Huffington sells political comedy to ABC

By Nellie Andreeva

Arianna Huffington is venturing into TV producing.

A multicamera comedy from the Internet and political maven and "HowI Met Your Mother" executive producer Greg Malins has landed at ABCwith a script commitment and a significant penalty.

The 20th Century Fox TV-produced project centers on the friendshipof three freshman members of Congress -- two men and a woman -- wholive together in D.C.

"One is swept up in the movement of change and goes to D.C. to makea difference; one has been in politics for a long time; and one isa master of the media and sound bites," Malins said.

The project will draw inspiration from real-life Washingtonfigures.

There are a number of examples of legislators shacking up in D.C.,the most famous a quartet of Democrats -- Sens. Charles Schumer ofNew York and Richard Durbin of Illinois and Reps. Bill Delahunt ofMassachusetts and George Miller of California -- who for years haveshared a two-bedroom townhouse.

Malins jumped at the chance to develop his idea for the show withHuffington when executives at 20th TV, where he has an overalldeal, mentioned to him that they were seeking to do project withher.

Malins met with Huffington and Huffington Post founding editor RoySekoff, who quickly started giving him ideas for the show.

Malins will write the script and exec produce with Huffington andSekoff.

"There is no better time to do a show about Washington," Malinssaid. "It's such a dynamic place right now, it's the coolest placein the universe."

WME-repped Malins has another project in contention for next fall,a drama at Fox he's doing with novelist Harlan Coben. It's about aprivate investigator teaching a criminology class.

The broadcast networks have been pursuing a D.C.-based series, mostrecently with pilots "House Rules" at CBS," "Inside the Box" at ABCand "Body Politics" at the CW during the past development season.None made it to series.

Huffington has a recurring role on Fox's upcoming animated comedyseries "Cleveland."