FX canonises Saint George

Cable channel FX in the US has greenlit a sitcom from comedian George Lopez, Lionsgate TV and Debmar-Mercury.

Under the latter’s 10/90 production model, the cablecaster has okayed 10 half-hours of Saint George and will order another 90 if they hit their ratings targets.

It’s the same model FX and Lionsgate used on Anger Management – favoured by those on the production and distribution end for its money-saving potential if the show moves quickly into off-net syndication.

“The 10/90 model requires a unique individual who has the ability to pull off this kind of daunting schedule,” said FX Networks executive VP Chuck Saftler.

The show was created by Lopez alongside sitcom vets Matt Williams and David McFadzean. Production begins in August, with Michael Rotenberg (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia), Dete Meserve and Judd Payne exec producing.

It will be produced through Lionsgate in association with Wind Dancer Films, Travieso Productions and 3 Arts Entertainment. An airdate was not announced.

Lopez’s “broad appeal and strong following from the rapidly growing Hispanic audience, combined with the unmatched experience and track record of Matt and David, makes us extremely confident they can deliver our next big hit,” said Debmar co-presidents Mort Marcus and Ira Bernstein.

Multi-camera laffer Saint George casts Lopez as a recently divorced Mexican-American entrepreneur who’s caught between his demanding family and a job teaching history in a night school.

FX recently announced plans to transplant some of its existing comedies to a new spin-off channel, FXX, which is set to launch this fall. The News Corp-owned channel has also been adding to its development and production slate via deals with Ang Lee and Sons of Anarchy showrunner Kurt Sutter, among others.

Lopez led a self-titled sitcom on ABC for six seasons, and more recently hosted the late-night talker Lopez Tonight on TBS, prior to the arrival of Conan O’Brien’s Conan.