ABC Makes Marriage In Divorce

ABC emerged from a three-network bidding battle to secure an untitled hour-long dramedy about a lovelorn lawyer that will be scripted by “Chuck” exec producer Ali Adler.

ABC, through Warner Bros. Television Studio, made a “put pilot” commitment for a potential series that will be exec produced by Adler, Josh Schwartz, Stephanie Savage, Sheldon Turner and Jennifer Klein.

The project was inspired by a high-powered Los Angeles-based female attorney who specializes in divorce and family law. Deal called for her identity to be kept secret.

Adler, whose previous TV credits include “Family Guy” and “Commander in Chief,” will script a show whose female protagonist has observed enough misery in her divorce and family law practice to vow never to take the plunge.   

The project originated with Klein, a feature producer and acquaintance of the real attorney. She brought the idea to Turner, who wrote “Orbit,” a film she’s producing at Fox 2000. Turner, who most recently co-wrote “Up in the Air,” the Jason Reitman-directed comedy that stars George Clooney, got a law degree before he began writing scripts.

Klein and Turner enlisted Schwartz and Savage, the “Gossip Girl” co-creators, who turned to Adler. Deals becomes the second recent series project to grow out of Schwartz’s series creation “Chuck,” as Schwartz recently sold a half-hour comedy to CBS that he co-wrote with “Chuck” exec producer Matt Miller.

Adler, Schwartz and Savage are repped by WME, Turner and Klein by CAA. Fuse manages Schwartz.