The Stafford Project
The Stafford Project is a web series that stars American soap opera actress Michelle Stafford, known for her award-winning portrayal of Phyllis Summers on The Young and the Restless. It debuted on August 5, 2013 via YouTube and Stafford's website.
| The Stafford Project | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Comedy |
| Created by |
|
| Written by |
|
| Directed by |
|
| Starring | Michelle Stafford |
| Theme music composer |
|
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 10 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producer | Sevier Crespo |
| Production locations | Los Angeles, California |
| Cinematography | Franklin Guerrero, Jr. |
| Editors | Franklin Guerrero, Jr. |
| Release | |
| Original release | August 5 – December 21, 2013 |
| External links | |
| Website | |
Development and conception
—Stafford on her character in The Stafford Project (2013)
The decision to debut a comedy web series coincided with Stafford's departure as Phyllis Summers on The Young and the Restless, a role that became "crazy-popular" over the course of her fifteen years with the soap opera, as well as earning her two Daytime Emmy Awards out of ten nominations.[2][3] Of her decision to leave the soap, she told Soap Opera Digest: "There were a lot of personal reasons that I just think are not important to share with the world. Only my good friends should know."[4] In an interview with TV Guide's Michael Logan, she said that wanting to pursue comedy was a primary reason behind her decision to exit the show.[5]
The web series' launch also coincided with the launch of Stafford's personal website, which she dubbed "Doing It as a Single Chick", a website about lifestyle topics such as fitness, parenting, style and romance. The Stafford Project sheds light on Stafford's life, as she plays herself in a tongue-in-cheek reality depiction of her own life.[3]
PRWeb's Marlan Willardson noted that it "will focus on highlighting the humor in humiliating situations. Michelle’s own life serves as inspiration – which is anything but dull – whether she’s dating, parenting or looking for her next gig as an actress in Hollywood".[3] For the web series, Stafford enlisted the help of her close friends, Paige Dorian and Paige Long.[3]
The web series pokes fun at the "degrading" events of Stafford's life: "I just lead that kind of life. Things go wrong. Things blow up in my face. But even the most difficult things in my life are riddled with comedy".[5] Despite the hard events of her life, such as her struggle with having a child, she said that "I am able to look back at everything and find the humor in it all. And I do know how to tell a good story! So I thought, why not turn all this into a web show? Self-deprecation is my friend".[5] Prior to its debut, Stafford released a promotional video teaser on July 31, 2013.[6]
Premise
The series focuses on topics such as reality television, Hollywood, and Stafford's unsuccessful love life.[2] Based on her own life, Stafford plays Michelle, an actress known for her role of Francis on a soap opera who is raising her three-year-old daughter and trying to "get her groove on as a single chick and mother".[7] The first episode of The Stafford Project has Michelle being persuaded by her Hollywood agents to drop her soap opera role and create a web series. She refuses, but they won't take no for an answer as the camera is already rolling.[8]
Cast
- Michelle Stafford as herself
- Michael Walker as Steve
- Mike Randleman as Richard
- Natalia Stafford as herself
- Sevier Crespo as Marcus
- Rob Filios as Jonathan
Episodes
| Episode | Title | Release date | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Technicalities" | August 5, 2013[9] | ||
| "You Got Your Amp"[10] | August 18, 2013 | ||
| "That Guy" | August 31, 2013 | ||
| "White Secret" | September 16, 2013 | ||
| "It's Just a Heart" | September 30, 2013 | ||
| "The French Assassin" | October 14, 2013 | ||
| "Reality Adjustment" | October 28, 2013 | ||
| "The Foot Guy" | November 11, 2013 | ||
| "Check Please" | November 25, 2013 | ||
| "The Nut Cracker" | December 21, 2013 |
Critical reception
Michael Logan of TV Guide appreciated the web series, calling it "terrific and audacious" and saying that "there's never a dull moment in the life of Michelle Stafford".[5] Jamey Giddens of the entertainment website Zap2it said that Stafford is "as viable and fiery as ever", calling The Stafford Project "insanely-funny".[11] Giddens also stated that he was "screaming with laughter the entire time", and "her adorable, talented, dream-drop of a daughter, Natalia Scout Lee, also appears, threatening to steal the show from her mommy".[12] Michael Fairman of On-Air On-Soaps stated that there "was a realism to the ridiculousness", and thought it was "well done".[10]
References
- "New Stafford Series Online Now". Soap Opera Digest. American Media, Inc. August 5, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
- "Michelle Stafford Opens Up About Leaving The Young And The Restless And Her New Web Series". The Huffington Post. August 1, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
- Willardson, Marlan (August 5, 2013). "Michelle Stafford Launches Web Series". PRWeb. Vocus. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
- Lewis, Errol (July 26, 2013). "Michelle Stafford Talks Real Reason For 'Y&R' Exit". Soap Opera Network. Manti Incorporated. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
- Logan, Michael (August 1, 2013). "Exclusive: Michelle Stafford Dishes Her Exit from The Young and the Restless, New Web Series". TV Guide. CBS Interactive. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
- "Michelle Stafford Launches New Website And She Is Doing It As A Single Chick!". Michael Fairman On-Air On-Soaps. July 31, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
- Fairman, Michael (August 5, 2013). "Michelle Stafford's Web Series The Stafford Project Makes Its Debut – Watch It!". Michael Fairman On-Air On-Soaps. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
- Lewis, Errol (August 5, 2013). "Michelle Stafford Launches 'The Stafford Project'". Soap Opera Network. Manti Incorporated. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
- Young, Candace (August 5, 2013). "Y&R's Michelle Stafford Launching The Stafford Project". She Knows Soaps. Atomic Online. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
- Fairman, Michael (August 5, 2013). "The Michelle Stafford Interview – The Young and the Restless & The Stafford Project". Michael Fairman On-Air On-Soaps. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
- Giddens, Jamey (August 5, 2013). "Watch: The Premiere of Michelle Stafford's The Stafford Project! (Video)". Zap2it. Tribune Media Services. Archived from the original on August 7, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
- Giddens, Jamey (August 1, 2013). "Michelle Stafford on New Web Series: "Self-Deprecation is My Friend"". Zap2it. Tribune Media Services. Retrieved August 6, 2013.