ABC picks up pair of pilots

Rob Thomas nabs third greenlight of spring

By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER

Thomas

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ABC has picked up a pair of pilots, including Rob Thomas' third greenlight of the spring, and a laffer from Joe Port and Joe Wiseman.

Port and Wiseman are behind the comedy "Five Year Plan," which comes from Universal Media Studios.

The duo, who are set up at UMS under an overall deal, will exec produce.

"Five Year Plan" revolves around two brothers and their friends, all of whom are living according to their five-year plans.

Port and Wiseman were behind the NBC pilot "The IT Crowd"; their credits also include "The Office" and "Just Shoot Me."

Thomas pickup makes it three-for-three for the scribe, who's behind ABC's "Cupid" redux and the CW’s "Beverly Hills, 90210" spinoff.

Hourlong comedy revolves around a family of criminals and the mother who decides to go straight when her husband winds up in jail. ABC Studios is producing.

The prolific Thomas wrote the script, which is based on the New Zealand series "Outrageous Fortune," which is about to start its fourth season on the TV3 network.

Thomas will exec produce, along with John Barnett. Michael Larkin, Michael Goldstein, Bruce Cervi and John Lansing will be co-exec producers.

In New Zealand, James Griffin and Rachel Lang created the original concept.

Studio execs said they weren’t worried about Thomas being stretched too thin; there’s a good chance "Cupid" and the new project will be produced and air during separate parts of the season.