Kourtney Kang Headshot - P 2014
Courtesy of UTANBC has handed out its first comedy-pilot order of the season.
The network has picked up an untitled mixed-race family comedy from Fresh Off the Boat showrunner Nahnatchka Khan and Kourtney Kang, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
The untitled comedy is based on Kang’s life and explores what it’s like to grow up as the only girl in the only mixed race family in the suburbs of Philadelphia, dealing with real-world issues like race and gender while never losing focus of her life goal: to become a Laker Girl like her idol, Paula Abdul.
Kang will pen the script for the single-camera comedy, which landed at NBC with a hefty put-pilot commitment in September. Kang, a co-executive producer on ABC’s Fresh Off the Boat, will reteam with Khan, who will exec produce alongside former 20th TV vp current programming turned Fierce Baby topper Mandy Summers. The comedy hails from 20th Century Fox Television, where both Kang (How I Met Your Mother) and Khan are under overall deals.
Fred Savage, who also is based at 20th with an overall deal, will direct the pilot and exec produce. Savage last teamed with 20th on Fox comedy The Grinder and has been a regular director on Modern Family, for which he received a DGA nomination.
The Kang pilot, which had been hot heading into decision-making time, marks NBC’s first half-hour pickup of the season and arrives as family comedies were among the biggest trends of last year’s pilot season, which produced series including Speechless, American Housewife, Imaginary Mary, Kevin Can Wait, Man With a Plan, Son of Zorn, The Mick, Marlon and breakout drama This Is Us.
The potential series comes as broadcasters, cable networks and streaming services alike have made a strong push for more inclusive programming that best reflects society.
The Kang comedy is one of multiple projects Khan has in the works this season.
Keep track of the latest pilot news and castings at THR.com/PilotSeason.
