Free Agents (U.K)



Free Agents is a romantic black comedy starring Stephen Mangan, Sharon Horgan and Anthony Head. Originally a pilot for Channel 4 in November 2007, the series began on 13 February 2009.

Plot
Alex (Mangan) works for CMA, a successful talent agency. Whilst he is grateful for his job, he is currently going through a messy divorce, causing him to become depressed. His boss however, Stephen (Head), is sex-obsessed, cocksure and roguish. Alex later meets Helen (Horgan), a co-worker who is more successful and herself recovering from a messy relationship, after her boyfriend died months before her wedding.

Production
The series is produced by Big Talk Productions and Bwark Productions and is written by Chris Niel. It was formed as part of Channel 4's 2007 Comedy Showcase along with Plus One and The Kevin Bishop Show, both of which were given their own series. The show was originally entitled Bitter and Twisted. The series started on the 13th of February and ended on the 20th of March. Shortly before the final episode aired, Mangan told a reporter that he and the rest of the cast were hoping to make a second series.

US Remake
In January 2011, NBC ordered a pilot of a remake for a US audience, starring Hank Azaria (The Simpsons, Run Fatboy Run) as Alex, Kathryn Hahn as Helen, Anthony Head reprising the role of Stephen and Joe Lo Truglio ) as security guard, Gregg, a new character. The pilot was produced by Big Talk Productions, Dark Toy Entertainment and Universal Media Studios.

In May 2011, it was announced by NBC that Free Agents will be part of its fall schedule. Chris Niel, writer of the original, co-wrote the pilot, and will produce the season with Big Talk's Joint CEO's and Managing Director, Kenton Allen & Nira Park and Matthew Justice, respectively. The latter two of the three produced the original UK series.

Known differences between the pilot and the full season are that the character, Gregg, has been renamed Walter and will still be portrayed by Joe Lo Truglio, but a different character named Gregg will still appear in the show.