Nigel Ng signs multi-platform deal with FilmRise to bring ‘Uncle Roger’ to wider audience
By Ryan General
Uncle Roger is set to hit the mainstream by going multi-platform.
Comedian Nigel Ng, known for his viral middle-aged Asian online persona, has inked a partnership with TV and streaming network FilmRise to turn his “Uncle Roger” online series into an episodic format show.
The digital series will be part of the network’s Creator Partner Program and will be distributed to Subscription Video On Demand (SVOD), Advertising Video On Demand (AVOD), Transactional Video On Demand (TVOD) and Free Ad-supported Streaming TV (FAST) platforms, The Wrap reported.
Ng’s show features the Uncle Roger character using humor and wit to review how Western chefs often botch Asian cooking.
Among the notable celebrity chefs that Uncle Roger has roasted in the past include Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay.
In a statement, Ng said his show aims to introduce Asian cuisine to a global audience.
“I’m excited to partner with FilmRise to show more people around the world how celebrity chefs mess up Asian food,” said Ng.” “As a result, hopefully more people will invest in rice cookers in the process.”
Max Einhorn, SVP of Acquisitions and Co-Productions for FilmRise, said in a statement that they believe Uncle Roger is “suited to thrive in the greater streaming world.”
The London-based Malaysian, who began his entertainment career as a stand-up comedian, found viral fame in 2020 with his portrayal of Uncle Roger.
According to Ng, he came up with the character during the podcast “Rice to Meet You” as he brainstormed ideas with his co-host, comedian friend Evelyn Mok.
“I started doing an Asian accent,” Ng told NPR last year. “And then with that accent, I threw in some attitude to kind of mimic my older generation Asian uncles.”
He has since gained around 20 million followers across social media platforms and over a billion views on his YouTube channel.
Ng is currently working on several projects, including an Uncle Roger animated show, an ABC Signature sitcom, a TV project with Ramsay’s Studio Ramsay and a feature film.
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