USA Network Eyes ‘Rebounding’ As Potential ‘Modern Family’ Companion

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Friday May 25, 2012 @ 12:17pm PDT
Nellie Andreeva

Comedy pilot Rebounding is looking to live up to its title as producing studio 20th Century Fox TV has been shopping it to other networks since its surprising pass at Fox two weeks ago. Meanwhile, one of USA Network’s main priorities is getting an original comedy series ready by next summer to launch as a companion to its prized off-network acquisition, ABC hit Modern Family. Could Rebounding fit the bill? I hear USA is looking at the pilot starring Will Forte as a man recovering from the death of his fiancé with help from his idiot buddies on a pickup basketball team.

Related: Fox Passes On ‘Rebounding’: Will Steve Levitan Ever Again Sell A Show There?

Rebounding and Modern Family seem like potentially great companions — the two single-camera shows share a sensibility (comedy with heart) and a lot of creative DNA. Rebounding, which was created by Joe Port and Joe Wiseman based on Port’s real-life experiences, is executive produced by Modern Family co-creator/executive producer Steve Levitan in his first major project since Modern Family. The pilot was directed by Jason Winer, who also helmed the pilot for Modern Family, with Levitan and Winer’s collaboration on Rebounding drawing parallels to the duo’s chemistry on Modern Family. The Rebounding pilot actually tested higher than the pilot for Modern Family at the studio. 20th TV produces both Modern Family and Rebounding, which should help a potential deal. (Additionally, 20th TV division Fox21 and sibling Fox TV Studios are behind USA’s two comedy pilots, Paging Dr. Freed and Sirens, respectively.) Levitan also has a relationship with USA, he did a comedic video for the cable network’s upfront presentation last week touting Modern Family‘s fall 2013 launch to USA.

Related: USA Nears Deals For 2 Comedy Pilots, Picks Up Reality Pilot, Unveils Development Slate

While finding a home for rejected pilot almost never works, 20th TV has had success in the area with the 2010 drama pilot Breakout Kings, which also tested well but didn’t make the cut at Fox. The pilot was picked up to series by A&E, running for two seasons. Of this year’s broadcast pilots, remaining in contention at the networks that ordered them are dramas Guilty at Fox and Gotham at ABC, the latter also produced by 20th TV. Additionally, the CW is redeveloping The Selection and ABC is taking a new stab at adapting British comedy Like Fools And Horses and developing a fish-out-of-water vehicle for Judy Greer.

Related: Upfront 2012: What Pilots Are Still Alive

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Fox Passes On ‘Rebounding’: Will Steve Levitan Ever Again Sell A Show There?

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Wednesday May 9, 2012 @ 7:40pm PDT
Nellie Andreeva

The highest-profile casualty at Fox, which picked up three new comedy series today and passed on everything else, was the Steve Levitan-produced pilot Rebounding. The single-camera project was written on spec by Joe Port and Joe Wiseman … Read More »

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Alyssa Milano To Star In ABC’s ‘Mistresses’, Amanda Walsh Joins Fox’s ‘Rebounding’

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Thursday March 22, 2012 @ 8:15pm PDT
Nellie Andreeva

Alyssa Milano has been tapped as the last of the four leads in ABC’s drama series Mistresses. The soap, written by KJ Steinberg, is based on the British format. It centers on four women, April (Rochelle Aytes), Josslyn (Jes Macallan), … Read More »

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Aly Michalka Exits Fox Comedy Pilot ‘Rebounding’ As Role Is Reconceived

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Wednesday March 21, 2012 @ 7:09pm PDT
Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: Hellcats star Aly Michalka has departed Fox’s single-camera comedy pilot Rebounding after her character has been reworked post-table read. The 20th TV project, written/executive produced by Joe Port and Joe Wiseman, executive produced by Steve Levitan and directed by Jason Winer, is an uplifting comedy about Danny (Will Forte), … Read More »

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Will Forte To Star In Fox Comedy Pilot ‘Rebounding’ Produced By Steve Levitan

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Friday March 9, 2012 @ 9:00am PST
Nellie Andreeva

Will Forte ReboundingSaturday Night Live alum Will Forte is set as the lead in Fox’s single-camera comedy pilot Rebounding. The project, written/executive produced by Joe Port and Joe Wiseman, executive produced by Steve Levitan and directed by Jason Winer, is … Read More »

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Pilots ‘Gotham’ & ‘Rebounding’ Add Actors

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Tuesday February 28, 2012 @ 3:00am PST
Nellie Andreeva

British TV and stage actor Barry Sloane (Pleasureland) has landed the male lead in the ABC/20th TV drama pilot Gotham. Written by Michael Green and directed by Francis Lawrence, the project centers on Annie Travers, a female cop who, after … Read More »

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Hayes MacArthur Boards ‘Rebounding’, Kearran Giovanni Joins ‘Major Crimes,’ Sophia Bush Cast In ‘Partners’

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Wednesday February 15, 2012 @ 5:00am PST
Nellie Andreeva

Actor-comedian Hayes MacArthur (Perfect Couples) has been cast in Fox’s single-camera comedy pilot Rebounding. The project, written by Joe Port and Joe Wiseman and directed by Jason Winer, is an uplifting comedy about a man recovering from the death of … Read More »

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Steve Levitan-Produced Port-Wiseman Spec Gets Pilot Order At Fox, Jason Winer Directs

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Friday February 3, 2012 @ 6:18pm PST
Nellie Andreeva

Steve Levitan is back at Fox. The network has picked up Rebounding, a single-camera comedy from the Modern Family co-creator, Joe Port and Joe Wiseman, with Modern Family helmer Jason … Read More »

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Steve Levitan, Joe Port And Joe Wiseman Take Out ‘Rebounding’ TV Comedy Spec

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Monday January 30, 2012 @ 11:19am PST
Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: Let the bidding frenzy begin! A mostly sleepy January TV spec market is being shaken up today by Rebounding, a single-camera comedy from Joe Port, Joe Wiseman and Modern Family co-creator Steve Levitan. Port and … Read More »

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