Free Agents (American TV series)

Free Agents is an American re-make of a British workplace sitcom television series that premiered on NBC September 14, 2011, in the 10:30 pm Eastern/9:30 pm Central time slot, before assuming its regular time slot on September 21, 2011, where it aired at 8:30 pm Eastern/7:30 pm Central on Wednesday nights.[1] It is based on the British comedy series of the same name that was created by Chris Niel, who also serves as co-creator and producer on this version with John Enbom, Karey Burke, Todd Holland, and Kenton Allen for Big Talk Productions, Dark Toy Productions and Universal Television.[2] This show was the last series to be produced by Universal Media Studios during the revival of Universal Television.

Free Agents
GenreSitcom
Based onFree Agents by Chris Niel
Developed byJohn Enbom
Starring
Theme music composerEli "Paperboy" Reed
Composer(s)Kurt Farquhar
Country of originUnited States
Original language(s)English
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes8 (4 unaired on NBC) (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)
Camera setupVideotape; Single-camera
Running time30 minutes
Production company(s)
DistributorNBCUniversal Television Distribution
Release
Original network
  • NBC (Episodes 1-4)
  • Hulu (Episodes 5-8)
Picture format
Original releaseSeptember 14, 2011 –
January 16, 2012 (2012-01-16)
Chronology
Related showsFree Agents (UK Original)
External links
Official website

NBC canceled Free Agents on October 6, 2011 after four episodes were broadcast.[3] The remaining four episodes produced were later released via Hulu on January 16, 2012.

Synopsis

The series followed the lives of two public relations executives at an advertising firm in Portland, Oregon: Alex Taylor (Hank Azaria), who is recently divorced, and Helen Ryan (Kathryn Hahn), a woman trying to move on after the death of her fiancé. They discover that they seem to have an attraction for each other, and have a drunken one-night stand, but try to stay professional at work, where their friends will do anything to get them to re-enter the dating scene.

Cast and characters

Development and production

NBC took interest in this project after Executive Producer Todd Holland began developing the American adaptation with the UK's original writer Chris Niel and producers Nira Park, Kenton Allen and Matthew Justice in September 2010.[4] They also made changes to the workplace setting from talent agents in the British version to PR executives for American viewers, after NBC greenlit the pilot in February 2011.[5]

Actor Anthony Head was the only cast member who had ties to both shows, in which he played Stephen, the boss in the UK and US adaptations.[6]

Episodes
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code		U.S. viewers
(millions)
1"Pilot"Todd HollandJohn EnbomSeptember 14, 2011 (2011-09-14)1016.12[7]
2"What I Did for Work"Peter LauerIra UngerleiderSeptember 21, 2011 (2011-09-21)1033.86[8]
3"Dr. Hu"Todd HollandDiane RuggieroSeptember 28, 2011 (2011-09-28)1023.07[9]
4"Rebranding"Millicent SheltonJohn EnbomOctober 5, 2011 (2011-10-05)1043.25
5"Nice Guys Finish...At Some Point"Michael EnglerEmily CutlerJanuary 16, 2012 (2012-01-16) (on Hulu) (unaired on NBC)105TBA
6"Are You There, Helen? It's Me, God"Bryan GordonAlexa JungeJanuary 16, 2012 (2012-01-16) (on Hulu) (unaired on NBC)106TBA
7"The Kids Are Probably All Right"Todd HollandJill CargermanJanuary 16, 2012 (2012-01-16) (on Hulu) (unaired on NBC)107TBA
8"Sexin' the Raisin"Kevin DowlingJon Silberman & Josh SilbermanJanuary 16, 2012 (2012-01-16) (on Hulu) (unaired on NBC)108TBA

Ratings
No.TitleAir date18-49 ratingViewers
(millions)
1"Pilot"September 14, 2011 (2011-09-14)2.16.12
2"What I Did For Work"September 21, 2011 (2011-09-21)1.33.86
3"Dr. Hu"September 28, 2011 (2011-09-28)1.03.07
4"Rebranding"October 5, 2011 (2011-10-05)1.03.25

International broadcasts

The series was simulcast in Canada by CTV2.[10]

Broadcast by TV Séries in Portugal 4 weeks after the US air date.

References
  1. Seidman, Robert (July 6, 2011). "NBC Announces Fall Premiere Dates - 'Chuck,' 'Grimm' Premiere October 21; Early Premiere for 'Parenthood'". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
  2. Updated: NBC Picks Up "Smash", "Prime Suspects" and Two More Sitcoms to Series, TV By the Numbers, May 11, 2011
  3. NBC Cancels 'Free Agents', Hollywood Reporter, October 6, 2011
  4. Development Update from The Futon Critic (September 2, 2011)
  5. NBC Picks Up 4 More Pilots: Drama From 'Lone Star' Creator, 3 Comedies from Deadline.com (February 3, 2011)
  6. Ben Rappaport To Star In CBS Half-Hour Pilot, Anthony Head Cast In NBC Comedy, Deadline Hollywood, March 23, 2011
  7. Gorman, Bill (September 15, 2011). "Wednesday Final Ratings: 'America's Got Talent' Finale Adjusted Up; Plus 'Up All Night,' 'Free Agents' 15 Min. Ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved September 15, 2011.
  8. TV Ratings Wednesday: 'X Factor' No Idol; 'Modern Family' Premieres Big; 'Revenge' Gets Nice Start; 'CSI' > 'SVU', TV By the Numbers, September 22, 2011
  9. TV Ratings Wednesday: 'Suburgatory' Gets A Good Start; 'X Factor' Leads Fox Win, As Post-Premiere Declines Vary, TV By the Numbers, September 29, 2011
  10. From Channel Canada Archived 2011-10-12 at the Wayback Machine
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