FOX Grabs 'Ortegas' from NBC - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brett Ferino · 05-06-2003, 01:32 PM

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - NBC won the initial bidding for the comedy pilot "The Ortegas," beating out FOX in a heated battle last summer.

In the end, though, it's FOX that is picking up the series for fall. "The Ortegas," an Americanized version of the British sitcom-talk show hybrid "The Kumars at No. 42," has received a 13-episode order from the network.

When it won rights to the show last year, NBC ponied up what amounted to a guaranteed timeslot. Lately, though, Peacock executives decided that the show should be pushed back to midseason, which gave rise to the network switch.

"That didn't correspond to the deal we had," executive producer Gavin Polone tells The Hollywood Reporter. "We had the option of going somewhere else, and ... FOX had made it clear if it ever came back around that they wanted it."

"The Ortegas" stars Cheech Marin ("Spy Kids," "Nash Bridges") as the patriarch of a middle-class Mexican-American family living in the San Fernando Valley. His son (Al Madrigal) hosts a talk show from a set in their backyard. The show blends elements of a family sitcom with those of a talk show, with guests visiting the set.

Its British predecessor, "The Kumars," won an International Emmy for best comedy series this year. That show revolves around an Indian family living in London.

Sitcomwriter · 05-06-2003, 02:32 PM

Yes! I wanted to see this one.

Ant-Lox · 02-25-2004, 09:04 AM

lol does this show even air anymore?

Pitooey · 02-25-2004, 10:22 AM

Sounds like a good show Brett! Thanks for the heads up...

05-06-2003, 01:32 PM	#1
Brett Ferino Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 18, 2000 Location: PA Posts: 3,782	FOX Grabs 'Ortegas' from NBC LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - NBC won the initial bidding for the comedy pilot "The Ortegas," beating out FOX in a heated battle last summer. In the end, though, it's FOX that is picking up the series for fall. "The Ortegas," an Americanized version of the British sitcom-talk show hybrid "The Kumars at No. 42," has received a 13-episode order from the network. When it won rights to the show last year, NBC ponied up what amounted to a guaranteed timeslot. Lately, though, Peacock executives decided that the show should be pushed back to midseason, which gave rise to the network switch. "That didn't correspond to the deal we had," executive producer Gavin Polone tells The Hollywood Reporter. "We had the option of going somewhere else, and ... FOX had made it clear if it ever came back around that they wanted it." "The Ortegas" stars Cheech Marin ("Spy Kids," "Nash Bridges") as the patriarch of a middle-class Mexican-American family living in the San Fernando Valley. His son (Al Madrigal) hosts a talk show from a set in their backyard. The show blends elements of a family sitcom with those of a talk show, with guests visiting the set. Its British predecessor, "The Kumars," won an International Emmy for best comedy series this year. That show revolves around an Indian family living in London.

02-25-2004, 09:04 AM	#3
Ant-Lox Cloud Watcher Senior Member Join Date: Feb 18, 2004 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,824	lol does this show even air anymore?
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02-25-2004, 10:22 AM	#4
Pitooey Member Forum Star Join Date: Feb 15, 2001 Location: Rocking in Transylvania. Posts: 15,042	Sounds like a good show Brett! Thanks for the heads up...
	__________________ Pitooey... AKA JennyLee - I love the Monkees all over again! *SAY NO TO DRUGS* Jesus saves...

05-06-2003, 02:32 PM	#2
Sitcomwriter Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 27, 2001 Posts: 7,354	Yes! I wanted to see this one.