Nellie Andreeva

No Ordinary Family star Michael Chiklis is returning to comedy as the star of CBS’ half-hour pilot Vince Uncensored, from veteran sitcom writer Phoef Sutton, Conan O’Brien’s Conaco and Warner Bros. TV.

For Chiklis, the pilot is in second position to the freshman ABC drama No Ordinary Family, which he stars in and co-executive produces. The actor, who won an Emmy for The Shield, was planning to sit this pilot season out but was offered  CBS two comedy pilots: Vince Uncensored and the untitled Filgos project. Because he had been tied on No Ordinary Family, which just wrapped production, he could technically only do a comedy pilot as half-hour pilots start production later than dramas. Landing Chiklis was a big priority for CBS. To do that, the network also signed a development/holding deal with the actor behind his pact for Vince Uncensored.

As for Vince Uncensored, it centers on a man (Chiklis) who, after a life-changing experience, decides to take a more honest approach to his life, work and family. Sutton wrote the script and is executive producing with O’Brien and David Kissinger. WME-repped Chiklis starred on comedic drama The Commish and comedy Daddio before switching to drama with FX’s The Shield and ABC’s No Ordinary Family.

Meanwhile, the sets of No Ordinary Family were taken down on the Disney lot today. A rep for the studio said the space will be used for a PGA conference. While folding sets away when production is done to make room for filming pilots and other activities is not unusual, with the show struggling in the ratings, the move could become permanent. After a very promising start, No Ordinary Family was assigned one of the most competitive slots this season, Tuesday 8 PM, where it has faced an uphill battle against Glee and NCIS.

TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.