Fox importing two British sitcoms

'Outnumbered', 'Spaced' set to be adapted

Net has picked up two comedy pilots based on British formats: "Outnumbered" and "Spaced."

"Outnumbered," from MRC in association with U.K. shingle Hat Trick, revolves around a family that struggles to raise three kids -- who happen to be overly intelligent and rambunctious.

In Britain, "Outnumbered" aired on BBC 1 late last summer. Laffer, which contained heavy doses of improv, was created there by Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin.

Here in the States, the single-camera comedy will be written and exec produced by Larry Levin ("Dr. Dolittle"), and directed by Bryan Gordon.

"Larry wrote a fantastic script," said MRC TV topper Keith Samples. "Everything fell into place; it had a karmic feel to it. Kevin loved the original and loved what Larry did with the adaptation."

Project is one in a string of collaborations between MRC and Hat Trick. There's no formal partnership between the two, but Samples said he's struck a strong working relationship with Hat Trick co-founder Jimmy Mulville.

As for "Spaced," Fox gave a put pilot order to the project last fall, right before the writers strike put development on hold (Daily Variety, Oct. 30).

"Spaced" was originally created in the U.K. by the "Shaun of the Dead" team of Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright (along with Jessica Stevenson). In the U.S., Adam Barr ("Will & Grace") is set to exec produce. Pegg, Wright and Stevenson are not involved in the U.S. version.

Single-cam half-hour revolves around a young man and woman who pose as a couple in order to rent a cheap apartment.

Wonderland Sound and Vision is behind the show, along with Warner Bros. TV (where Wonderland is based) and Granada, which holds format rights. McG, Barr and Robert Green are exec producers.

"Spaced" ran on Britain's Channel 4 for two seasons, in 1999 and 2001. Wonderland's Peter Johnson first caught wind of the show and brought it across the Pond on behalf of his shingle.