FX Orders Fleishman is in Trouble

Limited Series From Taffy Brodesser-Akner Is Based on Her Debut Novel of the Same Name

Executive Produced by Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverly, Susannah Grant and Brodesser-Akner

Fleishman Is in Trouble Produced by ABC Signature and Will Be Available Exclusively on FX on Hulu

LOS ANGELES, March 11, 2021 - FX has ordered the limited series Fleishman is in Trouble, based on The New York Times bestselling debut novel of the same name by Taffy Brodesser-Akner, it was announced today by Gina Balian, President, Original Programming, FX.

Brodesser-Akner will serve as the writer of the nine-episode limited series, and executive produce it along with Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverly and Susannah Grant. Fleishman is in Trouble will be produced by ABC Signature and be available exclusively on FX on Hulu.

"Fleishman is in Trouble offers an unsparing, modern take on life, love and commitment in Taffy Brodesser-Akner's terrific debut novel and we are thrilled that she is adapting it as a limited series for FX," said Balian. "Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverly and Susannah Grant join Taffy on the creative team that will work with ABC Signature to capture the energy and edge of this story."

Brodesser-Akner said, "I'm thrilled to be extending Fleishman's life onto the screen with such smart, thoughtful and courageous partners. When I was writing this book, my aim was to resolve for myself the mystifying dynamics and politics of marriage and middle age. Writing the book didn't help much, so I'm hoping that making this show does the trick."

"Lisa, Tracy and I fell in love with Taffy's searing novel and were ecstatic she chose us and our partners at FX as her home," commented Jonnie Davis, President, ABC Signature. "Along with Sarah, Carl and Susannah, we can't wait for Taffy's vision for the series to deliver equal water cooler addiction that her book garnered upon debut."

Created by Brodesser-Akner, the story is centered on recently separated forty-something Toby Fleishman, who dives into the brave new world of app-based dating with the kind of success he never had dating in his youth, before he got married at the tail-end of medical school. But just at the start of his first summer of sexual freedom, his ex-wife, Rachel, disappears, leaving him with the kids and no hint of where she is or whether she plans to return. As he balances parenting, the return of old friends, a promotion at the hospital that is a long time coming, and all the eligible women that Manhattan has to offer, he realizes that he'll never be able to figure out what happened to Rachel until he can take a more honest look at what happened to their marriage in the first place.

This is the first TV show written by Brodesser-Akner, an author and journalist who is a staff writer at The New York Times Magazine, and has also written for GQ and ESPN The Magazine. She was a finalist for the National Magazine Award in 2020 and has won awards from both the New York and Los Angeles along with a prestigious Mirror Award given by the S.I. Newhouse School of Journalism at Syracuse University.

Brodesser-Akner is represented by ICM and McKuin Frankel Whitehead.

Timberman and Beverly are represented by Adam Berkowitz of Lenore Entertainment Group.

Grant is represented by UTA and Adam Berkowitz of Lenore Entertainment Group.

About FX

FX is comprised of the networks FX, FXX and FXM, the video on-demand app FXNOW, and the streaming hub FX on HULU that features exclusive FX series, next day access to current FX and FXX series, and FX Networks' library of legacy series. FX on Hulu exclusive series include Devs, Mrs. America, A Teacher and the upcoming The Old Man, Y: The Last Man and American Horror Stories. FX, the flagship general entertainment basic cable channel, launched in June of 1994 and is carried in 86 million homes. The diverse schedule features a growing roster of critically-acclaimed and award-winning hit drama series including Pose, Snowfall, Mayans M.C., and Taboo; the critically-acclaimed limited series American Horror Story, Fargo, American Crime Story, FEUD, Black Narcissus and the upcoming Shōgun, Great Expectations and Pistol; acclaimed hit comedy series including Atlanta, Better Things, What We Do in the Shadows, Breeders and the upcoming Reservation Dogs; the half-hour series Mr Inbetween and the Untitled B.J. Novak Project; a slate of docuseries and documentary features, including The New York Times Presents, The Most Dangerous Animal of All, AKA Jane Roe, A Wilderness of Error, Hip Hop Uncovered and Hysterical; and the FX Original Movie A Christmas Carol. FX is the former home of the critically-acclaimed and award-winning hit drama series The Shield, Nip/Tuck, Rescue Me, Damages, Sons of Anarchy, Justified and The Americans. The network's library of acquired box-office hit movies is unmatched by any ad-supported television network. FXX, the newest network, launched in September 2013 and is carried in 82 million homes. Geared towards a young adult audience, the schedule features original series, movies, and acquired series. The channel is anchored by the acclaimed hit comedies It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, the Emmy(R) Award-winning comedy series Archer, DAVE and Cake, a weekly showcase of short-form comedy programming. FXX is also the cable home to The Simpsons, the longest-running comedy in TV history. FXM was launched in October of 1994 and is now carried in 57 million homes. Its schedule features classic films during the day (FXM Retro), contemporary box office hits and acclaimed, award-winning films, and short-form award-winning original programming in the evening.

About Hulu

Hulu is the leading premium streaming service offering live and on-demand TV and movies, with and without commercials, both in and outside the home. Launched in 2008, Hulu is the only service that gives viewers instant access to current shows from every major U.S. broadcast network; libraries of hit TV series and films; and acclaimed Hulu Originals like Emmy(R) and Golden Globe(R) Award-winning series "The Handmaid's Tale" and "The Act"; Golden Globe Award-winning, Emmy Award-nominated and Peabody-winning series "Ramy"; and Emmy Award-nominated series including "Wu-Tang: An American Saga" and "Pen15"; alongside hit series "Little Fires Everywhere" from Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington; "Normal People," "The Great," "Hillary," "Shrill," "Solar Opposites"; and Oscar(R) and Emmy-nominated documentary film "Minding the Gap"; and critically acclaimed Hulu Original films "Palm Springs," "Run" and "Happiest Season." The service also streams live news, entertainment and sports from 21st Century Fox, The Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal, CBS Corporation, The CW, Turner Networks, A+E Networks and Discovery Networks - available all in one place. Upcoming Original releases include "The Dropout" based on the ABC News investigative podcast, and the book-to-screen adaptation of "Nine Perfect Strangers" starring Nicole Kidman and Melissa McCarthy.

About ABC Signature

One of the Disney Television Studios, ABC Signature is a global leader in the development, production and distribution of entertainment content across broadcast, cable and streaming platforms. The studio produces many of ABC Entertainment's most significant hits, including "Grey's Anatomy," "black-ish," "mixed-ish," "American Housewife," and "Station 19"; and co-productions "The Good Doctor," "A Million Little Things," "For Life," "The Rookie," and late-night talk show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" ABC Signature's returning and upcoming series include "Godfather of Harlem" for EPIX; Hulu's "Dollface," and co-production "Woke; "grown-ish" for Freeform; and "The Wilds" for Amazon. The Studio produced "Little Fires Everywhere" for Hulu, which generated more hours of viewing during its original run than any other Hulu drama series past or present. For streaming service Disney +, upcoming series include "The Mighty Ducks" and "Big Shot."