Last season it was time travel, but with the latest round of shows, it seems sci-fi comedy is the next big thing for the US networks. A few months ago, we announced Seth MacFarlane was creating a new workplace/space sci-fi comedy, and now NBC are looking to get in on the act.
Coming from the creator of Undateable, Adam Sztykiel, and exec producing legend Bill Lawrence (Scrubs, Cougar Town, Spin City), Spaced Out is set in the world of commercial space travel. Sztykiel is set to write the show and exec produce, along with Lawrence and Jeff Ingold (Undateable, Rush Hour) from Lawrence’s production company Doozer. Warner Bros TV are set as the producing studio along with Doozer.
MacFarlane currently has the upperhand with production, as his ‘as yet untitled’ show got a straight-to-series order of 13 episodes from Fox, where as Spaced Out is currently only a pilot commitment from NBC. MacFarlane also has some casting in place, with Scott Grimes (ER, Band of Brothers, Family Guy), and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Adrianne Palicki joining him in the show.
Single-camera workplace comedy is something Bill Lawrence does incredibly well, having created both Scrubs and Spin City, which were hugely successful. It just remains to be seen if that success can be carried into space!