'American Auto' Is Set in the Motor City, but It Isn't Filmed There

'American Auto' Is Set in the Motor City, but It Isn't Filmed There

Read in-depth updates on 'American Auto' Is Set in the Motor City, but It Isn't Filmed There.

Among the actors to join the cast of American Auto are Harriet Dyer (The Invisible Man), Jon Barinholtz (Superstore), Tye White (Greenleaf), Michael Benjamin Washington (Ratched), and their apathetic CEO, who is played by highly decorated Saturday Night Live star Ana Gasteyer.

Ana’s character, Katherine, worked in the pharmaceutical before she was hired at Payne Motors. Although witty, Katherine has no experience in the car industry, and promos tease that viewers are in for a wild ride.

Justin told Mashable that he approached the SNL veteran’s character development differently than he had in previous projects like The Office. "It's great to have a boss who's kind of dumb or making mistakes because then even if the other characters are smart, they have to go along with it," clearly referencing Steve Carell's character Michael Scott.

"[But] in this show, Katherine (Gasteyer) is smart and competent," he continued. "She still makes mistakes — and that's where I think it was helpful to have her come from a very different industry — but that's something that presents its own challenges."

Ahead of the show’s premiere, American Auto received mixed reviews online. While the series has a perfect rating on Rotten Tomatoes, critics complain that the show leaves much to be desired.

American Auto premieres following the debut of sitcoms Grand Crew and Abbott Elementary. You can catch new episodes on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. EST on NBC.

Maya Lin-Takahashi
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Maya Lin-Takahashi

Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.