 |
       |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
 |
|
FX joins comedy League US basic cable network FX, best known for its gritty dramas like The Shield, is taking another stab at comedy, greenlighting two new series to debut in the late fall and mid-winter. First up will be The League, a six-episode series of which is due to debut in November. Set in Chicago, the suburban ensemble comedy set against the backdrop of a fantasy football league. The series was created by husband and wife team Jeff Schaffer (Curb Your Enthusiasm) and Jackie Marcus Schaffer (Distrubia), who will coproduce for FX Productions.  Due for an early 2010 launch is Louie, a Seinfeld-esque series starring comedian Louis CK as a fictionalised version of himself. The 13-part series will focus on his life as a successful stand-up and newly single father-of-two in New York City.Louis CK will serve as the show's producer, writer and director. Dave Becky (Everybody Hates Chris) will executive produce via his company, 3 Arts, while FX Productions will again provide studio backing. Both series were picked up off the back of non-broadcast pilots. A third comedic pilot, animated spy comedy Archer, received its own series order last month. FX, home to gritty drama series such as The Shield, Rescue Me and Damages, has traditionally had difficulty making comedy brands stick, with the notable exception of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, a fifth season of which premieres on Thursday September 17 at 22.00. With the three new greenlights, the 2009/10 season will see more comedy on FX's schedule than ever before. "In picking up these two comedies to go with Sunny and Archer, we believe the time is right to establish comedy as a key component of the network's slate of original programming," said FX Networks president and general manager, John Landgraf. Emily Brookes 21 Aug 2009 © C21 Media 2009 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
