Fox picks up 'Sit Down,' 'The Inn'
Network renews 'Til Death,' axes 'Back to You'

By CYNTHIA LITTLETON
Jason Bateman is having a good development season.

Fox on Saturday gave a pickup to animated comedy "Sit Down, Shut Up," from Sony Pictures TV and 20th Century Fox TV, insiders said. "Sit Down" is exec produced by Mitchell Hurwitz and features the vocal talents of Bateman along with Nick Kroll, Will Arnett and Henry Winkler. That greenlight comes on the heels of Fox's order dispensed late Friday for live-action comedy "The Inn," whose pilot Bateman directed.

"Sit Down" is based on a live-action Oz comedy and revolves around the dysfunctional faculty at a high school. Pickup had been expected. Toon vets Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein were already recruited as showrunners last month (Daily Variety, April 28).

No official word yet on anything from Fox, but it's understood that in addition to "The Inn," Fox has have given the nod to a third season of Sony sitcom "Til Death" and has pinkslipped the Kelsey Grammer-Patricia Heaton starrer "Back to You" after one season.

Meanwhile, CW execs are expected to make their official pickup calls later today. It's a no-brainer that the spinoff of "90210," from Rob Thomas and CBS Paramount Network TV, gets the go-ahead. Warner Bros. TV's young femme-friendly drama "How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls" is also considered a safe bet.

"Inn" stars Niecy Nash and Jerry O'Connell in a multi-camera comedy set in a hip Gotham hotel. It hails from scribe Abraham Higginbotham ("Arrested Development"), 20th Century Fox TV, Reveille and Principato-Young Entertainment.

"Til Death," starring Brad Garrett and Joely Fisher, is believed to have gotten a reprieve in part because studio Sony Pictures TV is in the process of recruiting a new showrunner with a background particularly suited to the show.

Meanwhile, rumblings from the Fox screening room is that execs very much want to be in biz with Bernie Mac, whose Warner Bros.TV project "Starting Under" has a 13-seg commitment, but they were only lukewarm about the execution of pilot, revolving around a down on his luck guy who's forced to move in with son, by comedy vet Bruce Helford. So the project still seems likely to get a greenlight but it will undergo some retooling.

Read the full article at:
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117985450.html

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Fox picks up 'Sit Down, Shut Up'
Net also nabs 'The Inn,' renews 'Death'

By Nellie Andreeva
May 10, 2008, 5:10 PM

It has been a busy weekend at Fox.

Following a 13-episode order to comedy "The Inn" on Friday, the network on Saturday picked up animated comedy "Sit Down, Shut Up."

Additionally, the network renewed sitcom " 'Til Death," while, in a somewhat surprising move, it opted not to bring back comedy "Back to You" for a second season.

"The Inn," from 20th Century Fox TV, Reveille and Principato-Young, is described as "Upstairs/ Downstairs" set at a hip New York hotel.

Jason Bateman has received good marks for his pilot directorial debut with "The Inn," whose cast includes Niecy Nash, Jerry O'Connell, Molly Stanton, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Jolene Purdy and Brando Eaton.

Abraham Higginbotham penned the project, which he is exec producing with Peter Principato, Paul Young, Brian Dobbins, Carolyn Bernstein and Howard Owens.

" 'Til Death" and "Back to You" -- both multicamera sitcoms -- have run in a block this season to similarly respectable but not spectacular ratings.

However, "Back to You" is far more expensive as it boasts marquee talent in front and behind the camera with stars Kelsey Grammer, Patrica Heaton and creators Steve Levitan and Christopher Lloyd.

"Sit Down," from Sony TV, Tantamount and Granada USA, is an animated comedy based on a live-action Australian series, which chronicles the lives of seven staff members at a high school in a small northeastern fishing town who are preoccupied with their own needs and agendas, which means the students always come second.

With the series, "Arrested Development" creator Mitch Hurwitz is returning to Fox primetime. He penned "Sit Down" and is exec producing with Eric Tannenbaum, Kim Tannenbaum, Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein.

"Sit Down," as well as another animated project, "The Pitts," took a nontraditional development route when Fox ordered them as table reads in lieu of presentations to speed up the process.

A week ago, the network gave both projects money to hire a handful of writers -- "Sit Down" tapped "The Simpsons" veterans Oakley and Weinstein as showrunners -- and produced one- to two-minute presentations to be ready for Fox's upfront presentation Thursday.

"Sit Down" joins another new animated series already picked up for next season, the "Family Guy" spinoff "Cleveland."

Said to be pending on the drama side is a series order for J.J. Abrams' sci-fi project "Fringe."

Most shocking piece of upfront news I have heard so far (besides Aliens in America being cancelled). The show didn't start off so well but it really hit a stride about mid-season. I think Fox is really stupid, the show has two big stars and they didn't put it in a great slot (post Idol would have been better). I wonder how accurate this is.

I wonder if CBS would think about it if they comedy pilots sucks (I hear the Fred Savage pilot is not going well). My split time with TNAOOC at 9:30 after Two and A Half man.

I could see it fit in at CBS or NBC. NBC would probably need it most, but they already have their schedule set up until next summer, but they could announce a change, that schedule was temporary.

It's sad, to me, that 'Til Death will last at least as long as Arrested Development did.

