ABC Picks Up Reba McEntire Comedy Pilot ‘Malibu Country’ To Series

ABC is finishing up the slew of new series orders and renewals. The Reba McEntire-starring comedy Malibu Country was the only pilot left in contention when the network made the bulk of its pickups about an hour ago. I hear the multi-camera sitcom will be paired with another multi-camera comedy fronted by a sitcom star Tim Allen’s Last Man Standing. The deal to renew the freshman comedy is almost done. The pickup of Malibu Country, which co-stars Sara Rue, means that NBC’s new series Guys With Kids will have to recast the role she played as a guest star in the pilot as she was in second position to Malibu Country.

For those keeping score, ABC picked up a total of 9 pilots to series today, five dramas and four comedies. The network also will likely look at a couple of other comedy pilots, including the well-received Daddy’s Girls and Ladyfriends, which barely missed the cut at NBC.

Related: ABC Picks Up To Series ‘666′, ‘Last Resort’, ‘How To Live’, ‘Nashville’, ‘Penoza’, ‘Neighbors’, ‘Zero Hour’ & ‘Red Man Van’

Comments (44)

  • yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!!!!! Thank you, ABC! SOO looking forward to this for the Fall!

    Comment by Nick — Friday May 11, 2012 @ 7:07pm PDT  Reply to this post
  • What about Rebounding? Will ABC look at that?

    Comment by Craig — Friday May 11, 2012 @ 7:13pm PDT  Reply to this post
  • My prediction is that a new TGIF is launched and it will be (based on the shows that were picked up)

    8 – Last Man Standing
    830 – Malibu Country
    9 – The Family Tools
    930 – The Neighbors

    With Midseason entry being How to Live with Your Parents.

    Comment by Lowa — Friday May 11, 2012 @ 7:21pm PDT  Reply to this post
    • Keep living in Fantasyland. Fridays aren’t the place for sitcoms anymore.

      Comment by Mickey Mouse is looking at you with lust — Friday May 11, 2012 @ 8:25pm PDT  Reply to this post
      • Mickey Mouse does very well with sitcoms on Disney Channel on Friday nights. As does Nickelodeon.

        Comment by TGIF — Friday May 11, 2012 @ 10:27pm PDT  Reply to this post
        • That’s cable – very different from broadcast in terms of what level of audience is acceptable.

          On broadcast, Fridays are for sci fi cult shows that get a small but loyal audience. It’s the best anyone can do on that night.

          Comment by scifi_fan — Saturday May 12, 2012 @ 11:52am PDT  Reply to this post
          • Are you saying that if CBS or ABC shifted their comedy nights to Friday, all of a sudden nobody would watch? Please, scripted programming can work on Fridays in the comedy department and this Fall you’re fixed to find that out first hand son

            Comment by Chris — Saturday May 12, 2012 @ 3:17pm PDT  
  • I would much rather see them bring back GCB.

    Comment by Oh... — Friday May 11, 2012 @ 7:48pm PDT  Reply to this post
  • No surprise here as I heard ABC loved the concept and Reba is a huge selling point too, after the success she had with her own show on the old WB and then CW. Knew Allen’s show would get picked up as well.

    Comment by Jed — Friday May 11, 2012 @ 7:51pm PDT  Reply to this post
  • Thank for the info Nellie.Very good news!! :) Have definitely missed Reba!!!

    Comment by jennifer — Friday May 11, 2012 @ 8:11pm PDT  Reply to this post
  • So ABC is going to take a look at Daddy’s Girls & Ladyfriends?? That should be interesting. They should take a peek at Downwardly Mobile too.

    Comment by Tony — Friday May 11, 2012 @ 8:18pm PDT  Reply to this post
    • Totally Agree about Downwardly Mobile! They should look at & pick up Downwardly Mobile and The Manzanis and could create a block with those shows and Last Man Standing and Malibu Country.That’d be just as great as their other nights of comedy.

      Comment by Mike — Friday May 11, 2012 @ 8:45pm PDT  Reply to this post
    • So “Downwardly Mobile” is truly, officially dead at NBC?

      Comment by Brian J — Friday May 11, 2012 @ 9:00pm PDT  Reply to this post
  • Cool. Reba is enjoyable. Sounds like a decent option for ABC. (Anything seems better than Work It…)

    Comment by Nice — Friday May 11, 2012 @ 8:33pm PDT  Reply to this post
  • Is Americana definitely dead? That, and Nashville, were the pilots that sounded most promising to me!

    Comment by Matt — Friday May 11, 2012 @ 8:59pm PDT  Reply to this post
  • 1st of all, so very thrilled to have Reba back on TV. I would also like to see ABC snatch Downwardly Mobile. I’d watch it just to see Roseanne and John back at work together. All and all, a good batch. Maybe TV worth watching again.

    Comment by hi there — Friday May 11, 2012 @ 8:59pm PDT  Reply to this post

Post a Comment

Comments On Deadline Hollywood are monitored. So don't go off topic, don't impersonate anyone, don't get your facts wrong, and don't bore me.