TCA: TBS Greenlights 'People of Earth' Series

TBS has given a series order to People Of Earth (formerly The Group), its comedy pilot about a support group for alien abductees executive produced by Conan O'Brien and Greg Daniels. The two got their start together as TV writers out of Harvard in the 1980s. Jenkins is a co-exec producer.

"Having Greg Daniels executive-produce and direct a project for us at such an early stage in the network's evolution is huge".

The comedy's ensemble cast includes three-time Emmy victor Wyatt Cenac ("The Daily Show", "Wyatt Cenac: Brooklyn"), Ana Gasteyer ("Saturday Night Live", "Suburgatory"), Oscar Nuñez ("The Office", "Benched"), Michael Cassidy (Argo, "Men at Work"), Alice Wetterlund (The Interview, "Silicon Valley"), Luka Jones (Her, The Campaign), Brian Huskey (Neighbors, This Is the End), Nancy Lenehan ("The New Adventures of Old Christine", "Catch Me if You Can"), Tracee Chimo ("Orange is the New Black", The Five-Year Engagement), Da'Vine Joy Randolph (Selfie, The Angriest Man in Brooklyn), Björn Gustafsson (Spy, Kung Fury) and Ken Hall (Patch Town, Straight Man). "His keen ability to assemble a brilliant ensemble cast has obviously worked well in the past", he said, referring to Daniels' hit The Office.

The single-camera "People of Earth" is part of a wave of new series heading to TBS as the new management regime led by Turner Entertainment chief creative officer Kevin Reilly. TBS has ordered 10 episodes of People of Earth.

No premiere date has been set, but the series marks the latest step in rebuilding the basic-cable network, which has used reruns of The Big Bang Theory to boost ratings but is now embarking on an ambitious plan to add seven original comedies over the next six months, including Angie Tribeca (Jan. 17), produced by Steve and Nancy Carell; Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (Feb. 8) and The Detour (April 11).

TBS confirmed that O'Brien will be heading back to San Diego in July for a week of shows from the Comic-Con confab.