I didn't care for the Back To You pilot and never watched it again. I am sure that Heaton and Grammer came with a high price tag and with such lackluster ratings, that probably played a big role in the network not bringing the show back.

Til Death was renewed again? Oh that show sucks.

And I'm happy that Back To You was cancelled. Not because Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton were the leads does equate that it will be a funny show.

I hope this will hurt their Emmy chances (especially Heaton)

I don't think Back to You would fit on the NBC schedule cerca 2008 unless they had another block of comedies with multi-camera sitcoms. I've actually been reading how desperate ABC is to have a solid comedy block (they got Scrubs and have shown interest in Old Christine if CBS decides to cancel it), so I wouldn't be surprised if ABC decides to inquire about Back to You.

I think CBS could be a good fit, especially if they add another block/night of comedy like they are rumored to be doing. I was reading that Mike Birbiglia's show and My Best Friend's Girl may make it.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Neurotic21,

quote:

Originally posted by Neurotic21:
I don't think Back to You would fit on the NBC schedule cerca 2008 unless they had another block of comedies with multi-camera sitcoms. I've actually been reading how desperate ABC is to have a solid comedy block (they got Scrubs and have shown interest in Old Christine if CBS decides to cancel it), so I wouldn't be surprised if ABC decides to inquire about Back to You.

A Scrubs-Samantha Who-Old Christine combination is already good. I hope ABC won't warm up to the idea of getting Back To You as well.

Back to You should not have been canceled.

It was getting decent ratings, more than a million more than 'Till Death' which was the lead in to Back to You. I'm sure it had a high price tag, but it was so much better and they could have promoted it really well. I guess this annoys me most because they renewed till death, i would have been fine if they'd canceled both.

But none of that really matters, fox is doing well because of its two hit shows, House and Idol. I don't think anyone really cares about what fox has on other than those shows (and maybe their sunday night lineup). I really don't like their network.

quote:

Originally posted by G.Penn:
Back to You should not have been canceled.

It was getting decent ratings, more than a million more than 'Till Death' which was the lead in to Back to You. I'm sure it had a high price tag, but it was so much better and they could have promoted it really well. I guess this annoys me most because they renewed till death, i would have been fine if they'd canceled both.

But none of that really matters, fox is doing well because of its two hit shows, House and Idol. I don't think anyone really cares about what fox has on other than those shows (and maybe their sunday night lineup). I really don't like their network.

You could include 24 there too when it comes back.

I think ABC does need a solid comedy block. They have Samantha Who?, Miss Guided and (obviously now) Scrubs. If they get Old Christine, they could use that, but if they don't I could see them inquiring for Back to You. I don't think that show would exactly fit into ABC's style (none of ABC's comedies have laugh tracks), but if it keeps the show on the air, fine by me. But if Old Christine is canceled and ABC picks it up, they have four which is enough to make a block and might not pick it up. I think that CBS will keep Christine though and (though I don't know how) could make a Samantha-Miss-Scrubs-Back block.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: moviefan61794,

Sit Down Shut Up in australia was that poorly received it was screen late at night ...... I think it lasted a season. i started on UK TV a year before it was acreened here. Umm I just hope the animated version is funnier.

Back to you well ......... they will find work again

BTY was one of the most promising new shows this Fall. It had great potential and two of the best comedic actors of the genre. The strike really hurt its momentum and FOX ended up killing it by playing around with it's schedule. This is such a shame! I wonder why Fox made this decision - oh yea... they kept Til Death because it was cheaper...Well, yes trash is cheaper ... good move Fox. Til' Death will be the new According to Jim now.

As to Heaton's Emmy chances, don't worry isokolar. She won't get in. It's been a long time since the Emmys praised real talent over popularity. I'm sure some celebrity will be nominated so people will tune in to see what she's wearing .. and maybe get a few more viewers to watch. Britney Spears is eligible this year. And boy is she a great comedic actress!!! Give me a break!

FOX cancelled Back to You? I guess the network can make a decent decision every now and then.

Aww, I liked Back To You. It wasn't amazing but it was entertaining...

And they renewed 'Til Death?!?! Ugh. I can't stand that show! How is it they pick up that show but not Back To You? Oh well.

Back to You was the best new show in years, let alone this season. Patricia and Kelsey had unbelievable chemistry. If one show this season deserves a second season, it's this one by far. Fox was dumb not to renew it. If they don't have any interest in this show, maybe CBS or ABC will. Even the CW would be a better bet for this show!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Julie,

I had read rumors that Heaton and Grammer didn't get along. Wonder if that played into the decision. Maybe it was more trouble than the results were worth?

quote:

Originally posted by Julie:
Back to You was the best new show in years, let alone this season. Patricia and Kelsey had unbelievable chemistry. If one show this season deserves a second season, it's this one by far. Fox was dumb not to renew it. If they don't have any interest in this show, maybe CBS or ABC will. Even the CW would be a better bet for this show!

Thank god! I am so happy to see this god-awful "Back to You" to be axed. But "Til Death" being renewed? Idc though cuz i won't watch it. I have better shows to watch than that.

'Til Death?

The one with Brad Garrett and Joely Fisher?

No.

Please tell me that there is another 'Til Death out there...