Discover the MAGIC
of Show Night!
Live-audience sitcoms have been the hottest ticket on Hollywood’s iconic studio lots for decades. Rock Paper Cannon is uniquely positioned to deliver those electric entertainment experiences right here at home.
ON A MISSION
Our mission is to transform Oklahoma into the new home of the American sitcom.
We’re building a sustainable creative economy around live-audience television—fueling tourism and job creation, and delivering the shared laughter that brings communities together.
Founded in 2025 by Rachel Cannon, Rock Paper Cannon is the first full-service independent television studio dedicated exclusively to multi-camera sitcoms.
Led by a seasoned executive team, the studio oversees the full television life cycle—from development through distribution—while operating in a business-friendly region with a competitive state rebate program.
MEET THE FOUNDER
RACHEL CANNON
Founder CEO
Rachel Cannon is an entertainment executive, actress, and producer with more than 25 years of experience in Los Angeles and over 80 network television credits, including Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, Mad Men, and Fresh Off the Boat. Cannon is a member of the Television Academy as both a Performer and Production Executive.
In 2025, Cannon founded Rock Paper Cannon, an independent television studio reshaping how American sitcoms are financed, owned, and experienced. The studio is focused on relocating live-audience comedy to Middle America and building a scalable comedy hub rooted in Oklahoma. She currently serves as CEO and Chief Creative Officer.
Previously, Cannon founded Prairie Surf Studios in 2020, serving as CEO for four years and helping recruit major productions such as Twisters and Tulsa King to Oklahoma. During her tenure, Prairie Surf generated more than $300 million in economic impact and helped transform the global perception of Oklahoma’s film industry.
Cannon continues to work with state and federal leaders to advance competitive entertainment incentive programs and previously served on the Board of Directors for the Oklahoma State Chamber, championing strong business practices and industry growth.
There`s nothing like the magic of show night! ✨🎬🎭
The Big Bang Theory
@rachelwcannon as Patty 🪩✨
“The Middle-Earth Paradigm”
Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose 💫
#BTS #sunshineandrainbows #redbullandglitterguns
Sitcom volume doesn’t happen by chance. It’s a feature of the format.
For decades, studios have relied on the multi-cam because it’s engineered to run long. As ad-supported streaming continues gaining market share, comedy remains one of the hottest orders in Hollywood.
They have been the economic engine of legacy studios for 60 years for a reason:
Sitcoms scale.
That’s an opportunity worth paying attention to.
Rock Paper Cannon is all in. 🙌🏼
One of the great joys of my career was getting to work with legendary director @therealjamesburrows on The Millers.
It was actually my second time working with Jimmy — the first was on a pilot that never made it to series. But this week, I got to fully experience the magic of how he builds comedy for a live audience.
Jimmy comes from the theatre, and his love for show night runs deep. He is completely entrenched in the performance with the actors, protecting every joke, every nuanced beat, every laugh for the audience. All week long, we worked bits knowing the real payoff would come when the fans filled the room.
That week, I played “Amber Alert” — which involved sprinting in heels and climbing a stripper pole repeatedly while trying not to break my ankle. Side note: anyone who can climb one of those things is a beast. I trained for weeks before this episode and my bruised legs looked like I’d been run over by a truck.
When building one’s wardrobe to play a stripper, “comfort zone” isn’t happening. Working with the brilliant Robin Kennedy to bring Amber Alert to life was half the fun. We laughed nonstop in those fittings, and I’m so grateful she’s still in my life all these years later.
The cast was unreal: Will Arnett, Andy Richter, J.B. Smoove, Beau Bridges, and the incomparable Margo Martindale — with Roseanne and I guest starring that week. The audience energy was electric, especially welcoming Roseanne back onto the same stage where she had taken her final bow years before.
But one of my favorite memories that week was hands down getting a couple of genuine belly laughs out of Jimmy. That sounds so simple, but those are hard earned and they feel like bottled magic when you catch one.
Working with Jimmy remains one of the highlights of my career.
What a gift he has been to comedy. 💫
(Scroll back to see a clip from the episode)
There’s a reason sitcoms keep showing up on people’s “all-time favorite” lists.
A great sitcom doesn’t just tell a story — it builds a world. One you return to again and again. The characters feel familiar. The rhythm is predictable. The laughs are comforting.
That’s why sitcoms quietly become some of the most rewatchable television ever made.
No one understands this better than legendary sitcom director James Burrows — Cheers, Friends, Will & Grace.
Burrows has directed hundreds of episodes across the most successful sitcoms in television history. He understands something the industry occasionally forgets: when a sitcom works, it becomes part of people’s daily lives as audiences tune in night after night.
Our Founder & CEO, Rachel Cannon, had the opportunity to work with James during her years in Los Angeles, and they share a deep appreciation for the live-audience format.
Because there’s nothing like the magic of show night.
At Rock Paper Cannon, we’re ready to bring that energy to life — right where we believe it belongs: Oklahoma.
➡️➡️ Curious — if you listed your five favorite shows of all time…would a sitcom make the list? 🧐
That’s our girl! 💫
The epitome of kindness & joy on the outside but that brain is constantly in overdrive making this dream of hers come to life…. we are in awe @rachelwcannon! 🤩
- Your @rockpapercannon team 🫶🏼
Disney’s Kickin’ It
@rachelwcannon as Bethany Applebaum
“Sole-Brothers”
“WRROONNGG!” 😭😤
At Rock Paper Cannon, we believe the American sitcom deserves a new home — and Oklahoma City is poised to become that destination city built around comedy, culture, and live entertainment.
Our best and brightest will continue to leave until we build the creative ecosystem that gives them a reason to stay. 💫
Life is hard. Laughter helps. ☺️
What’s your go-to show to help you get through hard times?
Funny girl through and through ✨ Awesome day on set with our founder. Can’t wait to see the final shots!
Thanks to @charlie_neuenschwander for the snaps and @noahenghandtheneptunes for the tunes 🎶
“For Cannon, the key to effective advocacy for film legislation has been to seek bipartisan support and to promote the arts as an economic asset.
‘If you talk about it like a hobby, it will get treated and funded like a hobby. If you talk about it like a business, it will get funded like a business,’ she said.”
Rachel Cannon for the @_theoklahoman, May 2, 2026
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We loved being included in Arts & Culture Day at the Capitol. What an incredible turnout! All the work Amber Sharples and her team do to promote the arts in Oklahoma is extraordinary.
As always, thank you @brandybamok for the coverage.
🔗Link to the full article in our stories & highlights

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