Coco & Eddie: Erin Fogel Discusses Her New Sitcom, Creating a Series for YouTube, and Differences from Her Previous Roles

Coco & Eddie is a sitcom revolving around an unlikely but adorable modern couple navigating love, relationships, and misunderstandings on the Upper West Side of New York City. It was created by and stars actress Erin Fogel, who has appeared on several shows including Blue Bloods, The Blacklist, and Law & Order: SVU. Season 1 of Coco & Eddie is currently airing on YouTube.

The TV Ratings Guide: What inspired you to make Coco & Eddie?

Erin Fogel: "Coco & Eddie" is actually a spin off comedy based on two characters from a show my company (Golden Ceiba Productions) created 8 years ago called “Love is a Battlefield.” We just loved this couple so much, and thought of them so often, we couldn’t let them go. Golden Ceiba vowed to bring them back, and we felt that now was the perfect timing to re meet Coco and Eddie- creating a series based on love and understanding while tackling incredibly relatable misunderstandings in New York City. 

The TV Ratings Guide: Episodes of Coco & Eddie are ten minutes long and are released weekly. How does this play to the show's advantage?

Erin Fogel: "Coco & Eddie" is the first series that we have made specifically for YouTube. Being that it is the most sought after platform for content, we believed this would be the best start for our lovable characters. YouTube has criteria for series, with a minimum of 8 minutes and a maximum of 12 minutes. Each episode falls within those guidelines, though so much happens in a short time, leaving the audience very satisfied and yet wanting more. It also is a great showcase of where the show could go if it were to be picked up by an outside network or platform. 

The TV Ratings Guide: What is the biggest challenge that comes with balancing acting, writing, and producing the series? 

Erin Fogel: Honestly, the biggest challenge is when we wrap all the episodes. Juggling many roles at a time is the ultimate fulfillment for an artist that once it goes on break, there is a large void that is hard to fill with anything else. This keeps us always yearning for the next idea, the next production, the next opportunity to come together again and submerge back into our vortex of team work, family, and art. 

The TV Ratings Guide: What do you hope viewers will find in Coco & Eddie?

Erin Fogel: I hope that "Coco & Eddie" can delight the viewers, reminding them that classic comedy and silliness has been missing lately in mainstream television. We have paid homage to our favorite sitcoms from the past, while infusing modern life and situations. We also hope they will fall in love with New York City, which is heavily represented both in and outside of their apartment. 

The TV Ratings Guide: You recently had a full house for the screening of your pilot "Running Erins" at the Manhattan Film Festival, a docu-comedy inspired by your real life experiences in the upper east side of New York City. Will we be seeing more of Running Erins in the near future? If so, what will viewers of Coco & Eddie appreciate about it?

Erin Fogel: It was amazing to see such full houses for "Running Erins" at MFF as well as Dances with Films this year. Currently, the proof of concept is being adapted into a full feature film. It is my greatest hope to have the project produced in the near future, and audiences can join Erin's journey until all the hilarious conflicts resolve. 

What Running Erins and Coco & Eddie have in common, are that the characters are all looking to find themselves amidst the chaos of New York City living. 

"Running Erins" features Erin as a single mom, jumping the hurdles of trying to find her purpose. "Coco & Eddie" delves into the life of a seemingly mismatched couple whose love triumphs over all their obstacles. 

Both shows are a love letter to Manhattan and display very colorful New York characters and sheer authenticity. 

The TV Ratings Guide: Beyond your own shows, you have an extensive career with credits both on and off screen including Blue Bloods, The Blacklist, and Law & Order: SVU. How have your experiences filming other series differed from Coco & Eddie?

Erin Fogel: We shot "Coco & Eddie" in a very classic multi camera sitcom. We utilized a sound stage and really maximized set design to create different environments. With other projects, they were shot more like films, using various locations and one camera. "Coco & Eddie" was a completely unique and hugely enjoyable experience, and it really diversified my experience as both a cast member and a core crew member. Can’t wait to do it again! 

The TV Ratings Guide: What are your future plans for Coco & Eddie? Do you envision making a second season and if so, will it be on YouTube? 

Erin Fogel: Absolutely, we already have the episodes for next season ready to be developed! We have countless ideas really, the show could potentially run for many years. With our YouTube audience growing by the day, we will always find a way to keep them engaged and a part of "Coco & Eddie," whether it continues on YouTube, or moves to another accessible platform. What’s nice about YouTube is the control that we are able to have with our content, and directly deliver it to our fans. There is something so special about being so close with them, something we would always want to maintain. 

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