Shawn Levy & Marty Adelstein
Fox is hitting the road for its latest comedy.
The network has scooped up Magic Malabi Express, an irreverent road trip half-hour that takes place in Brazil and tells the story of three Israeli friends who, in order to make a living, open a stall and sell Malabi (an Israeli dessert). When preparing it, they accidentally use an ingredient that gets all the locals high and brings customers from many countries.
The project, which is set up at Shawn Levy and Marty Adelstein's 21 Laps/Adelstein, in association with 20th TV, will be written and executive produced by Jeremy Garelick. The Malabi format is based on Miki Geva’s successful book of the same name, with the Israeli iteration produced by Udi Segal and Sumayoko for Channel 10.
Malabi is being distributed worldwide by Dori Media, which is at Mipcom this week peddling a diverse slate of programming to foreign buyers.
The news comes on the heels of another Dori-distributed comedy, based on the Israeli sitcom Little Mom, selling to CBS with Greg Berlanti attached to produce. The latter centers on three moms who live in a Brooklyn high-rise who help each other stay sane (or try to) as they juggle their friendships, marriages and kids.
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Other formats from WME-repped Dori include comedy Lolola, which has sold to more than 150 countries; Date Blind, now in more than 30 territories; and teen drama Split, in 90-plus countries. The company is currently developing crime drama, New York, for the U.S. market as well. The format, which has proved a big hit on Israel's YES channel, follows the son of the head of a notorious crime family who leaves Israel to start a new life in New York. He rejects the subservience of badly exploited foreign workers and is determined to change it. However, he quickly grows frustrated with life as a foreign worker and instead falls into business with the mafia.
“We are delighted that the New York, Little Mom and Magic Malabi Express formats will be distributed to the U.S. market. These shows have had great success in the domestic markets, which we are sure will be replicated in the U.S.," Dori Media Group CEO Nadav Palti said in a statement, adding: "These formats can be easily adapted to other cultures, so we hope this international success can be extended in the future."
For its part, 20th TV-based 21 Laps/Adelstein, which the prolific producers founded three-plus years ago, is also behind Last Man Standing, now in its third season on ABC. Levy (Night at the Museum, Date Night) and Adelstein (Teen Wolf, Prison Break), both repped by WME, will serve as executive producers on the Fox comedy.
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