ABC Upfronts 2026 | URZILA is new ABC comedy series from Warner Bros. – Warner Bros. International Television Production (WBITVP) Australia and ABC have today announced URZILA, a bold new comedy series fronted by one of Australia and New Zealand’s most celebrated comedic voices, Urzila Carlson.
URZILA invites audiences into the sharp, unpredictable world of a comedy powerhouse. The series fuses bespoke stand-up with finely honed sketches, delivering a format that’s fresh, fearless, and unapologetically funny. Each episode is anchored by Urzila’s trademark deadpan delivery and razor-sharp wit, with sketches inspired by her stand-up stories and starring a hand-picked ensemble of rising stars and comedy heavyweights, including Bron Lewis, Andy Saunders, Carlo Ritchie, Anisa Nandaula, Sam Pang and Julia Morris.
“I always hoped I would get the call but prayed I wouldn’t…. the call asking me to deliver a sketch show that Australians can watch and not slag off in the comment section. Panic set in but then I calmed down and remembered I know a lot of great comics and some very funny people and we can do this,”
– said Urzila Carlson
“We sat around a table and spent most of the budget on snacks and coffees to write my standup into sketches. We then proceeded for the next five weeks to record like our lives depended on it and we snot bubble laughed our way through the takes to bring you hopefully one of the funniest sketch shows you’ve seen in the last week or so!”
“URZILA is comedy at its most inventive. It’s smart, cheeky, and full of surprises. Urzila Carlson’s voice is unmistakable, and this series gives her the perfect stage to showcase her brilliance alongside a stellar ensemble,”
– said Johnny Lowry, Head of Original Content, WBITVP Australia.
“We’re thrilled to collaborate with ABC to deliver a show that will keep audiences laughing and talking long after each episode.”
Rachel Millar, ABC Head of Entertainment said:
“We’re thrilled to welcome Urzila to the ABC. She’s an absolute star, and her cheeky, laugh-out-loud stand-up has long struck a chord with Australian audiences. We know this clever new format will do the same. It’s fantastic to have WBITVP steering the ship and bringing Urzila’s vision to life.””
URZILA is produced by Warner Bros. International Television Production (WBITVP) Australia and commissioned by the ABC. It’s written by Urzila Carlson, Joel Slack-Smith, Penny Greenhalgh, Cameron James, Emma Holland, Laura Hughes and Richard Thorp and directed by Henry Stone and Josh Thompson.
The executive producers are Tom Rohr, Johnny Lowry for WBITVP, Rachel Millar and Rowdie Walden for the ABC. Distributed internationally by the ABC.
The series is set to premiere on ABC and ABC iView in 2026.
Media Release – Warner Bros
Link to ABC iview HERE
TV Central ABC content HERE
ABC Upfronts 2026 | URZILA is new ABC comedy series from Warner Bros.
