Jay Baruchel Comedy Lands Series Order at FXX

FXX is bulking up on comedy offerings.

FX’s younger-skewing cable network sibling has ordered to series Man Seeking Woman, its Lorne Michaels-exec produced adaptation of Simon Rich‘s book The Last Girlfriend on Earth, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. FXX has ordered 10 episodes for a 2015 premiere.

The half-hour comedy is described as a sweet and absurd look at the life-and-death stakes of dating. Undeclared alum Jay Baruchel returns to the small screen as Josh Greenberg, a naive romantic on a desperate quest for love. When his girlfriend dumps him, Josh enters the dating scene — a nightmarish hellscape of untold horror. Despite the agony, Josh continues his search in the hopes of finding someone who will make the misery worth it. Eric André (Don’t Trust the B— in Apartment 23), Britt Lower (Unforgettable) and Maya Erskine (Betas) co-star.

Man Seeking Woman was created by Saturday Night Live‘s Rich, who will executive produce and serve as showrunner. Jonathan Krisel (SNL, Portlandia) directed the pilot for the series, which hails from FX Productions and Lorne Michaels‘ Broadway Video. Michaels and Krisel will also exec produce.

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For FXX, Man Seeking Woman comes after the cabler  dropped scripted comedy Legit after two seasons and as it prepares to say farewell to Wilfred this season. Its roster also includes veteran It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The League and the revived Ali G Rezurection.

Man Seeking Woman was first developed — like everything else — under the FX banner. Pilots are developed under FX, with executives determining which of its two networks the programming is best suited for after screening the finished product. FX currently has comedy pilots Death Pact and How and Why as well as an untitled vehicle starring Zach Galifianakis from Louis C.K. Its Tracy Morgan series currently on hold as the 30 Rock alum recuperates from a fatal car crash.

“Simon Rich has delivered a wholly original, hilarious and fantastical view of single life that features an incredible performance from Jay Baruchel,” said FX president of original programming Nick Grad. “We feel this is the perfect fit for FXX and are thrilled to pick up the show.”

Man Seeking Woman also represents FX/FXX’s second comedy series order this week. FX on Monday picked up Denis Leary starrer Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll to series. It joins an FX comedy lineup that features rookies You’re the Worst, Married and the upcoming Billy Crystal entry The Comedians as well as veterans Archer and Louie.

For Michaels, meanwhile, Man Seeking Woman becomes his second scripted series on the air. It joins Fox comedy Mulaney, starring another SNL alum, John Mulaney. Those are in addition to NBC’s SNL and late-night series starring Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers, as well as IFC’s Portlandia and Hulu’s The Awesomes.

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@THR.com
Twitter: @Snoodit