ABC’s Imaginary Mary is the first new show of the 2016-17 broadcast season to see its episode order reduced.
The Adam F. Goldberg hybrid live-action/animated comedy has had its episode order reduced from 13 to nine, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. Sources attribute the reduction to making tweaks to the show’s animation that required more time to complete.
The live-action/CGI comedy centers on Alice (Jenna Elfman), 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 (You’re the Worst‘s Stephen Schneider). This triggers even more upheaval when the slightly unhinged imaginary friend she created as an only child, Mary (voiced by Rachel Dratch) suddenly reappears in her life to help her navigate the transition from single girl to a woman ready for a family.
The episode count is now for the pilot plus eight additional episodes. A premiere date has yet to be determined.
Goldberg and David Guaracio (ABC’s The Goldbergs) created the comedy and exec produce alongside Disney feature animator Patrick Osborne as well as Happy Madison’s Doug Robinson. The single-camera/CGI comedy hails from Sony Pictures Television, Happy Madison and ABC Studios.
Imaginary Mary becomes the first new show of the season to see its episode count reduced. On Tuesday, NBC handed out the season’s first full-season pickup to drama This Is Us.
Last year, trimming episodes became all the rage instead of cancellation as many shows had their orders reduced due either to low ratings or scheduling as fewer broadcast networks lowered the ax.
