After being picked up to pilot at FOX, ABC has today given a series order to the original comedy series Bless This Mess starring Lake Bell and Dax Shepard. The first season will include six episodes, which will debut in 2019.
The comedy follows a newlywed couple who give up their unfulfilling New York City lives for a move to Nebraska. They anticipate the move will bring a simpler life, but that does not go according to plan.
In addition to Bell and Shepard, the comedy stars Ed Begley Jr., JT Neal, Christina Offley and Pam Grier.
Bell co-created the comedy with New Girl's Liz Meriwether. Bell also directed the pilot. They executive produce with Shepard, Katherine Pope, Jake Kasdan and Melvin Mar. 20th Century Fox Television and ABC Studios produce.
The pickup means Meriwether will have two series on ABC - with Bless This Mess joining freshman comedy Single Parents, which was picked up for a full season.
Bless This Mess was one of three comedies that were being considered for FOX's midseason or fall schedule. The other two - Dan the Weatherman starring Thomas Lennon and Mean Jean starring Kaitlin Olson & Leah Remini - will not be going forward. The moves today come as FOX and ABC are currently in transition with Disney buying the majority of Fox assets. FOX is set to become an independent network for the 2019-20 broadcast season, which will see it have less primetime real estate for new series due to live sporting events.
"Bell and Shepard headline a stellar cast in this hilarious take on a classic fish-out-of-water story that we found irresistible," said Karey Burke, President, ABC Entertainment. The pickup today marks Burke's first formal series order since she was tapped to replace Channing Dungey at ABC.
