Jason Ritter to Star in Fox's 'Friends and Family' Pilot

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Jason Ritter

Parenthood's Jason Ritter has found a new TV family.

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The Emmy-nominated actor has inked a deal to star in Fox pilot Friends and Family. The half-hour entry, which is being adapted from the BBC series Gavin & Stacey, shines a light on how friends and family are the best support and the worst nightmare when two very different people meet and try to make a long-distance relationship work.

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Ritter is set to play Gavin, a mid-20s, adorably neurotic and witty guy with Woody Allen DNA who is excited about his first real date with Stacey, a co-worker from rural Pennsylvania he became friends with through Skype and Facebook.

The single-camera comedy pilot, which hails from Sony Pictures TV, BBC Worldwide Productions and Baby Cow Productions, is being penned by writer/executive producer David Rosen (I Just Want My Pants Back). Joining him as exec producers are Steve Coogan, Jane Tranter, Julie Gardner, James Corden, Ruth Jones and Henry Normal. 

Ritter found himself in high demand again this development season. At this time last year, he was attached to star in Parenthood showrunner Jason Katims' medical pilot, County, which ultimately was passed over. Although his role on the NBC drama has diminished, the ultimate fate of his onscreen romance with series regular Lauren Graham was among those the storylines left open-ended in Parenthood's season finale.

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Ritter, who has starred in such series as NBC's Event and CBS' The Class, is repped by ICM Partners and the Burstein Co.

Email: Lacey.Rose@THR.com; Twitter: @LaceyVRose