EXCLUSIVE: NBC has increased the order of new drama series The Irrational by one episode. Originally picked up for 10 episodes, the series starring Jesse L. Martin will now produce 11 episodes in its first season. Meanwhile, Season 2 of NBC’s comedy series Lopez v. Lopez will consist of 10 episodes, down from the previously ordered 13.
The adjustments come as NBC is fine-tuning its scheduling plans for midseason. The network will likely reveal its midseason premiere dates last week after CBS and ABC announced theirs over the last few days.
The Irrational had filmed 7 episodes when the strike suspended production. The drama is scheduled to resume production next week in Vancouver. It was initially supposed to shoot the three remaining episodes, now that number has gone up to four.
The order increase follows a solid debut for both of NBC’s new drama series this fall, The Irrational and Found. The latter had wrapped production before the strike, so no additional-episode order is expected but both series are in serious contention for a Season 2 renewal.
Lopez vs. Lopez was renewed in May, after the start of the WGA strike. The multi-camera comedy starring George Lopez is yet to start filming on the new season. The reduced order reflects NBC’s scheduling needs for the rest of the broadcast season.
The network’s other multi-camera comedy, Night Court, will produce 13 episodes. It had shot several before the strike and resumed production this week.
The Irrational, from Arika Lisanne Mittman, is based on Dan Ariely’s bestselling novel Predictably Irrational. The show follows Alec Baker (Martin), a world-renowned professor of behavioral science who lends his expertise to an array of high-stakes cases involving governments, law enforcement and corporations with his unique and unexpected approach to understanding human behavior.
Maahra Hill, Travina Springer, Molly Kunz and Arash DeMaxi also star. Mittman executive produces with Mark Goffman and Samuel Baum, while Ariely serves as a consultant. David Frankel directs and also serves as executive producer. Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, is the studio.
Lopez Vs. Lopez, which comes from creator/showrunner Debby Wolfe, is a working-class family comedy about dysfunction, reconnection and all the pain and joy in between. Starring George Lopez and his daughter Mayan Lopez, the comedy tells the story of a working-class old-school Latino who moves in with his modern Gen Z daughter as they rebuild their dysfunctional relationship one argument at a time. It’s old vs. new, father vs. daughter, Lopez vs Lopez.
It also stars Selenis Leyva, Brice Gonzalez, Matt Shively and Al Madrigal. Wolfe executive produces with Bruce Helford, George Lopez, Michael Rotenberg, and Katie Newman. The series is produced by Universal Television in association with Mohawk Productions, Travieso Productions, Mi Vida Loba and 3 Arts.