Order For ABC’s Midseason Comedy ‘Family Tools’ Cut To 10 Episodes
EXCLUSIVE: ABC has cut the order of midseason comedy series Family Tools from 13 to 10 episodes. Sources close to the network say that the decision was made for scheduling reasons as Family Tools in slated to premiere in January and air Tuesdays at 8:30 PM, bridging the two cycles of Dancing With the Stars. ABC brass estimated they only need the comedy for 10 weeks before Dancing comes back. Family Tools‘ companion in the Tuesday 8 PM hour will be fellow midseason comedy How To Live With Your Parents (For The Rest Of Your Life). The 20th TV series started production early and has already completed its 13-episode order. It is unclear what ABC will do with the 3 extra episodes.
Meanwhile, ABC Studios-produced Family Tools started filming later, in part because of a showrunner change in August when veterans Joshua Sternin and Jeffrey Ventimiglia were brought in to replace Bobby Bowman, who developed the adaptation of the British comedy White Van Man and wrote the pilot. There had been rumors about issues on the set of the show, though ABC brass seem pleased with what they’ve seen.
Family Tools centers on Jack Shea (Kyle Bornheimer) who inherits his father’s (J.K. Simmons) handyman business after he has a heart attack. Co-starring on the show, slated to launch in January, are Edi Gathegi, Danielle Nicolet, Leah Remini and Johnny Pemberton. Sternin and Ventimiglia executive produce alongside Mark Gordon, Andrea Shay and Paul Buccieri.
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