Druski Lands Multi-Year Netflix Deal, Premieres 'Collect & Praise' Dec. 1

By Elena Vasquez

Druski's semi-scripted comedy "Collect & Praise" premieres on Netflix on Dec. 1, the first product of a multi-year deal the comedian signed with the streamer. Mike Epps co-stars as the deacon to Druski's money-hungry megachurch pastor.

The series is based on a character Druski made viral through an internet sketch and an appearance at the BET Awards. According to the logline, the pastor and his deacon "scheme their way through scandal, chaos and controversy." The takeaway: a social-media persona built in short sketches now anchors a full television production.

What does the Netflix deal cover?

"Collect & Praise" is the first project produced under the multi-year agreement, which commits Druski to create original content exclusively for Netflix through his company, 4Lifers Entertainment.

Netflix will also license select titles from Druski's existing catalog, including:

• "Coulda Been Love"
• "Coulda Been Daddy"
• "Coulda Been Records Auditions"
• his comedic skits

Those YouTube-first series have generated more than 1 billion collective views — roughly the equivalent of every U.S. household watching six clips apiece.

The deal marks the first time the 32-year-old, born Drew Desbordes, has adapted one of his internet personas into longform television. It is also his first major partnership inside the Hollywood studio system. He built his career by self-financing content and distributing it independently on social media.

What did Druski and Netflix say?

"I've built my platform by creating characters and comedy that resonate with people," Druski said in a statement. "This partnership with Netflix will give me the resources to build on that comedy foundation and bring my work to a new global audience. It's a tremendous opportunity for our team at 4Lifers Entertainment to expand our reach, develop original programming for the masses and take our creativity to new heights."

"Druski has a gift for building characters that people can't stop talking about," said John Derderian, who oversees Next Gen Content at Netflix. "We want the best talent in the world to bring us their most ambitious work, reach new audiences and build their brands. 'Collect & Praise' is just the beginning, and we welcome Druski to Netflix."

Derderian's phrasing signals that the streamer views the comedy series as an opening move rather than a one-off — the deal's scope extends well beyond a single show.

Why this moment matters for Druski

The Atlanta native became the youngest-ever host of the BET Awards earlier this year. He joined Emma Stone and Chris Pine in the cast of the upcoming romantic comedy "The Catch."

His other credits include Prime Video's "Livestream From Hell," "Praise This" and the "House Party" reboot.

This weekend, Druski hosts "Saturday Night Live," becoming the first true digital creator to do so. In plain terms: a comedian who started by posting self-funded skits online now holds a studio deal, a Netflix premiere date and the "SNL" stage in the same year.