Lake Bell and Liz Meriwether’s “Bless This Mess” has nabbed a series order at ABC, Variety reports. A co-production between 20th Century Fox Television and ABC Studios, the single-camera comedy originally received a pilot production commitment at Fox. ABC gave “Bless This Mess” a six-episode order. It will air in 2019.
The series centers on newlyweds (Bell and Dax Shepard) who leave New York City to pursue a more down-to-earth life in Nebraska — only to find that things aren’t necessarily simpler in the Midwest.
“Bell and Shepard headline a stellar cast in this hilarious take on a classic fish-out-of-water story that we found irresistible,” said ABC Entertainment’s new president, Karey Burke.
Bell directed “Bless This Mess'” pilot and exec produces alongside Meriwether. The duo previously worked together when Bell guest starred on a Season 1 episode of “New Girl,” the Zooey Deschanel sitcom Meriwether created. Meriwether also wrote an episode of “Childrens Hospital” and feature “No Strings Attached,” both of which Bell acted in.
This marks Meriwether’s second ABC comedy. She co-created “Single Parents,” about a support group of single moms and dads, with J.J. Philbin. Currently in its first season, the show airs Wednesday nights. “New Girl” ended its seven-season run in May.
Bell has helmed two features: “I Do… Until I Don’t,” an exploration of monogamy and marriage, and “In a World…,” a comedic take on sexism in the voiceover industry. Episodes of “Casual” and “Childrens Hospital” are among Bell’s other directorial credits. Her more recent acting gigs include “Home Again,” “BoJack Horseman,” and “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.”