FX orders scripted comedy 'The League'

By Nellie Andreeva

FX is joining "The League," ordering a semiscripted comedy pilot from "Curb Your Enthusiasm" executive producer/director Jeff Schaffer.

The project, which Schaffer co-created with his wife, Jackie Marcus Schaffer, centers on a fantasy football league and tackles issues of marriage, friendship, parenting and love in suburbia.

In the words of lead character Pete (Mark Duplass): "God bless fantasy football. There are many things a man can do with his time; this is better than those things."

Schaffer and Marcus Schaffer, for whom fantasy football is a big part of their lives and marriage, are executive producing the pilot, which is shooting. Schaffer is directing.

"League" features improvisational elements in the "Curb" mold.

In addition to Duplass ("Humpday"), the show's cast includes Steve Rannazzisi ("Paul Blart: Mall Cop"), Nick Kroll ("I Love You, Man"), Paul Scheer ("Human Giant"), Katie Aselton ("The Puffy Chair"), Jon Lajoie and Alina Foley, daughter of actor Dave Foley. Leslie Bibb is on board as a guest star.

Schaffer, who also was an executive producer on "Seinfeld," co-wrote current domestic boxoffice champ "Bruno."

FX has been aggressively developing modestly budgeted comedy projects, in part to find a companion piece to "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia."

"League" is one of two half-hour pilots recently commissioned by the cable network, joining the animated comedy "Archer," which was picked up to series this week with a six-episode order and is slated to premiere in the fall.

FX also might launch another new comedy series in the fall.