“Working with Paul Roland is a gift—his genius for blending unique voices with unconventional scenarios creates delightfully odd adventures that thrill both performers and audiences alike,” says Francis Cronin

Hollywood, California, United States, July 17, 2025 -- Nick Searcy (Justified), Allegra Edwards (Upload), Francis Cronin (Guns Up), and Austin Kane (The Santa Clauses) will star in the upcoming fictional podcast Punch the Line, from award-winning writer/director Paul Roland (Exemplum).

First love, fierce competition, and fast-paced comedy take center stage in Punch the Line, which blends the heart and humor of 80s teen romantic comedies with the high-stakes world of high school competitive improv. Inspired by beloved coming-of-age classics like The Breakfast Club, Say Anything, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, this eight-episode story delivers a funny, heartfelt, and emotionally-charged look at the highs and lows of teenage life – both on and off the stage.

Set in present-day South Orange County, California, the story centers on the fictional Punchline League, in which high schools go head-to-head in competitive improv matches. At Trabuco Mesa High School (TMHS), the Punchline team has earned a reputation for its quick thinking, sharp humor, and electric energy. Team captains Court Erickson (Grayson Lay) and Lindsey LaRoux (Rae Varella) are determined to lead their squad to victory–until tragedy strikes with the sudden loss of their beloved coach, Ted Snyder (Joe Coffey).

With the team in disarray and their new drama teacher, Julia Hayden (Allegra Edwards), determined to shut them down entirely, the students must band together, navigate their personal struggles, and prove they have what it takes to win the SoCal Laugh Gamez — the most prestigious improv tournament in Southern California. For Court, the competition means more than just winning; improv has been his lifeline in a turbulent home life, and losing the team means losing the one place where he truly belongs. As tensions rise, friendships fracture, and rivalries ignite, the team learns timeless lessons about trust, self-discipline, and, most importantly, living each moment to the fullest.  

“Working with Paul Roland is a gift—his genius for blending unique voices with unconventional scenarios creates delightfully odd adventures that thrill both performers and audiences alike,” says Francis Cronin, who will star alongside Kevin James, Christina Ricci, and Oscar-winner Melissa Leo in the upcoming action comedy Guns Up. 

“Working on this project was a pleasure, and Paul Roland has crafted a special story straight from the heart,” says actor Nick Searcy. 

Punch the Line wrapped production on July 9 and will be available on all podcast platforms later this year. For more information, visit https://punchtheline.com/

About the company: Punch the Line is an epic coming-of-age teen dramedy about a high school competitive improv team. Paul Roland directed his first feature film, EXEMPLUM, on a budget of just $10,000 during the pandemic of 2020. Despite a multitude of challenges (personal and professional), he led a team of fellow creatives to shoot the film over the course of seven weekends. Filming started on a hot night in September and wrapped just days before Thanksgiving. On average, the film had no more than about four crew members working on set at any given time

Contact Info:
Name: Paul Roland
Email: Send Email
Organization: Paul Roland
Website: https://punchtheline.com/

Video URL: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLoom7uuwvz/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Release ID: 89164615

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