Ted Raimi is opening the doors to his haunted manor. SCREAMBOX announced today that production has officially wrapped on Your Dearest Darkest Friend, a new darkly whimsical talk show hosted by the horror icon, with an official launch date and guest lineup still to come.
The series flips the traditional celebrity interview format on its head — literally, per the announcement, “on its shrunken head.” Celebrity guests are invited into Raimi’s haunted manor for an evening of conversation, “eccentric exchanges and spine-tingling cocktails,” with Raimi’s own haunted puppet pals adding chaos to the proceedings along the way. Set inside what SCREAMBOX describes as “a frightfully fantastical home,” the show brings together some of horror’s most notable figures for intimate, offbeat conversations, with Raimi drawing out the people and inspirations behind the genre’s most memorable nightmares.
“Yes, it’s weird. Truthfully, it’s a very odd concept for a talk show. We didn’t care: We all agreed it would appeal to the crowd we all knew would dig it — horror fans,” Raimi said.
Raimi also credited producers Tony Wash and Charlie Queen with pushing for something more genuine than the usual junket fare. “Tony and Charlie wanted an authentic horror insider show. I thought that was a great idea. Despite horror riding a wave right now, it’s still treated like the foster kid in its third home. We wanted it to feel like it was part of the family.”
Wash sees the show as a nostalgia play as much as an insider one. “For me, Your Dearest Darkest Friend is comfort food for nostalgic horror fans. I believe this show will satiate both those who are hungry for insight into the horror genre and the lives of Ted’s intriguing interviewees, but also those longing for the spooky coziness akin to hanging out in Disney’s Haunted Mansion or Pee Wee’s Playhouse.”
Queen described the show’s DNA as a deliberate genre mashup. “The concept for this show came straight from Ted’s quirky yet twisted mind, and it was truly a joy to bring to life on screen. It’s a blend of genres and formats that feels really fresh while still having a classic quality, with its influences firmly rooted in some of the most beloved horror, talk show, and comedy touchstones of the last century. There is something here for every horror fan to enjoy.”
Your Dearest Darkest Friend is produced by Tony Wash, Charlie Queen, Lauren Leshansky and Ted Raimi. SCREAMBOX is available to stream on iOS, Android, Prime Video, YouTube TV, Comcast, Cox and screambox.com.
