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Fox is taking a second stab at launching a U.S. version of the British comedy series Outnumbered. The network has handed out an off-cycle pilot order to the single-camera comedy from writers Barbara Wallace and Thomas R. Wolfe. It’s being produced by 20th TV, Chernin Entertainment, and Hat Trick Prods, the British company behind the original series created by Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin. Inspired by the BBC sitcom, Outnumbered revolves around one set of parents who are often overwhelmed by their three children. Wallace and Wolfe executive produce with Peter Chernin, Katherine Pope and Jimmy Mulville.Fox, whose own hit single-camera comedy Malcolm In the Middle had a similar premise, first tried to adapt Outnumbered during the 2007-08 development season when the project was picked up to pilot written by Larry Levin and produced by MRC and Hat Trick. The pilot starring Ken Marino and Brooke Bloom didn’t go to series. Since then, ABC successfully launched a documentary-style single-camera family comedy, last season’s hit Modern Family. Like Modern Family, the British Outnumbered has a mocumentary feel as it is semi-improvised and the kids’ lines are generally not scripted. Fox is launching a single-camera family comedy this fall, Greg Garcia’s Raising Hope, which, like Outnumbered, was originally ordered as a pilot off-cycle last summer.
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I sure hope Fox can get their comedy act together. They really dropped the ball with Sons of the Tucson and kept Til’Death on way too long.
Yay. Another remake of an already remade unoriginal idea.
Why not? This worked for them when it was called Malcolm in the Middle.
What’s really funny is that everyone in the industry is looking for a “killer” concept, super-high concept that’s the key. But then when you see what the nets actually wind up getting behind you see the concept is often a modest, relatable idea. Meanwhile, we all bend over backwards coming up with these incredibly clever concepts that no one will ever be able to execute because it’s what everyone demands we do.
Amen!
“Inspired by the BBC sitcom, Outnumbered revolves around one set of parents who are often overwhelmed by their three children.”
Jesus H. Christ.
Larry Levin’s “Outnumbered” was a wonderfully written script with warmth and laugh out loud moments that was rendered entirely flat in the executed pilot by poor casting and directing choices. Killer concepts that are successfully produced and watched by an audience are as rare as strong, funny and warm character-based comedies – and Levin’s was one of them. Both have their proponents and both are incredibly difficult to produce.
Aton4, Fox will never get their comedy act together — just look at their Comedy Development execs (SM especially) and you’ll know why. Absolutely humorless.
Just a word about the original BBC “Outnumbered.” It is one of the best sitcoms of the last few years: at once tender and scathing, witty, identifiable, somehow wholly original even in its reassuringly familiar dynamic – just brilliant. If Fox can do this right – and it is a big “if” – this could be something special. Then again, the original “Coupling” was good fun, too, and look what happened with that.
And,… only one camera will film this masterpiece, (thats the icewater for this toothache).
the first pilot fox did was really funny, i hope they bring back that little girl Alina Foley, she totally stole the show
Agreed, Jennifer. It’s hard to find truly natural kids – who can improv – and she (Alina Foley) was not only a natural, but funny, too. Not hard to believe considering who her father is.
Larry Levin is my cousin. He is SOOOO brillant and an excellent writer. He gets it. He is funny and smart. Get a good director and actors that are “real” with Larry writing You will have a good show.
i expect this will be awful and incredibly sentimental. and what it won’t have are those excellent children from the british version.
THE WHOLE CHARM OF “OUTNUMBERED” IS THAT IT IS BRITISH!! THE BRITISH MENTALITY AND CULTURE IS WHAT MAKES OUTNUMBERED FRESH AND UNIQUE AND SOOO FUNNY. WE ALREADY HAVE OUR OWN AMERICAN SHOWS LIKE MODERN FAMILY WHICH IS OUTSTANDING AND MY FAVORITE.
TO HAVE “OUTNUMBERED” REDONE AS AN AMERICAN SITCOM WOULD BE BLOODY STUPID.