ABC Family has given the production go-ahead to two new comedy pilots, “Kevin From Work” and “Tough Cookie,” with both pilots slated to go into production later in January.
The half-hour workplace comedy “Kevin From Work” follows a young man who’s unluckily in love and who professes his devotion to a co-worker, thinking he’ll never see her again after he accepts a job offer overseas. But then that job offer is rescinded, and now they have to continue to work together.
The pilot hails from “How I Met Your Mother” and “My Name Is Earl” veteran Barbie Adler, who wrote, created and is executive producing the project. Kapital Entertainment’s Aaron Kapan is also executive producing, as is McG, who will also direct the pilot.
“Tough Cookie,” meanwhile, is billed as “a fresh take on the friends-and-family convention.” The pilot is centered around a young mother who isn’t ready to parent and her daughter who doesn’t want to be parented.
Lauren Iungerich (“Awkward”) created and wrote the pilot. She’ll also executive produce and direct, with “Six Feet Under” alum David Janollari also executive producing.
Karey Burke, ABC Family’s executive vice president, programming and development, said that the two pilots are part of the network’s plan to build its slate of single-camera comedies.
“Single-camera comedies represent an evolution of our comedy brand, and we look forward to building a successful single-camera comedy franchise to match the success we’re having with multi-cam comedies,” Burke said.