'Sunnyside': How Kal Penn's Garrett Modi handles his fall from grace in the immigrant power struggle show
Starring Kal Penn in the lead, a new NBC series 'Sunnyside' is all set to roll out with the creators of the comedy series saying that they wish to "tell real stories about people". With a mixture of humor and goodwill, the series attempts to tackle immigrant experiences.
Penn wears his socio-political hat in the story that revolves around the lead character Garrett Modi, the youngest New York City Councilman ever who, in an attempt to live the American Dream, falls down the rabbit hole amidst the power and glamour of politics.
The topic might come off as profound or intense but the premise seems to be a light-hearted take on the struggles of a washed-up New York City politician. Recently, Sunnyside Post shared new details about the NBC show, according to which it is known that Modi represented Sunnyside, Queens, for more than 14 years.
The series follows Modi's life as he gets elected in the year 2004. On track to finish his fourth term in public office, he is arrested on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway for public intoxication and attempting to bribe an NYPD officer.
The incident is recorded on video and uploaded to YouTube where it goes viral. In the upcoming pilot episode for 'Sunnyside', the show begins in Modi's former office at City Hall where a newly-elected representative moves in after the City Council unanimously voted to remove Modi from power.
Shedding light on Modi's public image prior to his unceremonious exit, Sunnyside Post reports, "[H]e was rubbing elbows with the political elite, attending star-studded parties and was the pride of Queens," NBC said. "But instead of spending his time in the office helping the people that got him elected, he lost his way amidst the power and glamour of politics."
Wondering how his life takes a turn? When Modi loses his only source of income, he is forced to move in with his sister (Kiran Deol), who lives in Sunnyside. The diverse neighborhood of Queens opens a new world to Modi. He is soon hired by a group of immigrants who wish to become American citizens.
Not just Penn, but the other actors also portray immigrants in the series. While Joel Kim Booster plays a wealthy Asian American descendant, Poppy Liu essays an evil mastermind. Samba Schutte plays an Ethiopian doctor, Moses Storm plays a young person and Diana Maria Riva plays the role of a hard-working Dominican. Interestingly, five of the seven actors are immigrants themselves.
It will be exciting to see how the other characters' lives are changed with Modi's presence. The comedy series is all set to premiere on NBC every Thursday at 9.30 pm starting September 26.