ABC Gives Series Order To 'The Goldbergs' Spinoff
The Goldbergs is getting a spin-off comedy series in ABC that will be set in 1990s and is slated to be released during the 2018-2019 broadcast season.
The still unnamed spin-off will revolve around the teachers of William Penn Academy and how they become heroes of their students. Starring are AJ Michalka, Tim Meadows, and Bryan Callen.
Bumpy Ride
With the materialization of the series, it wasn't at all smooth sailing for the team behind the upcoming show. It was in November 2016 when news about The Goldbergs spin-off having a script commitment with the network broke out. It was supposed to debut in February 2017.
The spin-off, formerly Schooled, wasn't picked up for a series in May last year with ABC as well, so Sony Pictures Television Studios was persistent in having it aired on another platform. The studio is known for being determined in pushing its show it believes is worth fighting for. It was reported that Hulu is going to be the show's new home, though talks have become unfruitful, as explained by ABC's move to pick it up again.
The Goldbergs spin-off is created by Marc Firek and Adam F. Goldberg. Both, as well as Doug Robinson, will executive produce the series.
Pilot
Firek had become a huge deal-sealer on this spin-off, as he was reported to have given "a new take" that eventually was given a go-signal by the network. Robinson was also one of those who fought for the show. Goldberg, meanwhile, asked ABC that the pilot episode be aired as a special for The Goldbergs, probably to test the waters.
So in Jan. 24, it did air and had gotten audience's attention. Goldberg already was hopeful that the script will be picked up by ABC, citing CBS' renewal of Young Sheldon, a Big Bang Theory spin-off, as an example that spin-offs are getting much traction as their mother shows as well.
The deal was actually looming since January with Channing Dungey, president of ABC Entertainment, hinting the show was worth a second chance.
"I'm excited because there were so many things about the pilot that I really loved and I'm excited to share that with audiences. After that, we'll see what happens," the exec said.
The pilot, titled "The Goldbergs: 1990-Something," garnered 6 million audience, making it the most watched show during the night in the key demographic. It was probably what prompted conversations to start again.
