'Spaced' and 'Outnumbered' go to pilot for FOX

FOX has ordered a pair of single-comedy pilots based on popular British formats.

The network originally requested a script for "Spaced," from the Channel 4 hit, back in October, while a pilot has also been ordered for "Outnumbered," from a BBC format.

"Spaced" is produced by McG's Wonderland Sound and Vision and was written by Adam Barr ("Will & Grace").

Premiering in 1999 and airing for 14 episodes over two seasons, the original "Spaced" starred Jessica Hynes and Simon Pegg as two strangers who pretend to be a couple to rent a flat. Hynes and Pegg were both writers on the series, which was directed by Edgar Wright ("Hot Fuzz") and co-starred Nick Frost.

"Outnumbered" will be written and executive produced by Larry Levin ("Seinfeld"). The series focuses on a couple bringing up three children.

FOX is continuing to progress one of the trends of this truncated pilot season -- creative outsourcing. The FOX comedy pick-ups come one day after CBS ordered a pair of drama pilots based on international formats -- Israel's "Mythological X" and "Ny-Lon" from the U.K.