IFC Greenlights Comedy Series From Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller

'Spoils of Babylon,' 'Birthday Boys' to debut later this year

By Andrea Morabito -- Broadcasting & Cable, 3/7/2013 12:26:57 PM

IFC is getting into business with some big comedy names, on Thursday greenlighting a scripted comedy from Funny or Die and executive producers Will Ferrell and Adam McKay and new scripted sketch comedy The Birthday Boys executive produced by Ben Stiller and Bob Odenkirk.

In The Spoils of Babylon, Ferrell will star as fictional famous author Eric Jonrosh in the adaptation of his bestselling epic novel about the dramatic lives of a family who made their fortune in the oil business. The network has ordered six half-hour episodes to premiere in late 2013.

Other executive producers are Matt Piedmont, who also directs and Andrew Steele, who wrote the script.

Birthday Boys features the Los Angeles comedy group of the same name and Odenkirk starring in sketches that twist real-life moments and cultural touchstones. Ten half-hour episodes will bow later this year.

Along with Stiller and Odenkirk, Debbie Liebling, Stuart Cornfeld and Mike Rosenstein of Red Hour will executive produce with Abso Lutely producing the series for IFC.