CBS has picked up the Johnny Galecki (“The Big Bang Theory”) produced pilot “By the Book” to series, an insider told TheWrap Friday.
The multi-camera comedy was previously being developed under the title “Living Biblically.” It’s based on the bestselling book by Esquire editor A.J. Jacobs, The Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble Quest to follow the Bible as Literally as Possible.”
“By the Book” will star Jay R. Ferguson, Lindsey Kraft, Ian Gomez, David Krumholtz, Tony Rock and Camryn Manheim.
The network describes the comedy as the story of “a modern day man at a crossroads in his life [who] decides to live according to the Bible.”
In the book, this means taking a lot of old-fashioned rules literally. Jacobs also visits various religious groups in order to discuss their relationship with the Bible.
Galecki is an executive producer along with Andrew Haas and Spencer Medof. Patrick Walsh (“2 Broke Girls”) is also credited as an executive producer and writer.Andy Ackerman, who most recently directed episodes of “The Great Indoors,” is directing.
Alcide Bava Productions is producing the project in association with Warner Bros. Television.
CBS also announced Friday that it picked up six shows, including the David Boreanaz-starring “SEAL Team,” “S.W.A.T.,” the Bobby Moynihan-starring comedy “Me, Myself & I,” “9JKL,” “Wisdom of the Crowd” and “Instinct.”
The network already gave early renewals to 16 of its series, including five freshman shows, “Bull,” “Kevin Can Wait,” “MacGyver,” “Man With a Plan” and “Superior Donuts.”
Long-running favorites such as all three iterations of “NCIS,” “Criminal Minds,” “The Big Bang Theory,” “Blue Bloods” and “Hawaii Five-0” are also returning. Dramas “Scorpion” and “Madam Secretary,” along with comedies like “Kevin Can Wait,” “Mom” “Life in Pieces” and “Man With a Plan” were also renewed.
So far, CBS hasn’t made many decisions on what’s getting cancelled, besides pulling “Doubt” after just two episodes and opting out of the medical drama “Pure Genius.”