Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Fox announces three new prime-time shows

Fox Television has announced three new prime-time animation series, at least one of which is considered a sure thing to make it on the air next year.

"Cleveland," a spin-off of "Family Guy" that will be co-produced by Seth MacFarlane, is expected to get a thirteen-episode order.

Both of the two "yellow-lit" shows will be based upon a live-action TV series. "The Pitts" will be based on a 2003 Fox series about an "incredibly unlucky family" that was cancelled after five episodes (I couldn't make that up). It will be produced by "Simpsons" vet Mike Scully and his wife, Julie Thacker-Scully.

"Sit Down, Shut Up," based on an Australian series about high-school teacher who ignore their students, will be produced by "Arrested Development"'s Mitch Hurwitz, and will use three of that show's actors for voices (Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Henry Winkler.)

Both "The Pitts" and "Sit Down, Shut Up" were ordered as "table reads" in lieu of presentations. They have been approved to make one- or two-minute presentations and to hire writers.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

If I recall correctly, Mo Willems is supervising the animation on Sit Down, Shut Up, which should be interesting.

Anonymous said...

Does that mean it's being done in New York? I've checked around the three LA studios that Fox usually sends their shows to, and none of them have any idea what this show is.

Anonymous said...

never mind. Sony Pictures/Adelaide is behind Sit Down, Shut Up.

Anonymous said...

any funny cartoonists in charge, or are these just more interlopers posing as 'fans of animation?'?

Anonymous said...

I find it amazing that Fox is going to have seven animated shows on in prime time. Toss in The Goode Family on ABC and that's eight. Have there ever been that many animated shows on in prime time at once?

Scotty said...

Back in the late 90s, there were a lot of prime time shows, 12 or 13. That included the Simpsons and King of the Hill and Family Guy, which survived the mass cancellations of 2000.

Anonymous said...

Mo Willems is saying his involvement in the show is being falsely reported.

Anonymous said...

The Pitts has been officially passed on.

Cleveland was greenlit months ago so that's not news. It's being produced at Fox Television Animation.

Sit Down, Shut Up is now called Class Dismissed, and has been greenlit. It will be produced by Adelaide Productions.

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