Showtime said at the Television Critics Tour that it will pick up the new series Happyish, starring Steve Coogan (in the role initially intended for the late Philip Seymour Hoffman), Kathryn Hahn and Bradley Whitford. Shooting in New York, the comedy will debut on April 26 at 9:30 p.m. with Nurse Jackie as a lead-in at 9 p.m. and followed by the season-two premiere of Penny Dreadful. (Nurse Jackie kicks off its final season on April 12.)
Showtime had picked the show up as a 10-episode series a year ago but had not fully re-committed to it after Hoffman's death. In October, Coogan (Philomena) was cast to replace Hoffman in the pilot. He plays a 44-year-old man whose life is upended by the arrival of a new, young boss. Ellen Barkin, Carrie Preston, Molly Price and Andre Royo will guest star.
The creator, writer and executive producer is Shalom Auslander, a regular contributor to This American Life. “Shalom has a unique comedic voice," Showtime Networks president David Nevins said in a release. "He is smart, provocative and thoughtful. I know he’s going to make viewers laugh, but he’s also going to push a few buttons while doing it.”
Showtime also said it has ordered a sixth season of Shameless, which began its season-five run this past Sunday. The sixth season will have 12 episodes and begin production later this year.
The CBS-owned premium network also said Kyle MacLachlan will reprise his role as FBI Agent Dale Cooper in Showtime's upcoming limited series version of Twin Peaks. It goes into production this year aiming for a 2016 premiere.
Showtime scheduled its documentary Kobe Bryant's Muse for a Saturday, Feb. 21 (9 p.m. ET/PT), premiere. (Trailer can be seen here.)
