ABC Family is pushing into single-camera comedy.
The younger-skewing Disney-owned cable network has greenlighted two new single-camera pilots, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
Tough Cookie and Kevin From Work hail from Awkward creator Lauren Iungerich and How I Met Your Mother alum Barbie Adler, respectively. They come as the network under exec vp programming and development Karey Burke is looking to build a single-camera lineup to pair with its successful multicamera fare, including Baby Daddy, Melissa & Joey and the newly ordered Young & Hungry.
“Single-camera comedies represent an evolution of our comedy brand and we look forward to building a successful single-camera comedy franchise to match the success we’re having with multicam comedies,” Burke said.
Read more ABC Family Targeting Older Women Amid Restructuring
Tough Cookie is written and created by Iungerich. It centers on a young mother who isn’t ready to parent and her daughter who doesn’t want to be parented. The comedy marks Iungerich’s first cable pilot following MTV’s Hot Mess, which ultimately did not move forward after her exit. She’ll reunite with Awkward collaborator David Janollari, with both exec producing the pilot. Iungerich also will direct the pilot.
Kevin From Work is a workplace comedy that centers on a young man unlucky in love who professes his love to a co-worker, thinking he’ll never see her again after he accepts a job overseas. When the offer is rescinded, the duo must continue to work together. Kevin was created and executive produced by Adler (My Name Is Earl, Arrested Development), who will exec produce alongside Kapital Entertainment’s Aaron Kaplan (who also serves in the same capacity on the network’s Chasing Life). Wonderland Sound & Vision’s McG (The O.C., Supernatural) also will exec produce and direct the pilot.
Tough Cookie and Kevin From Work become ABC Family’s first pilots to be developed under Burke, who joined the network in October. Since boarding the cabler, Burke has handed out renewals for Chasing Life and picked up addiction drama Recovery Road to series, in addition to ordering a transgender docuseries from producer Ryan Seacrest.
Kevin and Cookie become ABC Family’s first pilot orders of the new year as the network begins its development cycle anew after ordering remaining pilot Recovery Road to series in December. ABC Family’s roster of original scripted fare also includes dramas Chasing Life, The Fosters, Switched at Birth and Stitchers.
The pair of pilots comes as ABC Family, under network topper Tom Ascheim, looks to age up the network as it mulls a complete rebranding that could include a name change.
Iungerich, repped by ICM, Madhouse and McKuin Frankel, also has hourlong comedic mystery Couch Detective set up at ABC with Jerry Bruckheimer in contention as the broadcast networks mull scripts heading into pilot season.
Email: Lesley.Goldberg@THR.com
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