Community’s Ken Jeong has booked a new sitcom pilot that could wind up being a new fall show. Deadline reports that Jeong has been cast in the ABC pilot Spy, based on the British comedy of the same name. The show stars Rob Corddry as the father of a highly-intelligent child (Mason Cook), who takes a job at the Secret Service in order to prove himself to his son. Jeong will play Corddry’s mischievous boss, The Examiner. Paget Brewster and comedian Moshe Kasher have also joined the cast.
If Community, which posted its lowest ratings ever on Thursday, does get renewed for a fifth season by NBC, Ken Jeong will still stay on the show full time, but ABC hiring him for Spy makes it seem like they’re pretty confident that Community’s cancellation is right around the corner. Community’s ratings have taken a dip after a strong season premiere. The show’s chances for survival look okay because it’s the only veteran comedy besides Parks and Rec that NBC has left, with 30 Rock and The Office ending their runs this year. Ken Jeong is the first Community cast member to book a pilot this year, but the show’s entire cast is in high-demand from TV networks. Jeong might just end up being the first of many Community stars to line up a new job in case the show doesn’t make it another season. If it does last another season, we better get the Chang spin-off we all desperately need and deserve.