NBC Orders Glenn Howerton’s ‘AP Bio’ to Series

Half-hour comedy starring “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” actor hails from “Saturday Night Live” alum Mike O’Brien

A.P. Bio - Season Pilot
NBC

NBC has ordered the Glenn Howerton-led comedy “A.P. Bio” to series, TheWrap has learned.

The series stars “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” actor Howerton as a philosophy scholar who loses out on his dream job and goes to work as a high school Advanced Placement biology teacher, making it clear he will not be teaching any biology. Realizing he has a room full of honor roll students at his disposal, he decides instead to use the kids to his own benefit.

The comedy is the third pilot ordered to series at NBC, following Jason Katims’ high school drama “Rise” and the military drama “For God & Country,” from writer Dean Georgaris. The pickups come as the broadcast networks finalize their programming slates for the 2017-18 season ahead of their respective upfronts presentations to advertisers next week.

“A.P. Bio” will be written and executive produced by “Saturday Night Live” alum Mike O’Brien. Lorne Michaels, Seth Meyers, Andrew Singer and Michael Shoemaker also executive produce. Osmany Rodriguez will direct. “A.P. Bio” is produced by Universal Television, Broadway Video and Sethmaker Shoemeyers Productions.

Patton Oswalt, Lyric Lewis, Mary Sohn, Aparna Brielle, Jacob McCarthy and Nick Peine also star. Vanessa Bayer appears as a guest star in the pilot episode.

Earlier this year, Howerton told TheWrap that he didn’t know if he would return to “It’s Always Sunny” to reprise the role of Dennis.

“The option to come back is there, is in place,” he said. “It’s very much a creative decision.

“Without dancing around it too much … anything is possible. It is possible but it’s hard for me to say what seems probable at this point. It’s definitely not a foregone conclusion that I won’t be coming back,” he added.

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