Showtime Takes Jim Carrey Pilot, Limited Series for Patti Smith Memoir

LOS ANGELES: Patti Smith's memoir Just Kids is being developed as a limited series for Showtime, which has also ordered a new one-hour pilot from executive producer Jim Carrey entitled I'm Dying Up Here.

The memoir is about Smith's life with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. A limited series is being co-written and produced by Smith and Academy Award nominee John Logan. Logan's Desert Wolf Productions will produce.

"Just Kids is one of my favorite memoirs of all time," said David Nevins, the president of Showtime Networks Inc. "Not only is it a fascinating portrait of artists coming of age, but it's also an inspiring story of friendship, love and endurance. I'm so thrilled that Patti Smith will bring her unique voice to writing the scripts along with the gifted John Logan, who has been doing such a phenomenal job with Penny Dreadful for us."

"A limited series on Showtime will allow us to explore the characters more deeply, enabling us to develop stories beyond the book and allow a measure of unorthodox presentation," commented Smith. "The medium of a television limited series offers narrative freedom and a chance to expand upon the themes of the book."

The network has also ordered a pilot of I'm Dying Up Here, set in the 1970s comedy scene in L.A. The pilot is written and executive produced by former stand-up comedian Dave Flebotte (Will & Grace, Desperate Housewives). In addition to Carrey and Flebotte, the pilot will be executive produced by Michael Aguilar (The Departed, Semi-Pro) and Christina Wayne (Copper).

“The 1970s L.A. comedy scene gave rise to some of the biggest and most influential performers of the last half-century,” said Nevins. “Who better than Jim Carrey and Dave Flebotte, who were both there, to tell the story of that special era along with the complicated and talented performers that dared to grab an open mic.”

Additionally, Showtime has renewed Ray Donovan and Masters of Sex, both set for fourth seasons.