Onion, Comedy Central team on TV pilot

Series will be based on online video series that parodies sports shows

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updated 10:24 p.m. ET Nov. 8, 2009

NEW YORK - ESPN had better watch its back.

Comedy Central has ordered a pilot from the satirical news magazine The Onion.

The prospective half-hour scripted series will be based on The Onion's Sports Network, an online video series that parodies sports shows — especially those on ESPN.

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Onion News Network director Will Graham says in a statement to expect "the most intense sports coverage humanity has yet witnessed."

A spokeswoman for Comedy Central says the pilot constitutes the first collaboration between the two comedy institutions.

The Onion, founded in Madison, Wis., was long famous for its mock headlines when it launched the "ONN" in 2007. That's its online video department.