via Showtime press release:
MATT LEBLANC MAKES FRIENDS OF SHOWTIME & BBC IN SITCOM SATIRE
Six “Episodes” of Comedy-Within-a-Comedy to Premiere in 2010
LOS ANGELES, CA – (September 30, 2009) – “Friends” star Matt LeBlanc and creators David Crane (“Friends,” “The Class”) and Jeffrey Klarik (“The Class,” “Mad About You”) have teamed up on a fresh new send-up of the television business entitled EPISODES, a single-camera comedy series about a British couple whose hit UK show is turned into a dumbed-down American sit-com starring LeBlanc (as himself), it was announced today by SHOWTIME President of Entertainment Robert Greenblatt.
Crane and Klarik created the series and Jimmy Mulville will also serve as executive producer through his successful Hat Trick production company (“Whose Line Is It Anyway?,” “The Kumars at No. 42″, “Worst Week”). EPISODES, a co-production of Showtime and the BBC, will begin shooting the six episodes in London and Hollywood this winter for a 2010 debut on SHOWTIME and BBC Two.
“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 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. This show complements our eclectic and critically-acclaimed line-up of half-hour comedies beautifully.”
“Jeffrey and David have a great idea — I love it,” said Matt LeBlanc. “I am really excited to be working with Showtime and the BBC. And I am so glad I got the part, seeing someone else play Matt LeBlanc would have been devastating.”
When a successful British husband-and-wife comedy team are lured by Hollywood to produce a new version of their hit series for a stateside audience, they’re initially thrilled at the prospects. But they soon realize what the American execs have in store for their precious show – including replacing the erudite British lead with the quintessential comedy star, Matt LeBlanc – and begin to sink deeper into the quicksand that is the TV business. Before long it’s clear that not just the couple’s show is at stake, but perhaps even their marriage.
Television veterans Klarik and Crane will draw upon their storied experiences in the network wars and behind-the-scenes “too many cooks” tinkering to bring to life a vivid collection of characters trying to hold onto their sanity in an insane world. Klarik and Crane said: “To work with either Showtime or the BBC on this project would have been terrific. To have both involved is more than we could hope for. We feel like we have found the two perfect homes for this show.”
“It is very exciting to be making this wonderful production for Showtime and the BBC,” added producer Mulville. “Both networks have an outstanding portfolio of exciting and innovative comedies, and it is an honor to be included amongst them. The scripts are brilliantly funny, and with Matt LeBlanc playing a hilarious version of himself, EPISODES promises to be one of the treats of 2010.”
# # #
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNELTM and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME® TOOTM, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILYZONE® and TMC XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL HDTM, SHOWTIME ON DEMANDTM and THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMANDTM. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME® PPV.
That sounds confusing. It reminds me of the pilot for “Nobody’s Watching”.
This sounds like a good show. I’ll probably watch it.
And there’s definitely truth in it. The latest situation is that ABC is developing an American version of the great British show Gavin and Stacey. I have no doubt it’ll pale in comparison to the original.
I’m just pleased Fox didn’t pick up the “Absolutely Fabulous” remake after the pilot they made. Too many excellent British shows are re-made and dumbed down.
This new sitcom sounds intriguing if somewhat confusing.
I’m hoping this show is good. However one quote bothers me:
“show is turned into a dumbed-down American sit-com starring LeBlanc”
Sounds an awful lot like “Joey” to me…
@nkinsey: For it to be “an awful lot” like Joey, Friends would have had to been a British series, since Joey was a spin-off of Friends. Since Friends is a 100% true American comedy, I beg to differ with you. Now, if you said this sounds awfully similar to Lisa Kudrow’s show-within-a-show, The Comeback (2005, HBO), I would agree with you. That show was a flop as have most shows that have starred former Friends. Courteney Cox is trying her second hand at a series show, Cougar Town, after her first one, Dirt, flopped. Matthew Perry had Studio 60 and we all know what happened with that one. Jennifer Aniston has been in movies and can’t keep a man in her life if she had a gun held to her head. In my opinion, the only Friend that has not embarassed themselves since the end of the show has been David Schwimmer. He’s doing the smart thing – staying behind the camera and making a hilarious guest cameo on Entourage. This will be LeBlanc’s first ANYTHING (tv or movie) since the mistake that was Joey ended in 2006.
