USA Network Lines Up Comedy Projects from Kelsey Grammer, Denis Leary

NEW YORK: In bulking up its original programming, USA Network has unveiled a development slate that features a number of comedies, including projects from Kelsey Grammer, Mark Gordon, Denis Leary and Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun.

Berman and Braun serve as executive producers, alongside Gene Stein, for the new half-hour comedy Regulars, produced by Universal Television. The comedy is about a motley crew of customers and employees at a suburban New Jersey bar. Benched, from ABC Studios, is executive produced by Mark Gordon (Grey’s Anatomy, Criminal Minds) along with the Mark Gordon Company. The show centers on Nina, who loses her boyfriend and her high-powered job as an attorney all in the same day; the only job available to her is at the Public Defender’s office.

From Grammer and writer Ed Cannistraci comes The DiCicco Brothers. The series, from Universal Cable Productions, is the story of a promising dot-com entrepreneur who moves to the very politically correct culture of Silicon Valley with dreams of making it big. His dreams start to unravel when his loud-mouthed and unrefined family arrives. Universal Television is behind Start-Up, written by Justin Spitzer (The Office) and executive produced by Peter Traugott (Samantha Who?). The comedy is about two friends who want to be their own bosses so they decide to create a start-up. Now all they have to do is come up with an idea.

These new shows join the previously announced projects Paging Dr. Freed, a comedy about two gynecologist brothers who inherit their father’s thriving medical practice, and Sirens, a comedy from Leary about three of Chicago’s best EMTs, whose self-destructive personalities make them unqualified to do much else.

The new projects join the network’s latest acquired series, the comedy Modern Family, which begins airing next year.

"The comedy genre has re-emerged as a top choice for television audiences, and we anticipate our latest projects coupled with Modern Family will ignite excitement with our viewers," said Chris McCumber and Jeff Wachtel, co-presidents of USA. "Our track record of provocative storytelling from marquee talent has made USA a top entertainment brand for consumers and a great investment for brands looking to reach them."

"USA is the perfect home for Modern Family," added Steven Levitan, the show’s executive producer. "We are proud to anchor USA’s next generation of comedies when we begin airing next year."