ABC Orders Pilot for Paranormal Comedy “Strange Calls”

If you’re from a land down under or routinely watch Australian programming, you might’ve heard about a show called “The Strange Calls.”  The paranormal comedy from writer/director Daley Pearson made it’s debut on ABC2 last fall and now ABC is looking to bring the show here to the states.

Deadline originally reported on the news and revealed that the American remake won’t stray too far from the story of the original series.

Strange Calls centers on good-hearted, bumbling Boston cop Toby Banks, who is exiled to night duty on Nantucket island, where strange, unexplainable occurrences become the norm nine months out of the year. Working out of a creaky lighthouse on the outskirts of town, he is teamed with Gregor, the eccentric lighthouse keeper and local paranormal authority. The two make an unlikely crimefighting duo dealing with the “strange calls” that come into the station at night.

There’s no word on casting yet, but several notable names have been brought on to work on the pilot.  ”New Girl” writer Donick Cary will handle the script while “Zombieland” director Ruben Fleischer will handle directorial duties on the pilot.  Crucial to the success of the pilot will be the casting of the two leads as it appears that the chemistry of the original actors really led to the success of the series on ABC2.

Check out a trailer for the original show, it gives a good idea of what sort of paranormal activity they’ll be dealing with in the pilot.