I’ll be hard-pressed to watch.
This show sounds a little too meta to me. Don’t Hollywood shows and movies about Hollywood usually not do well? I remember how many, many moons ago the WB had a show about a show called Grosse Pointe about the behind the scenes antics of the cast of a 90210-ish show (done by former 90210 creator Darren Star). It didn’t even last one season.
@Shelly You’re right these kind of shows don’t usually do well, the only one i can think of that did well is Extras, but this sounds great, i can’t wait. Grosse Point was a fantastic show though, better that anything on the CW today (although thats not saying much!).
Although the “convert brillant foreign TV shows to horrible American shows” motif deserves to be explored, I’m not sure if you can make 13 episodes out of it. This is also a not-so-subtle slam at LeBlanc and Crane’s former bosses at NBC, who infamously brought us “Coupling” and “Kath and Kim.” (To be fair, BBC’s Coupling was inspired by Friends, Seinfeld, and Sex and the City)
If it works, great. But you’re right when you say it sounds too much like what Lisa Kudrow tried to do in The Comeback.
huddy-
I just meant that Joey was a dumbed-down American sit-com starring LeBlanc. Nothing to do with UK or anything. I was truly insulted watching Joey after 10 years of loving Friends.
And I agree somewhat about David Schwimmer. Let’s not forget he directed “Run, Fatboy, Run”, which got CRUSHED critically and barely made a dent in the BO.
Dirt didn’t flop. It had a strong first season, but its shortened (and I hear it was inferior) second was killed by the writer’s strike. She’s done very well producing.
Studio 60 was a masterpiece that was WAY too inside for the majority of viewers.
LeBlanc hasn’t done much. I almost expected to see him make a sequel to his monkey baseball movie.
Aniston has by far had the most success of the whole group. Marley & Me was huge. She’s done a lot of indies and majors, and is still quite busy.
So probably here’s the list of the most successful post-Friends to the least successful:
1. Aniston
2. Cox
3. Schwimmer
4. Perry
(tied)LeBlanc & Kudrow
Kevin, that’s my point: no matter how well meta shows are done, audiences just won’t warm up to them – just like they didn’t warm up to Grosse Pointe.
Actually I would be pleased to have any of the Friends stars careers during or after the end of the show.
Perry has made a boat load of B movies since and during Friends. I also agree that Studio 60 was way over the head of the average TV viewer and was killed by the size of the cast and writers strike. Not a bad career though and the guy is likable.
Cox did well with Dirt and again I think it was killed by the writers strike. Cougar Town will probably be a big hit for the next few years based on early returns.
Aniston has starred in twelve movies since friends ended and has seven more in pre-production. She is a well sought out commodity.
Swimmer has been all over the place too many to mention here.
LeBlanc got his own show that bombed after two seasons but I’d like that pay check. Now this series.
Kudrow has been in a bunch of movies and had a few other projects to keep her busy.
We all should be so unlucky to have these careers.
Lizard
they would even remake this
This, nah. But Matt LeBlanc as Smithy in the American version of Gavin & Stacy? That could be fun.
i loved the class
This would be his first TV appearance since Joey right? I haven’t seen him guest starred on any show since Joey was canceled.
Kudrow’s The Comeback was so good too bad it flopped
I am looking forward to this new comedy starring Mr. Matt LeBlanc.In my humble opinion, I think He is one of the best comedians in USA and how fortunate All of us are to have Him and Mr. David Crane,etc. back to create and produce a new comedy which will bring laughter and joy to millions of families worldwide and to the ill and disabled humans who need laughter and kindness brought into their lives…
Thank You…..
L.Hamilton MD