NBC Makes Pilot Production Commitment to Joe Port, Joe Wiseman Relationship Comedy

NBC is making a big bet on New Girl's Joe Wiseman and Joe Port.

In a competitive situation, NBC has made a pilot production commitment plus seven-figure penalty for the duo's semi-autobiographical half-hour relationship comedy titled Joe & Joe & Jane. The project centers on a conflict-avoidant children's book author caught in an ongoing tug of war between two needy, flawed people: his wife and his co-author/ best friend; it's not about a couple, it's about a trouple. It is being described as one of the biggest sales of the season, with all networks placing bids.

The project, which the two men will write and executive produce, is set up at 20th Century Fox TV, where they inked a two-year overall deal in spring 2011. Last season, Wiseman and Port, whose credits include ABC's Last Man Standing, The Office and Just Shoot Me, had another semi-autobiographic comedy project with Modern Family co-creator Steve Levitan in contention.

Port's brother, Moses, was tapped earlier this spring to co-showrun Community in the wake of creator Dan Harmon's departure. The ratings-challenged critical darling returns to NBC's schedule, Oct. 19.

Both Port and Weisman, who met as assistants on UPN's animated comedy Dilbert in 1999, are repped by UTA and Myman Greenspan.

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