'Friends' Star Matt LeBlanc Returning To TV With Showtime Comedy
LeBlanc, who played Joey on the hit show, will star as himself in the satirical single-camera comedy about a British couple whose hit UK show is turned into a dumbed-down American sitcom starring LeBlanc. The creative team behind the comedy-within-a-comedy will include 'Friends' creator David Crane and 'Mad About You' producer Jeffrey Klarik. It will be a co-production of Showtime and the BBC and is expected to begin shooting its first six episodes in London and Los Angeles around January. Veteran British producer Jimmy Mulville, whose production company is behind several British series including 'Whose Line Is It Anyway?' and 'The Kumars at No. 42' reportedly helped the show land a partnership with BBC after he heard about the idea. "What a thrill to have two giants of the comedy world like Klarik and Crane to satirize what they know best: the making (or un-making) of art," says Showtime Entertainment President Robert Greenblatt. "We jumped at the chance to get involved with this cock-eyed look at network television told through the eyes of unsuspecting British producers who don't know what hit them when they enter the lion's den of Hollywood. And Matt LeBlanc -- wryly sending up his own image -- is icing on the cake." For his part, LeBlanc jokes: "I am so glad I got the part, seeing someone else play Matt LeBlanc would have been devastating. Jeffrey and David have a great idea. I love it." 'Episodes' is scheduled to air on both networks in early to mid 2010.
'Friends' star Matt LeBlanc has signed a deal with Showtime to return to television with a new comedy called 'Episodes'.
October 1, 2009 | |
