Good News: Fox has picked up IT’S MESSY, Mindy Kaling’s Bridget Jones-esque single-camera comedy that sees the former OFFICE star attempt to navigate both her messy (hence, the title) personal and professional life. Bad News: For THE OFFICE, which effectively just lost the only bright spot in an otherwise bleak season.
Good News: UGLY BETTY’s Becki Newton, FELICITY’s Scott Foley and BETTER WITH YOU’s Jake Lacy will very soon be returning to living rooms on a regular basis thanks to Fox’s pick-up of THE GOODWIN GAMES, a new series described as a high-concept comedy revolving around three siblings (Newton, Foley and Lacy) who must reconnect in order to inherit their father’s fortune. Bad News: The single-camera comedy is the brainchild of scribes Carter Bays, Craig Thomas and Chris Harris, which means HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER fans should probably brace themselves for a potential drop in quality as the talented trifecta attempt to split their time between two shows.
Good News: Nat Faxon, also known as this year’s Oscar Winner for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay (Alongside Alexander Payne and Jim Rash for the The Descendants) is back where he belongs… in front of the camera, where he’ll star as a free-spirited brother who moves in with his polar opposite single-mother sister (Lucy Punch) in order to help raise her daughter. Bad News: Rather than stick with the self-explanatory original title that was BEN FOX IS MY MANNY, Fox has already gone ahead and made the mistake of changing it to the far more forgettable and bland BEN & KATE.
Good News: FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS’ alum Zach Gilford’s hot streak continues thanks to Fox’s first drama pick-up. Bad News: Jordana Spiro’s struggle to juggle her career and her lifelong debt to the South Chicago mob in THE MOB DOCTOR doesn’t exactly have HOUSE replacement written all over it.
Good News: As expected, Fox has given the green light to Kevin Williamson’s killer new drama entitled THE FOLLOWING that sees Kevin Bacon play an FBI profiler coaxed out of retirement in an effort to hunt down a deranged serial killer (James Purefoy). Bad News: Since Bacon only committed to 15 episodes a season, expect this thrilling new series to be held back until the not-so-thrilling far far away that is January 2013.
Good News: Fox has rewarded Kiefer Sutherland’s low-rated albeit relatively well received TOUCH with a second season. Bad News: For ALCATRAZ and THE FINDER, both of which weren’t so lucky. #RIP 
