Fox brings ''Til Death' back to life

Garrett/Fisher sitcom returns for fourth season

By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER

“‘Til Death” is very much alive.

Fox has given a 22-episode order for the Brad Garrett-Joely Fisher starrer, which will return next season.

Series has been off the air since early October, and there was speculation that Fox might shelve the show’s remaining third-season episodes.

Instead, insiders said producer Sony Pictures TV gave the network a deal it couldn’t refuse to bring the laffer back for a fourth year.

Pact will bring the “‘Til Death” episode total up to more than 80 -- close enough for an off-network syndication sale.

Fox has aired just seven episodes of “‘Til Death” this season, which means the net still has 15 from season three to air. Add that to next season’s 22 episode order, and Fox has plenty of “‘Til Death” in its future.

Net still hasn’t scheduled this season’s remaining segs; its sked is already jam-packed with “American Idol,” the return of “24” and newbies “Lie to Me” and “Dollhouse.”

But the sitcom could very well return later this season with back-to-back originals.

“‘Til Death” underwent a creative shift this year, moving its focus to the friendship between Garrett and new cast member J.B. Smoove. The show’s next door neighbors, played by Eddie Kaye Thomas and Kat Foster, were dropped.

This season, “‘Til Death” averaged a 1.8 rating/5 share among adults 18-49, as well as 4.7 million viewers, in the 9 p.m. slot, and a 1.4/4 (and 3.7 million viewers) in the 9:30 slot, which it briefly filled after the cancellation of “Do Not Disturb.”

“‘Til Death” is exec produced by Josh Goldsmith, Cathy Yuspa, Tim Hobert, Steve Skrovan, David Rosenthal and Garrett.

Read the full article at:
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117998321.html

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