ABC is investing in the talents of Chelsea Lately.
The network has given script orders to Discounted, a half-hour comedy written, produced and starring comedian Fortune Feimster, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
The multicamera workplace comedy from Universal Television revolves around half-sisters Julie and Missy who are desperately trying to keep their Charlotte, N.C., furniture store afloat. Slightly standing in their way: competition from a giant Danish furniture Wüd, their own employees and the challenges of their Odd Couple-esque relationship. Feimster will play one of the sisters.
Stand-up comic Feimster, Jim Freeman and Brian Jarvis (Buddy 'n' Andy) are on board to pen the script and co-executive produce with Chelsea Handler, Tom Brunelle and Brad Wollack exec producing through their Borderline Amazing single. Raising Hope's Mike Pennie is on board as executive producer and will serve as showrunner should the project move to series.
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Jarvis, Freeman and Feimster -- a writer and regular on Chelsea Lately's roundtable -- came up with the idea and then pitched it to Handler, with Universal pairing the lot with Pennie.
"I love working for Chelsea and she's someone I'd like to be working with for a long time," North Carolina native Feimster tells THR. "Teaming up with her production company for this project seemed like a perfect fit. They already know my comedic sensibilities and luckily my sense of humor goes really well with theirs. Plus, nobody knows how to dress me up in a more ridiculous costume than Chelsea does!"
For Borderline Amazing, Discounted marks the shingle's second scripted comedy following NBC's short-lived Are You There, Chelsea?
Borderline Amazing is repped by CAA; Pennie is with by CAA and Jared Levine; Feimster is with Gersh, Nicole Garcia and Lev Ginsburg; Freeman is with Mason Novick and attorney Cindy Farrelly Gesner; Jarvis is repped by Nicole Garcia and attorney Cindy Farrelly Gesner.
Check out Feimster as Honey Boo Boo, and her mother, June, on Chelsea Lately, below.
Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit
