FX announced it has given a series pickup to "Better Things," a new comedy from Louis C.K and Pamela Aldon. FX Networks CEO John Landgraf also picked up a new animated series called "Cassius and Clay," but it will air on the sister site FXX, not FX. The network announced the pickups during its Friday presentation at the Television Critics Association press tour at the Beverly Hilton.
"Better Things," which has a 10-episode order, revolves around the life of a single mother and working actress who is struggling to raise three daughters. Adlon stars and co-created the series with C.K. for his Pig Newton production banner and FX Prods. C.K. directed the pilot, reported Variety.
"Pamela is one of the sharpest and most endearing actresses working in television today and we are thrilled she has joined forces with Louis to create a series that is raw, personal and incredibly funny," said Eric Schrier, president of original programming at FX Networks and FX Productions.
"Cassius and Clay" is billed as a female buddy comedy set in the post-apocalyptic South. Kaitlin Olson, of FX's long-running "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," and Lake Bell voiced the title characters.
During the FX presentation, Landgraf gave a frank assessment of the puzzling imbalance between the ways violence and sex are treated on American Television, according to Deadline. "We are a nation founded by Puritans," Landgraf said bluntly. "In Europe, they think we're crazy that we will show tons of violence but not a breast. We are more sensitive to sexual content than violence."
Landgraf also said he believes there is way too much television out there and audiences are overwhelmed, reported Variety. "There is simply too much television," Landgraf said flatly during his presentation. By FX's math, there were about 280 scripted series in the TV universe five years ago. In 2014, it was about 371.
