{{Short description|American television series}} {{about|the American TV sitcom|other uses|Pitts (disambiguation)|and|Pitt (disambiguation)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox television |image = The Pitts cast.jpg |caption = The cast (from left to right): David Henrie as Petey, Kellie Waymire as Liz, Lizzy Caplan as Faith and Dylan Baker as Bob |runtime = 30 minutes |creator = {{plainlist| *Mike Scully *Julie Thacker}} |starring = {{plainlist| *Dylan Baker *Kellie Waymire *Lizzy Caplan *David Henrie}} |theme_music_composer = {{plainlist| *Terry Adams *Joey Spampinato *Tom Ardolino *Johnny Spampinato}} |composer = Eric Speier |country = United States |language = English |network = Fox |company = {{plainlist| *Nothing Can Go Wrong Now Productions *20th Century Fox Television}} |first_aired = {{Start date|2003|3|30}} |last_aired = {{End date|2003|4|20}} |num_seasons = 1 |num_episodes = 7 (2 unaired) }}
'''''The Pitts''''' is an American sitcom that aired on Fox between March and April 2003. It is about a family and their bad luck. The show featured absurd, fantastical plots presented within the context of a seemingly normal family sitcom. It was cancelled after two months.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/p/pittsthe_999030913.shtml|title=BBC - Comedy Guide - The Pitts|date=Dec 9, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041209201924/http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/p/pittsthe_999030913.shtml |accessdate=Nov 22, 2024|archive-date=9 December 2004 }}</ref>
==Cast== * Dylan Baker as Bob Pitt, the father of the family * Kellie Waymire as Liz Pitt, the mother of the family * Lizzy Caplan as Faith Pitt, the older child of Bob and Liz<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2013/01/the-pitts-the-show-where-lizzy-caplan-married-a-volkswagen.html|title='The Pitts': The Show Where Lizzy Caplan Married a Volkswagen|first=Roger|last=Cormier|date=Jan 14, 2013|website=Vulture|accessdate=Nov 22, 2024}}</ref> * David Henrie as Petey Pitt, the younger child of Bob and Liz
==Production== In February 2002, it was reported that Fox had ordered a sitcom pilot from Mike Scully and Julie Thacker called ''The Pitts'' revolving around an incredibly unlucky family that face outlandish disasters every week.<ref name="PittsVar">{{cite web|date= February 19, 2002 |access-date= January 19, 2026|title= LaPaglia reappears in CBS’ ‘Vanished’ |url= https://variety.com/2002/scene/features/lapaglia-reappears-in-cbs-vanished-1117861020/|work= Variety|archive-date= June 29, 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170629062516/https://variety.com/2002/scene/features/lapaglia-reappears-in-cbs-vanished-1117861020/|url-status= live}}</ref> The following month, Dylan Baker had been cast as one of the series leads.<ref name="PittsVar2">{{cite web|date= March 11, 2002 |access-date= January 19, 2026|title= Tori kisses Frog laffer |url= https://variety.com/2002/tv/features/tori-kisses-frog-laffer-1117863808/|work= Variety|archive-date= February 25, 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190225223615/https://variety.com/2002/tv/features/tori-kisses-frog-laffer-1117863808/|url-status= live}}</ref> In April of that year, Kellie Waymire was reported to star opposite Baker.<ref name="PittsVar3">{{cite web|date= April 2, 2002 |access-date= January 19, 2026|title= Gertz and Roberts join pilot lineups |url= https://variety.com/2002/tv/features/gertz-and-roberts-join-pilot-lineups-1117864831/|work= Variety|archive-date= January 19, 2026|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20260119171921/http://web.archive.org/screenshot/https://variety.com/2002/tv/features/gertz-and-roberts-join-pilot-lineups-1117864831/|url-status= live}}</ref>
In February 2003, it was reported Scully that had secured a deal with Philip Rosenthal to join the staff of ''Everybody Loves Raymond'' as Scully's contract with 20th Century Fox Television was set to expire with Scully's formal onboarding to the Raymond staff set to take effect in the event ''The Pitts'' was not renewed.<ref name="PittsVar4">{{cite web|date= February 24, 2003 |access-date= January 19, 2026|title= Inside Move: Writer juggling 3 shows |url= https://variety.com/2003/scene/markets-festivals/inside-move-writer-juggling-3-shows-1117881159/|work= Variety|archive-date= January 19, 2026|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20260119172456/http://web.archive.org/screenshot/https://variety.com/2003/scene/markets-festivals/inside-move-writer-juggling-3-shows-1117881159/|url-status= live}}</ref>
==Episodes== {{Episode table |total_width= |background=#ACE1AF |overall= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |prodcode= |episodes=
