FX picks up two comedy series2009-08-22

Cable network FX is making its biggest push yet into comedy with the pickup of two new half-hour series, "The League"

The two shows join the recently ordered animated comedy "Archer" and veteran "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" for a quartet of comedy series, the most in the network's history.

Overall, FX is expected to have at least 10 original scripted series on the air in the next year, more than any other basic-cable network.

"League," created by Jeff Schaffer and Jackie Marcus Schaffer, explores marriage, male friendship, parenting, suburbia and growing up through the prism of a fantasy-football league. The series, which stars Mark Duplass ("Humpday"), Steve Rannazzisi, Nick Kroll, Paul Scheer, Jon Lajoie and Katie Aselton, will follow the progression of a league.

"Louie," written and directed by Louis CK, is set to debut early next year. Filtered through his observational humor, the series stars the comedian as a successful stand-up who is a newly single father in New York, raising two daughters and dating.

"League," "Louie" and "Archer" are being made in-house at FX Prods. under a low-cost production model the network first tested last year with the comedy "Testees." The network didn't order a second season of that show, but it marked a turning point in FX's comedy strategy.

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