Fox Picks Up Rob Lowe's New Sitcom

In the words of Chris Traeger, it has literally not been that long since we last saw Rob Lowe on television. After returning to bid farewell to Parks and Recreation in the series finale, Lowe is heading right back to TV with his very own sitcom for Fox. The network has officially given a full series order to The Grinder, the new series from the writers of Yes Man and Jack Black’s new indie comedy The D Train.

Variety reports that Fox has picked up The Grinder, along with medical drama Rosewood for the upcoming season — both are the first two new series to be ordered for the network’s fall schedule. Jarrad Paul and Andrew Mogel will produce and write the new comedy series.

Lowe stars in The Grinder as Dean Sanderson, a TV lawyer who decides to return home to his small town to take over the family business when his latest series comes to an end. Fred Savage will play Lowe’s brother, with Mary Elizabeth Ellis, William Devane, and Hana Hayes co-starring. Lowe will co-executive produce alongside Nicholas Stoller and New Girl’s Jake Kasdan.

The actor has more than proven himself as a substantial comedic talent, and has found a healthy career on television in recent years, with roles on Brothers and Sisters, Steven Soderbergh’s HBO movie Behind the Candelabra, and Californication. But what jumps out most from the cast list is the name William Devane, the former Knots Landing and 24 star who played the memorable leading role in the gritty 1977 action drama Rolling Thunder — which also featured Tommy Lee Jones in one of his early film roles.

Lowe, Savage and Devane should make for quite the comedic trio, if for no other reason than their obviously odd coupling.