Fox Picks Up Zooey Deschanel Comedy 'The New Girl' to Series

Getting an early jump on the pick-up process, Fox has ordered Zooey Deschanel starrer The New Girl to series, according to two sources with knowledge of the situation.

The single-camera half-hour from 20th TV will join new animated entries Allen Gregory and Napoleon Dynamite as well as Steven Spielberg's dinosaur drama Terra Nova and Simon Cowell's The X Factor on Fox’s 2011-12 schedule.

Though programming holes at Fox are scarce, the Mike O’Malley-Rachael Harris comedy Family Album is said to be a lock with the Jaime Pressly-Katie Finneran laugher I Hate My Teenage Daughter still in contention on the comedy side, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter. Ethan Hawke's Exit Strategy and Kiefer Sutherland's Touch are believed to be sure things in the drama category. 

The New Girl features a quirky teacher (Deschanel) who moves in with three guys — the cynic, the player and the man-child -- after being dumped. Together, they help one another navigate the politics of dating. Dechanel joins Jake Johnson, Max Greenfield and Damon Wayans Jr. Liz Meriwether executive produces and writes along with executive producers Peter Chernin, Katherine Pope, David Finkel and Brett Baer. Jake Kasdan (Freaks and Geeks, The TV Set) directed the pilot.

Fox, which is poised to round out another season at No. 1 among viewers 18 to 49, will present its slate to Madison Avenue buyers on Monday.

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