Shaftesbury Preps New Comedy Series

TORONTO: Shaftesbury Films has started production on Good Dog, a new half-hour comedy created, written and directed by Ken Finkleman.

Finkleman (The Newsroom) also stars in the series alongside Lauren Lee Smith (CSI, The L-Word). Finkleman plays George, a self-absorbed neurotic who lives with Claire (Smith), an ex-model half his age.

The 13-episode comedy will be shot on location in Toronto, with filmed slated to wrap in August. The show is produced in association with Astral’s The Movie Network and Corus Entertainment’s Movie Central. Good Dog will premiere in 2011.

"Ken Finkleman delivers the best, the funniest and the most interesting material. His stories are irreverent, excruciatingly personal, and yet they touch us all,” said Jan Peter Meyboom, the producer for Shaftesbury Films.

“To welcome Ken into the fold of pay TV is a great marriage of art, comedy and a breakdown of boundaries,” added Erica Benson, the VP of programming at Movie Central. “We are excited to see the progress of this series as production partners and fans of Ken’s work.”

“Ken Finkleman is a truly unique Canadian voice,” commented Aubie Greenberg, the director of original programming at The Movie Network. “We’re proud to work with the amazing team at Shaftesbury to bring his inimitable comedic vision to life for our viewers, neuroses and all.”