Plaza's Cat Series: Real-Life Queens Acid Trip

The animated series "Kevin," premiering Monday, April 20, centers on a talking cat in Queens. However, its inspiration is drawn directly from actress Aubrey Plaza's own life and her experiences with rescue cats.

Plaza, who voices the character Dana in the show, described the pitching process as a "really weird" and "full-circle" moment. She co-created the series with ex-boyfriend Dan Murphy and Joe Wengert, with whom she adopted their actual cats, Kevin and Howard, from a mob family years ago.

The series is set in Queens, mirroring where Plaza and Wengert lived and adopted their pets. Plaza likened the experience of pitching the show to a form of catharsis, comparing it to "couples therapy" two decades later, despite no longer being a couple.

"Kevin" features Jason Schwartzman as the voice of the titular cat, who finds a new home at a Queens pet rescue after his owners break up. He then connects with a group of misfit animals voiced by notable actors including Whoopi Goldberg, John Waters, and Amy Sedaris.