Fox Orders Pilots From Ilene Chaiken and Erin Foster
Chaiken, who is stepped back from showrunning duties on 'Empire,' has a FBI drama in contention with Melissa Scrivner.
Fox's latest pilot orders come from some familiar talent. The broadcast network will produce two more scripts, a drama and a comedy, from veteran showrunners Ilene Chaiken (Empire) and Elizabeth Meriwether (New Girl), respectively.
Chaiken, who stepped back from showrunning duties on Fox's top drama earlier in the season to focus on development, will serve as both a writer and executive producer on an untitled FBI drama alongside screenwriter Melissa Scrivner Love. The project centers on FBI Special Agent Clementine Otis, whose reputation is ruined in the midst of investigating a domestic terrorism threat when it comes to light that she had an affair with a prominent general.
The hourlong drama comes from 20th Century Fox TV and 3 Arts Entertainment and also counts Judy Smith and Oly Obst as non-writing executive producers. (Chaiken remains an exec producer on Empire, as Brett Moheney has stepped in to run day-to-day.)
On the comedy front, Meriwether, Obst and Josh Lieberman are producing a vehicle written by and starring Erin Foster. Daddy Issues, another 3 Arts production in collaboration with 20th TV, is loosely based on Foster's life as the daughter of record producer David Foster. It revolves around Andy (Foster), whose relationship with her playboy dad is complicated by the fact that he's fallen in love with her best friend, Daddy Issues is the fourth comedy pilot Fox has ordered this season.
The network's total pilot tally now stands at seven, with one (The Passage) rolled over from last season. Fox's current pilot slate appears undeterred by sister studio 20th TV's looming sale to Disney, with all orders at least partially produced by the soon-to-depart corporate sibling.
