TNT Orders Pilot for Drama Series Starring Ray Romano

ATLANTA, April 1: Turner
Network Television (TNT) has ordered a one-hour pilot of Men of a Certain
Age, a drama from Everybody
Loves Raymond’s Ray Romano and Mike Royce.

Co-written and executive
produced by Romano and Royce, the character-based series takes a wry look at
what it means to be a guy approaching mid-life while also exploring the unique
bonds of male friendship. Romano will star in the series, and Royce will serve
as show runner. Rory Rosegaren and Cary Hoffman are also serving as executive
producers.

The series is an effort by
TNT to pursue its goal of packing the weekday prime-time schedule with original
programming by 2010. The network has 15 projects in various stages of
development, including scripted and unscripted programs.

Men of a Certain Age follows three long-time friends who are now in
their 40s and finding that life is passing them by. Joe, played by Romano, is a
friendly, slightly neurotic divorced father of two who had dreams of being a
professional golfer, but instead owns and runs a party store. His two best
friends are Owen, an overstressed African-American husband and father that
works as a car salesman at his dad’s dealership, and Terry, an offbeat handsome
and intelligent guy who harbors dreams of being an actor.

“Men of a Certain Age is about the highs and lows of being a guy in the
modern era,” said Michael Wright, the senior VP in charge of the content
creation group for TNT and its sister networks, TBS and Turner Classic Movies.
“It’s about three best friends, each hoping to fulfill his dreams before the
clock starts running out. It’s an honest, emotional, funny and very personal
take on the subject. Men of a Certain Age is a very special project for TNT, and we’re proud to be doing it
with Ray and Mike. When we read the script we knew right away this is a series
we want to bring to our audience.”

“Mike and I have always
had success writing what we know,” added Romano. “What we know now is that
we’re middle aged, neurotic and fat. We’re excited to be working with Michael
Wright and TNT, who have been incredibly enthusiastic and supportive.”

—By Ned Berke