From a media release:

NBC TO CO-PRODUCE 12 EPISODES OF COMEDY ‘WORKING THE ENGELS’

• Production From Halfire-CORE Entertainment and Shaw Media Stars Emmy- and Tony-Winning Comedienne Andrea Martin

NBC has entered a deal to co-produce 12 episodes of the half-hour singlecam comedy “Working the Engels” from producers Halfire-CORE Entertainment in partnership with Shaw Media.

“Working the Engels” marks the first time a U.S. and Canadian broadcaster have collaborated to produce a half-hour network comedy.

The series, created and written by Katie Ford and Jane Ford, centers on a family who must band together to keep their heads above water when their father and breadwinner passes away, leaving them a mountain of debt. The Engels must all go to work running Dad’s storefront law firm, with one minor problem — daughter Jenna is the only one who is qualified to practice law.

“SCTV” legend and two-time Emmy Award winner Andrea Martin will play Ceil, the overly confident family matriarch. “Working the Engels” also stars Kacey Rohl (“Hannibal”), Azura Skye (“American Horror Story”) and Benjamin Arthur (“Less Than Kind”).

Martin, who also earned a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” most recently won a Tony Award, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Award for her performance in the Broadway revival of “Pippin.”

Katie Ford, Jane Ford, Howard Busgang, Tom Nursall and Noreen Halpern serve as executive producers.

“We’re over the moon thrilled to work with NBC and Shaw Media on this series,” said Noreen Halpern, President, Halfire-CORE Entertainment. “Katie and Jane Ford have created a laugh-out-loud show and we’re delighted to have a comedic legend in Andrea Martin, complemented by a trio of rising stars.”

From a media release:

COLIN MOCHRIE, WENDY CREWSON AND JENNIFER IRWIN TO GUEST STAR ON WORKING THE ENGELS

Halfire-CORE Entertainment and Shaw Media announced today that Gemini Award-winners Colin Mochrie (This Hour Has 22 Minutes, She’s the Mayor) and Wendy Crewson (Saving Hope, Revenge), and Gemini Award-nominee Jennifer Irwin (Eastbound & Down, Michael: Tuesdays & Thursdays) are set to guest star in the first three episodes of Global Television’s new half-hour original comedy series Working the Engels. Mochrie, Crewson, and Irwin join series regulars Andrea Martin, Kacey Rohl, Azura Skye and Benjamin Arthur. Additional guest stars for upcoming episodes to be announced in the coming weeks.

Commissioned by Shaw Media’s original content team, produced by Halfire-CORE Entertainment and written by Katie Ford (Miss Congeniality, Desperate Housewives) and Jane Ford (Listen Missy, Material World), the 12-episode series is currently shooting in Toronto.

In this laugh-out-loud comedy, a family of ne’er-do-wells must band together to keep their heads above water when their father and breadwinner passes away, leaving them a mountain of debt. The Engels must all go to work running Dad’s storefront law firm, with one minor problem – daughter Jenna Engel (Rohl) is the only one who is qualified to practice law. Unfortunately for Jenna, this also means taking on her eccentric relatives as co-workers, including her self-involved mother Ceil (Martin), her pill-popping sister Sandy (Skye) and her bad boy brother Jimmy (Arthur). Jenna, the youngest sibling, becomes the unlikely family patriarch, running the law firm and keeping her crazy family together.

Mochrie guest stars as Miles, Ceil’s mild-mannered, long-suffering accountant. He did the books for Ceil’s late husband and has the unpleasant task of telling Ceil the truth about the financial disaster her husband left behind.

Crewson plays Margueritte Guernsey, a rich, entitled, beautiful woman who is the subject of a lawsuit. Margueritte is used to getting what she wants. Much even to Margueritte’s surprise, it looks like what she wants is… handsome, hunky, not-so-bright bad boy, Jimmy Engel.

Charisse Dunne, played by Irwin, is a gorgeous shark of a lawyer and partner at a high-powered law firm. She manages to turn heads, but makes Glenn Close in Damages look like a sweetheart. After Jenna spectacularly quits, Charisse becomes bent on Jenna’s total destruction.

Working the Engels is produced by Halfire-CORE Entertainment with Katie Ford, Jane Ford, Howard Busgang, Tom Nursall and Noreen Halpern serving as Executive Producers.

