Showtime has given a pilot order to "The United States of Tara," a single-camera comedy from Steven Spielberg and DreamWorks Television centered on a mother with multiple-personality syndrome.

Showtime Networks president of entertainment Robert Greenblatt made the announcement Saturday during the Television Critics Assn. press tour at the Beverly Hilton.

He said the half-hour project is a "family comedy with a big twist" and described it as 'Weeds' meets 'Sybil.' He said it will show Tara, a wife and mother, in all her various personalities, including an aggressive male biker, a promiscuous teenage girl and a Martha Stewart-like homemaker.

"It balances the real drama and comedy of a family dealing with a parent" with multiple-personality disorder, Greenblatt said. "It will attract an extraordinary actress looking for a tour-de-force opportunity."

The pilot is set to go into production in the fall, with Diablo Cody ("Juno") writing and producing.

Joining Greenblatt and Showtime Networks chairman and CEO Matt Blank on stage were the cast and creative teams behind the comedies "Weeds" and "Californication," which premiere August 13, starring David Duchovny, and dramas "Dexter" and "Brotherhood," which return September 30. Greenblatt noted that come October, all four series will be airing original episodes, an unusual move for a network that usually runs its scripted series one at a time.

"That reinforces our brand and how far we've come in the past two years," Greenblatt said.

He added that Showtime is planning a big marketing campaign for "Californication," partnering with Netflix to make it available to consumers before the show's premiere.

Greenblatt also noted that Tracey Ullman's new comedy series, "State of the Union," will premiere in 2008.

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed