By J.B. Fitzsimmons | Gloucester Correspondent
GLOUCESTER — Netflix has officially announced production of Cape Annie, a new original comedy series set and filmed on Cape Ann, promising “lobsters, lawn chairs, and a whole lot of local drama.”
The show follows Annie, a washed-up cruise ship singer turned townie, as she careens through a whirlwind of local feuds, small-town entanglements, and brushes with the supernatural. With production crews already spotted filming outside Dunkin Donuts and at “an undisclosed location in Dogtown,” the buzz around town is real — and only slightly louder than the windmill up at Blackburn.
“We wanted something that captured the soul of small-town New England,” said executive producer Cassie Horowitz, who previously worked on Gilmore Girls: The Reboot That Wasn’t. “Cape Ann is perfect — it’s got charm, grit, a suspicious amount of leftover parade confetti, and residents who will either hug you or threaten to tow your car, depending on the tides. Annie’s journey reflects the beauty and absurdity of real coastal life.”
Season one will consist of the following:
Episode 1 – “Welcome to Cape Ann”
Newcomer Annie buys a fixer-upper in Gloucester, unaware it’s zoned as a historic codfish rendering facility. The locals demand a cod festival within 48 hours or she’ll be legally declared “not from here.”
Episode 2 – “Motif No. None”
When Rockport’s most painted building disappears overnight, the art community erupts into a pastel-fueled witch hunt. Annie is the prime suspect after asking, “Why not paint something else?”
Episode 3 – “The Clamfather”
A secret Essex clam mafia recruits Annie after she wins the amateur shucking contest using only her elbows. She must now choose between her morals… or a lifetime supply of soft-shells.
Episode 4 – “Fiesta Fiasco”
Annie volunteers for the St. Peter’s Fiesta and is immediately chosen to grease the pole with her family’s sacred olive oil. Unfortunately, the oil is cursed and summons the ghost of a very judgmental fisherman.
Episode 5 – “The Essex Hex”
Annie offends a boatwright in Essex and wakes up with a barnacle slowly growing on her back. A local witch tells her it’ll only stop if she apologizes with a handcrafted schooner.
Episode 6 – “Crab Beach Confidential”
Annie discovers the town’s only dog-friendly beach is actually a portal to a realm ruled by seagulls and haunted sea trash. Her golden retriever becomes their new king and refuses to come home.
Episode 7 – “Rotary of Eternal Frustration”
Trapped in Grant Circle for what feels like 800 years, Annie begins questioning reality, time, and the Gloucester right-of-way laws. The only way out is to answer three riddles from a sentient traffic cone.
Episode 8 – “Witch Trial but Make It Local”
After suggesting the Stop & Shop isn’t that bad, Annie is dragged before a town tribunal consisting of the Harbormaster, three angry moms, and a guy named Nathaniel with 40 bumper stickers. Her only hope is an impassioned defense from Darren Splake, who may or may not be high on fireworks.
Production is expected to wrap this fall, with Cape Annie premiering on Netflix early next year. Locals can expect sporadic filming, increased coffee consumption at area Dunks, and the very real possibility of being cast as “Fisherman #3” or “Woman Yelling About Parking.” Whether the show becomes the next Schitt’s Creek or just a fondly remembered reason Main Street got shut down for a week, one thing’s certain: Cape Ann is ready for its close-up.
The Dogtown Reader 