Nellie Andreeva

NBC has snagged Brave New World, a workplace comedy project from The Job and Rescue Me co-creator Peter Tolan.

The project, from Sony TV where Tolan is based, revolves around the staff at a Plymouth Plantation-type living museum that have people reenact the way the Pilgrims once went about their days. Tolan, who is the writer-executive producer, indicated at last week’s TCA that the show might be going to NBC. But I am told that the decision came down to the wire, with NBC and Fox both bidding on it. NBC is the workplace comedy leader at the moment with 5 series, The Office, 30 Rock, Parks & Recreation, Community and Outsourced.

After a sluggish start, the broadcast marketplace is picking up pace, with 2 pitches landing put pilot commitments today after interest from multiple networks, Brave New World and a medical drama from Rina Mimoun.

In addition to Brave New World, Tolan recently set up another comedy project at the broadcast networks, an untitled Sony-produced half-hour from writer DJ Nash, which CAA-repped Tolan executive produces.

Here is how Tolan, who spent the last 6 years at FX working on Rescue Me, described his expectations about doing shows for broadcast networks again at TCA last week: “I’m sure I’ll have to be medicated for most of the time,” he said. “With maturity, comes the need for cash, but it won’t be easy.”

TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.