The Business Online: Emi Irikawa & Andrew Femenella of HIGH MAINTENANCE

A Q&A with producer Emi Irikawa & casting director Andrew Femenella of HIGH MAINTENANCE. Moderated by Amanda Duarte.

The HBO comedy series HIGH MAINTENANCE, created by Katja Blichfeld and Ben Sinclair, just finished it’s nine-episode fourth season , airing Fridays (11:00 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. ET/PT). The series is available on HBO NOW, HBO GO, HBO On Demand and partners’ streaming platforms. The critically acclaimed series uses The Guy (Sinclair), a marijuana dealer, to connect a variety of distinctly authentic, empathetic and insightful stories about the New York community, including his own.

HIGH MAINTENANCE continues to paint a unique and loving portrait of New York City, exploring the often-messy interpersonal moments of everyday people who are looking for meaning, companionship and a little high to make it through the day. The series is executive produced by Katja Blichfeld (Emmy®-winning casting director of “30 Rock”), Ben Sinclair (“Maniac,” “Home Again”) and Russell Gregory.

This season finds The Guy (Ben Sinclair) back traversing the city on his bicycle, having said goodbye to last season’s RV. With a new friend by his side, The Guy drops in on a variety of customers whose disparate lives, jobs, identities and circumstances reveal the human connection that we all seek.Playing out over the course of a year, this season focuses on cycles of renewal, webs of human connections, and putting down roots in the ever-changing ecosystem of New York City.

Returning guest stars this season include Crystal Monee Hall, Heléne Yorke, Ken Leung, Julianna Luna Vasquez, Avery Monsen, Rob Morgan, Max Jenkins, Chris Roberti, Becca Blackwell, Chris McKinney and Birgit Huppuch. New guest stars include Ira Glass and his team at This American Life, Nick Kroll, Rebecca Hall, Larry Owens and Calvin Leon Smith.

HIGH MAINTENANCE was created by Katja Blichfeld and Ben Sinclair; executive producers, Katja Blichfeld, Ben Sinclair and Russell Gregory; producers, Willy Friedman, Gwen Bialic and Emi Irikawa.

SAG-AFTRA Foundation COVID-19 Relief Fund:
SAG-AFTRA Foundation is currently operating a COVID-19 Disaster Fund. The Fund covers
members who are in an emergency financial crisis related to COVID-19 (Coronavirus) to cover
basic expenses such as rent, mortgage, utilities, medical bills and other essential needs.

More details can be found here: https://sagaftra.foundation/assistance/disasterrelief/