A mockumentary that skewers political operatives takes aim at a Texas mom’s push to decriminalize marijuana — premiering live in Austin Oct. 20 and on YouTube Oct. 21.
AUSTIN, TX, UNITED STATES, October 16, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Emergent Order Foundation, the mission-driven studio based in Austin, has unveiled its latest project: The Experts, an original comedy pilot from Emmy-winning writer Kurt Metzger (Inside Amy Schumer), co-written with Keith Wahrer and Keri Garcia, and directed by Bryan Callen (The Hangover, The Goldbergs). The pilot makes its debut with a live screening at The Creek and the Cave in Austin, Texas, on Tuesday, October 20, at 7:30 p.m. CT, with press welcome. It will then hit YouTube on Wednesday, October 21. The ensemble cast features Callen and Metzger alongside Jimmy Dore, Alexandra Chando, Ryan Long, and more.
About the Show
When public opinion threatens to land on the wrong side of history, a team of operatives stands ready to fix the narrative — by any means necessary, whether factual or fabricated. The Experts follows a motley crew of political strategists from a shadowy group called BLIP, who claim to operate on principle but are really just loyal to whoever pays them. Cocky and underqualified, they wield odd talking points, questionable tactics, and an inflated sense of their own authority. Their botched assignments expose a deeper truth: many political experts are simply slapstick characters who secretly wish they were Cold War-era spies.
“Our mission as a studio is to champion truth, trust, and tradition. Sometimes, that means having a little fun with the people who subvert all three,” says executive producer and Emergent Order founder John Papola. “These are the experts you shouldn’t trust. All credentials and connections… and not much common sense. In other words, it’s a pretty realistic look at the legislative process.”
The pilot takes direct aim at the War on Drugs. BLIP’s latest target is Carolyn Dean (Alexandra Chando), a character loosely inspired by real-life Mississippi mom Christina Dent. Carolyn is a churchgoing Christian mother — the last person you’d expect to lead a movement to decriminalize marijuana in Texas. Her earnest, wholesome nature makes her a surprisingly formidable opponent. As her campaign gains momentum, BLIP dispatches its operatives to smear her and derail the legislation, leading to disastrous and humorous results.
“I’ve wanted to make a project for years about the ridiculous failure of the War on Drugs,” says executive producer Frayda Levy. “What could be more ridiculous than a comedy about a bunch of bumbling fools trying to stop a wholesome mother, one who believes in parents, praying and pot?”
Creative Team
Metzger, who won an Emmy for his work on Comedy Central’s Inside Amy Schumer and received four nominations plus a Peabody Award for the show, co-wrote the pilot with Wahrer and Garcia. He also appeared regularly on Louis C.K.’s Horace and Pete and headlined Comedy Central specials including White Precious.
Callen, who directed the pilot, was an original cast member of MADtv and is widely recognized for roles in The Hangover and The Hangover Part II, Old School, Joker, and as Coach Mellor on ABC’s The Goldbergs and Schooled. He has released five stand-up specials, most recently False Gods (2025).
The cast includes:
- Bryan Callen
- Kurt Metzger
- Jimmy Dore
- Ryan Long
- Alexandra Chando
- Chloe La Branche
- Nick Callas
- Amadeo Fusca
- Aaron Berg
- Kim Congdon
- Jamar Neighbors
- David Jolly
- Hans Kim
- Heidi Regina
Release Details:
- Title: The Experts
- Live premiere: Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 7:30 p.m. CT, at The Creek and the Cave, Austin, Texas
- Where to watch: YouTube, starting Wednesday, October 21, 2026
- Format: Comedy mockumentary
- Written by: Kurt Metzger, Keith Wahrer and Keri Garcia
- Directed by: Bryan Callen
- Produced by: Emergent Order Foundation
- Press assets: Screener and stills available upon request
About Emergent Order Foundation
Emergent Order Foundation is an Austin-based nonprofit content studio dedicated to preserving the values that built Western civilization. Led by founder and CEO John Papola, the organization produces stories across news and culture designed to entertain, educate, and enlighten — from the hit podcast Dad Saves America to the film The Pursuit with Arthur Brooks, and now biting satire like The Experts. Learn more at eo.foundation.
Why it matters: The Experts arrives at a moment when public trust in political institutions is low, and the show’s satirical take on lobbyists and legislative maneuvering offers a comedic lens on real-world dynamics. By pairing established comedy talent with a mission-driven nonprofit, the project signals a growing trend of content studios using humor to engage audiences on policy issues.
Tim Silfies
Emergent Order Foundation
tim.silfies@eo.foundation
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