Jim Gaffigan single-camera comedy pilot is getting a series order at TV Land. After lengthy negotiations, the cable network has closed a deal for a 10-episode order to project, created by Gaffigan and Peter Tolan, which is now titled The Gaffigan Show. Originally developed and produced by Sony TV and twice piloted by CBS, the comedy will stay single-camera and will remain based in New York where Gaffigan lives with his family and where the two CBS pilots were shot. It will premiere on TV Land in 2015. Sony TV will have a passive role in the series, which became possible after TV Land was able to bring the budget down. Also boarding the project is TV Land sibling Comedy Central, which will air the episodes within one week after their TV Land premiere. The synergy is natural as Gaffigan is a very well liked comedian with strong following on Comedy Central, and the airings on the comedy-themed network would expose the series to a larger audience. While sibling Viacom channels have pitched in to help each other in the past, like Logo coming on board to co-produce Comedy Central’s Sarah Silveman Program to make its renewal financially possible, in this case the shared window is described as a purely promotional move, with TV Land footing the entire bill for the series.
Inspired by Gaffigan’s real life, The Gaffigan Show explores one man’s (Gaffigan) struggle in New York City to find a balance between fatherhood, stand-up comedy and an insatiable appetite. In addition to Gaffigan, returning are original cast members Ashley Williams who plays Jim’s wife, as well Adam Goldberg and Michael Ian Black as Jim’s best friend and his wife’s meddling confidante, respectively. The 2014 CBS pilot, directed by Seth Gordon, will air as the first episode. Tolan and Jim Gaffigan will executive produce with Gaffigan’s wife Jeannie, Brillstein Entertainment Partners’ Alex Murray and Sandy Wernick along with Tolan’s producing partner Michael Wimer of Fedora Entertainment. “I am thrilled that TV Land is giving us this opportunity to do this show that Peter, Jeannie and I have been fine-tuning for three years,” said Gaffigan. Added TV Land president Larry W. Jones, “We love Jim Gaffigan’s brand of humor. The second we saw this show we knew we wanted it on TV Land,” said Jones. “The audience that TV Land is targeting is Gen Xers who are raising families so we love that this show reflects their world. Only funnier.”
TV Land has been making a push in single-camera comedy with Jennifer Falls and the upcoming Younger. Meanwhile, the network just cancelled one of its original multi-camera sitcoms, Kirstie.
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