John Ridley touts musical drama TV series set in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee is about to return to the spotlight as the setting for a television series. 

The new show is in the works decades after "Happy Days" and "Lavern and Shirley" ruled the ratings. 

"People think hey, you folks in Milwaukee, you sure are funny. You know how to crack jokes," said John Ridley.

Milwaukee's own John Ridley will write, direct, and be the executive producer for a "musical drama" for Showtime. It will be set in Milwaukee, and Ridley was in town Tuesday to talk about how that can help his hometown. 

"But it really helps a city build its own narrative, but do it in a way where it's not just, 'hey, we're writing a fantasy story and people are reading it.' There's money that's left behind, there's work that's left behind and that really helps build what's more important -- the communities that can sustain and support any new businesses," Ridley said. 

Ridley spoke at a DNC community growth summit held at No Studios -- the creative hub he started at the old Pabst Brewery complex.