Barry Sonnenfeld Brings Funny in Farsi to TV

ABC has ordered a pilot based on author Firoozeh Dumas’ 2003 award-winning memoir Funny in Farsi.

The series will be a single-camera comedy based on the story of Dumas’ experience growing up as an Iranian transplant with her family in 1970s Newport Beach, Calif.

Hollywood heavyweight Barry Sonnenfeld is on board to direct and executive produce the pilot. Sonnenfeld directed the Men in Black franchise, and his TV credits include his Emmy-winning direction of the first two episodes of ABC’s now-canceled Pushing Daisies.

Sonnenfeld has signed on for a two-year first-look deal with ABC. In addition to Farsi, he will produce and direct another pilot that will most likely be a drama.

Watch this clip of the Sonnenfeld-helmed 2007 pilot (titled “Pie-Lette”) of Pushing Daisies:

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