{{Episode list |EpisodeNumber= 1 |Title= Pilot |DirectedBy= Lee Shallat Chemel |WrittenBy= Mike Scully & Julie Thacker-Scully |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2003|3|30}} |ProdCode= 1AGV79 |ShortSummary= Bob hires a babysitter for the kids but does not realize she is the girl he stood up for prom night. |LineColor= ACE1AF }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber= 2 |Title= A Bug's Wife |DirectedBy= Lee Shallat Chemel |WrittenBy= Mike Scully & Julie Thacker-Scully |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2003|4|6}} |ProdCode= 1AGV01 |ShortSummary= Faith gets a Volkswagen bug but it falls in love with her and plans to marry her in Las Vegas. |LineColor= ACE1AF }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber= 3 |Title= Squarewolves |DirectedBy= Katy Garretson |WrittenBy= {{StoryTeleplay|s= Julie Thacker-Scully|t= Alec Sulkin & Wellesley Wild}} |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2003|4|13}} |ProdCode= 1AGV06 |ShortSummary= Bob and Liz become werewolves and wreak havoc in the nighttime. |LineColor= ACE1AF }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber= 4 |Title= Dummy & Dummier |DirectedBy= Tom Cherones |WrittenBy= {{StoryTeleplay|s= Mike Scully & Julie Thacker-Scully|t= Mike Scully}} |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2003|4|20}} |ProdCode= 1AGV05 |ShortSummary= A dummy comes to life and haunts the family. |LineColor= ACE1AF }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber= 5 |Title= Miss American Pipe |DirectedBy= Matthew Diamond |WrittenBy= Tom Gammill & Max Pross |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2003|4|20}} |ProdCode= 1AGV04 |ShortSummary= Faith loses her chances of being in a rock video after a pipe goes through her head. |LineColor= ACE1AF }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber= 6 |Title= Ticket to Riot |DirectedBy= Lee Shallat-Chemel |WrittenBy= Mike Scully & Julie Thacker |OriginalAirDate= ''Unaired'' |ProdCode= 1AGV02 |ShortSummary= The Pitts take the wrong bus and are held hostage by escaping prisoners. |LineColor= ACE1AF }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber= 7 |Title= Bob's New Heart |DirectedBy= Matthew Diamond |WrittenBy= {{StoryTeleplay|s= Mike Scully & Julie Thacker-Scully|t= Brian Scully}} |OriginalAirDate= ''Unaired'' |ProdCode= 1AGV03 |ShortSummary= Bob and Liz are convinced to join a dance club which turns out to be a satanic cult. |LineColor= ACE1AF }} }}
==Reception==
The Pitts had a mostly negative reception from critics.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2003/tv/reviews/the-pitts-1200542520/|title=The Pitts|first=Phil|last=Gallo|date=Mar 28, 2003|accessdate=Nov 22, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/2000s-sitcoms-forgotten-cancelled/|title=15 Sitcoms From The 2000s Everyone Forgot About|first1=Colin|last1=McCormick|first2=Kayla|last2=Mosley|first3=Amanda|last3=Bruce|date=Feb 2, 2020|website=ScreenRant|accessdate=Nov 22, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ew.com/article/2003/03/21/pitts/|title=The Pitts|website=EW.com|accessdate=Nov 22, 2024}}</ref>
==Cancellation and failed revival== Fox ordered seven episodes of the series; the network cancelled the show after only five episodes aired. The last two episodes that aired on Fox aired on the same night, the first airing at 7:30/6:30 CT and the second airing at its regular timeslot at 9:30/8:30 CT. The final two episodes of the series aired two years later in the U.K.
On October 10, 2007, Fox announced an animated version of the show was in development.<ref>{{cite news|author=Nellie Andreeva |author2=Kimberly Nordyke |title=Fox reviving failed sitcom as a cartoon |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/televisionNews/idUSN1046741520071010 |publisher=Reuters |date=2007-10-10 |accessdate=2008-03-08}}</ref> Of the main cast, Lizzy Caplan and Dylan Baker signed on to reprise their roles. Kellie Waymire died in 2003 and Allison Janney had been cast in her role. The part of Petey was to be played by Andy Milonakis replacing David Henrie who was already starring in Disney Channel's ''Wizards of Waverly Place''.<ref>{{cite news |author=Nellie Andreeva |title=Allison Janney joins Fox family cartoon |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/televisionNews/idUSN0454362620080305 |publisher=Reuters |date=2008-03-04 |accessdate=2008-03-08}}</ref>
On July 24, 2008, it was announced that the animated series had been taken out of production after a pilot had failed to impress Fox executives.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb title|0338647}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pitts, The}} Category:2000s American sitcoms Category:2003 American television series debuts Category:2003 American television series endings Category:English-language American television shows Category:Television series about dysfunctional families Category:Television shows set in the United States Category:Television series by 20th Century Fox Television Category:Fox Broadcasting Company sitcoms