On the set, Murray (Jeff Garlin) and Beverly's (Wendi McLendon-Covey) bedroom is modeled after the same room in Goldberg's childhood family home. Initially, the photos of all three of their children were all the same size until Goldberg's brother, Eric, visited the set. "My brother was like, 'No, Adam needs to be in the middle and be the biggest,' because that's how it literally was in my house. ... My photo would always be in the center of all the other photos becuase I was the star — and my brothers were always so livid over it — and still talk about it to this day. But it's totally legitimate!"
ABC is expanding its family pilot offerings.
The network on Thursday handed out a formal pilot pickup to an untitled family comedy from The Goldbergs creator Adam F. Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
The untitled single-camera comedy centers on a 30-something bachelorette whose life is turned upside down when she finally meets the love of her life — a divorced father with three kids. This triggers even more upheaval when the slightly unhinged imaginary friend she created as an only child suddenly reappears in her life to help her navigate the transition from single girl to a woman ready for a family.
The comedy is considered a blend of live-action and CGI animation and landed at ABC with a hefty pilot-production order with a series penalty attached in October.
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Goldberg and David Guaracio will pen the script and exec produce alongside Goldbergs cohort Doug Robinson and Disney feature animator Patrick Osbourne. The comedy hails from Sony Pictures Television, where Goldberg is under an overall deal, and Robinson/Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison.
The untitled Goldberg/Guaracio entry is the latest family-focused pilot in the works at ABC, which remains committed to finding new takes on the genre to better reflect society. The network also has Pearl, about a mom with cancer; and Speechless, about a family with a special needs child. Additionally, the network shot high-concept comedy Downward Dog, starring Fargo breakout Allison Tolman, off-cycle with ABC topper Paul Lee said to be high on the project.
In its third season, 1980-something family comedy The Goldbergs — based on the life of Adam F. Goldberg — has been a reliable player for the network as part of its Wednesday comedy block, which also features The Middle, Black-ish and Modern Family.
Keep up with all the latest pilot news with THR’s handy guide to pilot season.
