Pilot Season: Fox Orders Series From Seth MacFarlane, Drama Pilot Starring Greg Kinnear

Fox is staying in business with Seth MacFarlane. The network has ordered a new half-hour comedy titled Dads, executive-produced by the man behind Family Guy, American Dad! and The Cleveland Show. Alec Sulkin and Wellesley Wild will write and executive-produce the series, about two successful thirtysomething guys whose lives are turned upside-down when their fathers move in with them. Dads has been given a six-episode order.

Fox also ordered four drama pilots, including a comedic drama starring Greg Kinnear and executive-produced by Rescue Me's Peter Tolan. Rake, based on the Australian TV series of the same name, focuses on the chaotic yet funny life of a criminal defense lawyer (Kinnear) known for his charm and lack of filter. He possesses a deep determination to defend others, and his lack of discretion lands him great cases. Rake will also follow the character's personal problems, such as his ongoing battle with the IRS, mounting gambling debt, his teenage son and his exhausted ex-wife. Rake, which will also be executive-produced by the creator of the original show and 2012's Michael Wimer, would mark Kinnear's first foray into network TV. He will also serve as a co-executive producer.

Winter TV eye candy

Sleepy Hollow, a modern-day thriller based on the famous fairy tale, comes from Star Trek writers Alex Kurtzman and Bob Orci, who will executive-produce with Heather Kadin and Len Wiseman (Underworld), who will direct the pilot. Phil Iscove will also write and serve as a supervising producer.

From Bones' Karyn Usher comes Delirum, executive-produced by Usher, Peter Chernin and Katherine Pope. Based on the best-selling trilogy about a world in which love is outlawed and removable with a special procedure, the show is about Lena Holoway, who falls in love with just 95 days until her treatment.

The List, written and executive-produced by Daybreak creator Paul Zbyszewski, tells the story of a string of murders in the Federal Witness Security Program and the subsequent manhunt for the person who stole the list containing everyone's true identities. Zombielanddirector Ruben Fleischer will also executive-produce.

Get the latest pilot news here

Fox also ordered four comedy pilots, including a new project executive-produced by Cougar Town co-creator Bill Lawrence. The untitled project is based on the book I Suck at Girls, by S--- My Dad Says creator Justin Halpern, about a boy becoming a man, and a man becoming a father in the pre-Internet age. Halpern will write and executive-produce with Patrick Schumacker. Jeff Ingold will also serve as an executive producer on the half-hour, single-camera comedy.

To My Assistant, based on a blog and upcoming book, is about a group of assistants at a big New York law firm who come together to help each other deal with their overbearing and demanding bosses. Friendswriter Sherry Bilsing-Graham and Ellen Kreamer (The New Adventures of Old Christine) will write and executive-produce, with Gangster Squad's Dan Lin and Jennifer Gwartz (Party Down) also on board as executive producers.

Based on the hit British series Gavin and Stacey, Friends & Family is a single-camera half-hour comedy about two very different lovers trying to make a long-distance relationship work. BBC Worldwide's Jane Tranter and Julie Gardner will executive-produce, along with original series producers James Corden, Ruth Jones and Henry Normal. David Rosen will write and serve as an executive producer.

An introverted, neurotic Wisconsin family living in a neighborhood of oversharers is the premise of House Rules, from Justin Hurwitz and Ander Gurland, who will write and executive-produce. Wedding Crashers director David Dobkin, and Running Wilde's Paul Young and Peter Principato will also serve as executive producers on the single-camera, half-hour comedy.

What do you think of Fox's new projects? Will you watch Seth MacFarlane's new comedy? Do you want to see Greg Kinnear on the small screen?