “Freestyle Love Supreme” uses rap to spin audience suggestions into fully-realized musical numbers. In addition to Lin-Manuel, the team includes Utkarsh Ambudkar, Anthony Veneziale, Chris Sullivan, Bill Sherman, Arthur Lewis, and special guests. The live portions of the series will film at the famous Ars Nova Theater in Manhattan. Love Supreme was conceived by Anthony Veneziale and Thomas Kail. The series is executive produced by Anthony Veneziale, Thomas Kail, Jon Steingart and Jill Furman for Ars Nova, and Ryan McFaul. Jeff Skoll and Christy Spitzer serve as executive producers for Pivot. Shot in cinema vérité style, Welcome to Fairfax is comprised of 10, half-hour episodes that focus on the journeys of the young entrepreneurs living and working in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles, a neighborhood brimming with those on the cusp of breaking onto the national stage. Among the many locals featured are Gavin “Mizzle” McNeill, a self-taught creative director and the embodiment of the “do-it-yourself” ethic that is the code of the Fairfax scene. Mizzle is an entrepreneur and founder of the street wear line “Just Be Cool” who works to balance managing his store and growing his brand while also caring for his father, Fred McNeill, Sr., a former NFL Star who suffers from dementia and CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy); Felicia La Tour, Mizzle’s girlfriend, who grew up in the violence of poverty-plagued Stockton, CA, came to Fairfax to pursue her own dreams. As a successful makeup artist, she is now hoping to pay it forward by mentoring young women; Julian “Jay Uggh” Smith is a hip-hop emcee who is at the forefront of the music scene in Fairfax and the founder of CBG (“Chill Black Guys”) with fellow members Young Hawaii Slim and Corzillah, a charismatic rap group with the potential to cross over from underground notoriety to worldwide success; Gabe Brooks has all the abilities to become a star as a street BMX rider, but must face the ghosts of his gang-affiliated past; and Tori Bradley, a newcomer to Fairfax, who came to the block to be a part of the street-wear explosion while leaving behind an abusive relationship and now is passionate about raising awareness about domestic violence. Welcome to Fairfax is produced by Matador with executive producers Todd Lubin, Jay Peterson, Ryan Sidhoo, Ben Selkow, and Jonathan Silberberg. Jeff Skoll and Christy Spitzer serve as executive producers for Pivot. About Pivot Pivot, which launched nationally in August 2013, is a television network serving passionate Millennials (18-34) with a diverse slate of talent and a mix of original series, acquired programming, films and documentaries. Pivot focuses on entertainment that sparks conversation, inspires change and illuminates issues through engaging content and, through its partner website TakePart connects audiences to a wealth of content and actions. Pivot is available in approximately 45 million homes in North America via traditional Pay TV subscription, integrating a Live and on demand streaming option via the Pivot app. Follow Pivot on Twitter at @pivot_tv and on Facebook at facebook.com/pivottelevision. Pivot’s parent, Participant is the global entertainment company founded in 2004 by Jeff Skoll to focus on feature film, television, publishing, and digital content that inspires social change. Through its films, social action campaigns, digital network, and its television network, Participant seeks to entertain, encourage and empower every individual to take action.