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CBS, Looking to Replace a Retiring Hit, Orders ‘Bad Teacher’ to Series — the Network’s Sixth New Sitcom for Fall 2013

May 22, 2013  •  Post A Comment

[Updated at 3:03 p.m. PT on May 22, 2013 to say it’s CBS’ sixth new sitcom it’s ordered, not its fifth. A spokesperson for CBS called us with this correct informaton, saying that THR was wrong when it said it was the fifth new sitcom ordered.]

CBS has given a series order to “Bad Teacher,” Hilary Winston’s adaptation of the 2011 Cameron Diaz feature film, The Hollywood Reporter’s Live Feed reports.

The show stars Ari Graynor of “Fringe” as “a sexy, foul-mouthed divorcee who becomes a teacher in order to find her next husband,” THR reports. “’Community’s’ Winston penned the pilot and executive produces alongside Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky, who penned the screenplay for the film. Sam Hansen, Jimmy Miller and Sara Rodier also exec produce the Sony Pictures Television and Mosaic single-camera comedy.”

The order is the sixth by CBS of a comedy series for 2013-14, after the network ordered just two for 2012-13. “It comes at a time when CBS is bulking up on comedy offerings as the network looks to find a replacement for ‘How I Met Your Mother,’ which will come to an end after its upcoming ninth season,” the piece reports.

CBS plans to launch an expanded two-hour comedy block on Thursday nights, with “The Millers,” from Greg Garcia, and David E. Kelley’s new Robin Williams-Sarah Michelle Gellar series joining “The Big Bang Theory.” Monday’s comedy entries will include “Mom,” new from Chuck Lorre and starring Anna Faris, and the Tony Shalhoub vehicle “We Are Men.”

“For its part, ‘Bad Teacher’ comes with built-in name recognition, with the feature co-starring Justin Timberlake grossing more than $216 million worldwide,” the report notes. “CBS’s adaptation also boasts a recognizable cast in co-stars Ryan Hansen (‘Veronica Mars’), David Alan Grier (‘In Living Color’), Sara Gilbert (‘The View,’ ‘Roseanne’) and Kristin Davis (‘Sex and the City’).”

The sale marks the eighth this season for Sony Pictures Television, the piece notes.

THR adds: “CBS also has James Van Der Beek entry ‘Friends With Better Lives’ on the bench for midseason.”

ari-graynor.jpgAri Graynor 

2 Comments

  1. Sara Gilbert is on The Talk, not The View.

  2. This is why CBS continues to be the top network. They have a strategy. 6 to 1 odds are fairly good that they will come up with one hit to replace a popular show that is leaving. Unlike NBC that just throws everything at the wall and hopes something sticks.

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