ABC is back in business with Happy Endings co-showrunner Jonathan Groff, star Casey Wilson and Pulling's June Diane Raphael.
The network has handed out a pilot production commitment to DINKS (aka Double Income, No Kids), a half-hour pitch from Groff, Wilson and Raphael, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
The comedy revolves around a 30-something couple who straddles the line between life with kids and single life without them. Raphael and Wilson will pen the script.
Wilson, Raphael and Groff will executive produce the comedy via the latter's overall deal with ABC Studios, where writing duo Wilson and Raphael are also based. It's unclear whether Wilson and/or Raphael will have a starring role in the comedy should it move forward. Their ABC Studios deal -- which they inked in August -- included a talent deal for Raphael to have an onscreen role in a future ABC comedy.
DINKS reunites Wilson with Groff, the co-showrunner on ABC's cult favorite Happy Endings. The deal comes four months after ABC canceled the Sony Pictures Television-produced Happy Endings following three seasons. (Efforts by the studio to set the series up at USA Network ultimately fizzled, and the cast options expired in June.)
DINKS marks the latest collaboration for Wilson and Raphael, who wrote the feature film Bride Wars and wrote and starred in Sundance's Ass Backwards (the latter of which will be released theatrically on Nov. 8.)
PHOTOS: On the Set of 'Happy Endings'
Wilson and Raphael, who met at New York University and went on to perform together at the Upright Citizens Brigade, previously teamed to develop comedies Walk of Shame and The Housewife at ABC with Sony Pictures Television for the 2011-12 development season.
Raphael (who guest starred in the season-one finale of Happy Endings) currently stars on Adult Swim's NTSF. Repped by UTA, Silver Lining Entertainment and attorney P.J. Shapiro, she most recently starred in ABC's comedy pilot Pulling and next will guest star on NBC's Parks and Recreation.
Wilson is with UTA, Odenkirk Provissiero Entertainment and Shapiro.
Groff (Scrubs, How I Met Your Mother) is managed by Tim Sarkes and attorney Jared Levine.
E-mail: Lesley.Goldberg@THR.com
Twitter: @Snoodit
