Ice Cube, Are We There Yet? Reportedly Close to 90-Episode Megadeal at TBS

Remember when shows like Home Improvement would let you in on "100th Episode" after-parties, and you'd see Patricia Richardson cutting a big cake and Zachary Ty Bryan sniffling into his own flannel pullover? Well, the 100-episode hallmark is apparently no longer as momentous -- because Ice Cube's new sitcom Are We There Yet? is reportedly close to a 90-episode order only after airing 10 on the cable network.

Deadline reports that the series would be the third consecutive effort from distributor Dembar-Mercury to receive a gargantuan order after a 10-episode trial run on TBS, following House of Payne and Meet the Browns. It's also likely to enter syndication just as fast:

I hear Are We There Yet's 10 episode trial run averaged an 1.9 rating, just shy of the 2.0 that would've automatically triggered the 90-episode order. Still, the show was considered a solid performer for TBS and the network started pickup discussions with the producers and Debmar-Mercury shortly after Are We There Yet's 10-episode run ended on June 30.

The show, based on the 2005 Ice Cube movie, stars Terry Crews in Cube's role. The NWA alum still maintains a recurring role on the series.

So: Any ideas for a 90-episode character arc? I vote for Crews to stop the family van at a Shell station and steal the name tag off a bumbling cashier named Dick Whitman.

'Are We There Yet' Nears 90-Episode Pickup at TBS & Eyes Syndication Deal Next