From a media release:

HALFIRE-CORE ENTERTAINMENT AND SHAW MEDIA ANNOUNCE PRODUCTION AND CASTING DETAILS FOR WORKING THE ENGELS

• Azura Skye and Benjamin Arthur Join Andrea Martin and Kacey Rohl Production Begins in Toronto on Working the Engels

Halfire-CORE Entertainment and Shaw Media announced today the addition of Benjamin Arthur (Less Than Kind) and Azura Skye (American Horror Story, Grimm) to the cast of Global Television’s new half-hour original comedy series Working the Engels. Arthur and Skye join previously announced cast members Andrea Martin and Kacey Rohl. Commissioned by Shaw Media’s original content team, produced by Halfire-CORE Entertainment and written by Katie Ford (Miss Congeniality, Desperate Housewives) and Jane Ford (Listen Missy, Material World), the 12-episode series has begun production in Toronto.

In this laugh-out-loud comedy, a family of ne’er-do-wells must band together to keep their heads above water when their father and breadwinner passes away, leaving them a mountain of debt. The Engels must all go to work running Dad’s storefront law firm, with one minor problem – daughter Jenna Engel (Rohl) is the only one who is qualified to practice law. Unfortunately for Jenna, this also means taking on her eccentric relatives as co-workers, including her self-involved mother Ceil (Martin), her pill-popping sister Sandy (Skye) and her bad boy brother Jimmy (Arthur). Jenna, the youngest sibling, becomes the unlikely family patriarch, running the law firm and keeping her crazy family together.

Azura Skye joins the cast as Sandy Engel, the law firm’s receptionist and a recently divorced, recovering pill-popper, now on a self-help kick and mission to save humanity. Skye is best known for her television performances in American Horror Story, Grimm and American Dad!, and can be seen in the upcoming films Explosion and The Factory.

Benjamin Arthur portrays Jimmy Engel, a bad boy and petty criminal with a heart of gold who would do anything for his sisters and his mother. He’s just returned from a stint in prison for embezzling money from his own parents and much to Jenna’s reluctance, begins working as an investigator at the law firm. The award-winning Arthur most recently starred as Josh Blecher in the highly acclaimed dramedy Less Than Kind.

Working the Engels is produced by Halfire-CORE Entertainment with Katie Ford, Jane Ford, Howard Busgang, Tom Nursall and Noreen Halpern serving as Executive Producers.

From a media release:

RISING STAR KACEY ROHL JOINS THE CAST OF GLOBAL’S NEW CANADIAN ORIGINAL SERIES WORKING THE ENGELS

Shaw Media and Halfire-CORE Entertainment announced today Kacey Rohl (Hannibal, The Killing, Red Riding Hood) will star in Global Television’s new half-hour original comedy series Working the Engels. Kacey Rohl joins previously announced screen and stage legend Andrea Martin. Commissioned by Shaw Media’s original content team, produced by Halfire-CORE Entertainment and written by Katie Ford (Miss Congeniality, Desperate Housewives) and Jane Ford (Listen Missy, Material World), the 12-episode series begins production in Toronto this fall.

Kacey Rohl portrays Jenna Engel, a young lawyer working for a huge law firm at her dream job – if the dream is working 18-hour days, with no social life, frayed nerves, a crappy apartment, a frequently nude roommate, and a tyrannical boss. When Jenna’s father dies suddenly and leaves a mountain of debt, she decides to quit her job – the only thing she ever wanted – and take over her father’s small storefront law practice. Unfortunately this also means taking on her eccentric relatives as co-workers, including her self-involved mother Ceil (Andrea Martin), despite being the only one qualified to practice law. Jenna, the youngest sibling, becomes the unlikely family patriarch, running the law firm and keeping her crazy family together.

Kacey Rohl is best known for her roles in Hannibal as Sterling Fitch; in The Killing as Prudence; and in the dark fantasy Red Riding Hood. Rohl also starred in the award-winning 2011 indie comedy Sunflower Hour, in which she portrayed Satan Spawn and showed her comedy chops in David Shore’s pilot Doubt opposite Steve Coogan for ABC.

The series is produced by Halfire-CORE Entertainment with Katie Ford, Jane Ford, Howard Busgang, Tom Nursall, and Noreen Halpern serving as Executive Producers.