CBS has picked up Rob Schneider’s family comedy as a mid-season series replacement, Deadline is reporting. The untitled series, which didn’t make the cut for the Fall 2011 prime-time schedule, will include eight episodes. The network liked the comedy enough to order a revamped second pilot that featured major casting changes and several backup scripts.
The multi-camera series, which is Schneider co-wrote with Lew Morton, is based on the actor’s real-life experiences. Schneider will star as Rob, who just married into a close Mexican-American family. Claudia Bassols will play his wife, Maggie, while Diana Maria Riva will portray his mother-in-law, Rosa. Both roles were recast from the original pilot.
While Cheech Marin will now play Rob’s father-in-law, there were several actors who remained from the original pilot. The original cast includes Schneider, Eugenio Derbez as Maggie’s uncle and Lupe Ontiveros as her grandmother.
Schneider will also executive produce the series with Eric and Kim Tannenbaum. The actor’s brother, John, will serve as a non-writing producer.
The comedy will be Schneider’s first television series in 14 years. The last sitcom he appeared on was NBC’s ‘Men Behaving Badly,’ which only lasted for the 1996-97 season. Since the comedy was canceled, the actor has focused on movies, and has frequently collaborated with friend and former ‘Saturday Night Live’ co-star Adam Sandler.
Written by: Karen Benardello
