Comedy based on life of gay pro soccer player Robbie Rogers of LA Galaxy picked up by ABC

I love this news: Men in Shorts, a comedy inspired by the life of professional soccer player Robbie Rogers, has been picked up by ABC, according to Deadline.

Robbie, of course, became the first openly gay man to compete in a top North American professional sports league when he joined the LA Galaxy.

The project is from writer Claudia Lonaw who all those years ago played Diana Fairgate on Knots Landing, and the producers are the prolific pair of Craig Zadan and Neil Meron.

Lonow admits she wasn’t that familiar with soccer or Rogers before meeting with him this past summer.

“I was absolutely captivated by his charm and his humor, and I just thought it could make a great show,” she said.

Men In Shorts will combine elements of a family and workplace comedy.

“To me, a sports team locker room is a workplace we haven’t seen before,” she said.