The Gang-Gang is back! Amazon Prime’s animated comedy Fairfax returns on June 10. The show, which reached critical acclaim with its debut season, follows four middle schoolers on their chase for clout. Created and executive produced by Matthew Hausfater, Aaron Buchsbaum, and Teddy Riley, this show packs on love and childlike innocence while exploring the Gen Z way to surviving adolescence.
When the show debuted October 29, 2021 on the streamer, it was given a two-season order. Hausfater said, “It was a big surprise when they ordered the series because they ordered two seasons from the get-go. I will never forget talking to Teddy, Aaron, and our producer that day, and also calling my manager. That was really exciting for all of us.” In an exclusive interview with The Best War Games, Matthew Hausfater, Aaron Buchsbaum, and Teddy Riley talk about season two, the forthcoming musical sequences, and their goal to have Larry Owens sing on the show.
Together, the trio are a welcoming and quick-witted bunch. Their excitement to share this new season shines while chatting about the aspects they are most excited for fans to see. Riley says, “There are quite a few new characters; some will be regulars and some are only in it for an episode. There are definitely some new relationships, new rivalries, both on the personal level and on the block. Not to mention there are crazy musical sequences and fantasy sequences. The animation team really raised the bar this season.”
Self-dubbed as “huge Disney guys,” Riley continues to share that Disney’s Lion King inspired one of the big musical numbers. “We have an episode where the gang goes to the flea market. We essentially saw the flea market as this circle of hype, and we wrote a huge song to parody ‘Circle of Life.’ Our composer Joe Shirley made something that was completely unique because we could not just sing over the current song for legal reasons. It is its own thing, but very much in homage... With a ton of crazy. I don't want to call out Elton John, but Joe brought the heat.” He notes that there is another musical track featuring lead actor Jaboukie Young-White and recurring guest star Camila Mendes.
What else can you expect from season two? Hausfater says the new season gave them new opportunities to explore their beloved characters. “When you get to do a second season, you can amp it up. You can also allow your characters to have room to breathe, and you get to take the time to have quieter moments with them. We do this great episode that has some characters in detention, which I think is really special.”
Agreeing, Buchsbaum adds, “There were characters we did not have a chance to dive deeper into in season one because season one is so much about building the foundation and really selling the audience on the friendship, making it feel believable. We have all these characters in our show that we planted, and we love but never really got to play with, and season two was like ‘now is your chance.’ Now is your chance to play with them.”
Shifting back to the musical gears, he shouts out guest star Larry Owens, who has had an extensive career in theatre and on screen, most recently seen as Zach in Abbott Elementary. “Larry Owens is someone who is so wildly talented and has such an incredible voice. In season one, we did not get to have him sing, but in season two, we were like, ‘our one goal is to make sure Larry Owens is singing on our show.’ Getting to play with our actors and expand their roles is the really exciting part of having a second season.”
Fairfax is currently streaming on Amazon Prime.