BREAKING IN finds life again on Fox with 13 episode order

Breaking In seems to have found new life thanks to Fox. Deadline reports that the network is finalizing a deal for the single-camera comedy starring Christian Slater and Bret Harrison. The show will get a 13-epiosde midseason order as part of a deal with series producer Sony Pictures TV. The deal also includes a script commitment with penalty to a comedy pitch the shows co-creator Adam F. Goldberg. The currently untitled show is a 1980s family comedy, also co-produced by Sony TV and Happy Madison. The show was pitched last week and has been pursued by all Big 4 networks.

This marks a second improbable return from the dead for Breaking In. The entire cast is expected to come back, including Odette Annable, who recently joined House as a new regular with a deal that includes provisions allowing her to also appear on Breaking In. Created by Goldberg and Horrible Bosses director Seth Gordon, Breaking In was ordered to pilot during the 2009-10 season.

Here is a description of what happened from Deadline:

Despite raking as Fox’s highest testing pilot back then, the network passed on the workplace comedy set at a digital security firm. Sony kept the project alive by extending the options on the cast. Fox then ordered 2 additional scripts, and in November, the network gave Breaking In a seven-episode midseason order and a post-American Idol time slot. But in May the network canceled the show before it had finished its freshman run. Sony once again fought on. And, in a promising sign that the network had faith in the show and was open to reconsidering its decision, it joined Sony TV is shouldering the cost for extending the cast’s options and then put Breaking In on the list of contenders for its 2-hour midseason comedy block. “We all liked Breaking In but…we had to make a judgment call,” Fox’s entertainment president Kevin Reilly said at TCA last month. “It still has a shot. You know what?  Stranger things have happened.” By surviving cancellation twice, Breaking In would join Family Guy as the only shows ever to do it.

Goldberg's new project is "described as an autobiographical show about growing up in the 1980s with a highly screwed up but loving family." With the Breaking In renewal, the new show may not start for a bit. Goldberg is giving his full concentration to Breaking In. Goldberg is also busy writing feature film scripts for How to Train Your Dragon‘s followup How to Hatch Your Dragon and Simon Bloom: The Gravity Keeper.

I am happy to see that Breaking In has found new life. Be sure to check out my interview with Breaking In star Alphonso McCauley and Goldberg HERE.