Ken Jeong is potentially returning to leading a scripted broadcast comedy for the first time in ten years with a series inspired by former California Senator Barbara Boxer.
The Masked Singer star is attached to star in How Can We Help, a single-camera workplace comedy that is in the works at Fox.
The network is developing the series, which comes from Friends exec producer Adam Chase and Andrew Lenchewski, who created USA Network’s Royal Pains.
It is inspired by Senator Boxer’s early career working in a Congressional district office. Boxer was a Democratic Congresswoman for California’s 6th Congressional District – just outside of Sacramento – between 1983 and 1993 before becoming a Senator.
How Can We Help is set in the 10th District of Boston and follows newly elected congressman and local stain-removal tycoon, Jimmy Choi, as he causes all kinds of messes for his intrepid staff—none of whom voted for him.
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It is produced by Fox Entertainment Studios. Chase and Lenchewski created the series and will exec produce alongside Jeong, Senator Boxer, her daughter Nicole Boxer, who has exec produced documentaries such as CNN’s The Hunting Ground, and George Heller of Brillstein Entertainment Partners.
Lenchewski previously worked with the Boxer family on Run, a female-driven drama inspired by the Senator that was in the works at FX with Nina Tassler and Denise DeNovi’s company PatMa Productions. Chase has co exec-produced series including B Positive and Mom in addition to his work on the hit NBC comedy.
If the series makes it to air it would mark Jeong’s first leading role on a scripted broadcast comedy series since Dr. Ken, which ran for two seasons on ABC after its 2015 debut. The Hangover and Community star Jeong has featured in series such as Apple’s The Afterparty and has stayed in the Fox family with appearances on series such as Accused and his voice work on Bob’s Burgers.
Jeong is repped by IAG and attorney Chad Christopher. Lenchewski is repped by WME and Andy Galker and Alan Wertheimer at Jackoway. Chase is repped by WME and Karl Austen and Kelvin Lee at Jackoway. The Boxers are repped by Linda Lichter.