14 DAY TRIAL // While rumors of a “Friends” long feature film have not been addressed officially by Warners, Matt LeBlanc is seeing to his career in comedy with a new part in a satire produced by BBC and Showtime, TV by the Numbers informs from a press statement from the latter network. LeBlanc will be playing himself in the comedy dealing with a British couple trying to make it in Hollywood.
Creators David Crane (“Friends,” “The Class”) and Jeffrey Klarik (‘The Class,” “Mad About You”) have come up with an original idea for the comedy, which will go by the name “Episodes.” A British couple, whose comedy show becomes a hit in the UK, is asked to move to America for a US version of the show. The result is a “dumbed-down” sitcom that eventually shatters the Brits’ dreams of fame in Tinseltown and that also introduces LeBlanc as himself, the ultimate Hollywood hunk.
“Jeffrey and David have a great idea – I love it. 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.” Matt says in the press statement. “It is very exciting to be making this wonderful production for Showtime and the BBC. 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.” executive producer Jimmy Mulville adds.
Even with the new gig, LeBlanc would still have enough time to start working on that much-anticipated and, according to many, long overdue “Friends” feature film, granted reports of earlier this week are accurate. Sources from inside WB are telling the media, under the cover of anonymity, of course, that producers and cast have finally reached an agreement, and the wheels have been set in motion in the view of making the film.
“The cast haven’t set the world alight since the show finished. But this film could relight some of their flagging careers in a big way. But everyone knew the story had to be right and well written. Getting the creators on board was a massive step forward for the project. The show did lose a lot of its shine in the last few seasons, but with the actors all in the forties it would be a real interest to see how their characters have developed.” an unnamed source was saying on Monday, as we also reported.