Lake Bell, Liz Meriwether Comedy ‘Bless This Mess’ Moves From Fox to ABC With Series Order

“Bless This Mess,” the single-camera comedy co-created by Lake Bell and Elizabeth Meriwether, has been ordered to series at ABC, Variety has learned.

The series had previously been in contention at Fox and is a co-production between 20th Century Fox Television and ABC Studios. Bell also stars in the series alongside Dax Shepard. In the series, a newlywed couple’s (Bell, Shepard) plan to ditch big city living for a simpler life in Nebraska doesn’t go as expected. It will air in 2019 and has received a six-episode order.

“Bell and Shepard headline a stellar cast in this hilarious take on a classic fish-out- of- water story that we found irresistible,” said Karey Burke, the newly-minted president of ABC Entertainment.

Meriwether and Bell are both executive producers on the series as well along with Jake Kasdan, Melvin Mar, Shepard, and Katherine Pope. Bell also directed the pilot.

Meriwether currently has the single-camera comedy “Single Parents” at ABC, which is also produced by 20th TV and ABC Studios, with the show having been picked up for a full season. Both Meriwether and Bell are also currently under overall deals at 20th TV, which will become part of Disney following the Fox-Disney merger.