Showtime is going into the music business.
The premium cable network is teaming with John Legend and his Get Lifted banner to develop a half-hour comedy vehicle about music managers, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
The untitled single-camera vehicle takes place in the world of high-profile music managers. Austin Winsberg (Gossip Girl, Jake in Progress and Broadway's First Date) will pen the script and executive produce alongside Legend and his Get Lifted Film Co. producing partners Mike Jackson and Ty Stiklorius via their pod deal with Universal Cable Productions.
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Legend's manager Troy Carter, the founder/chairman/CEO of entertainment management company Atom Factory, will also executive produce. Carter, who also manages Lady Gaga and is an influential digital and social media entrepreneur, and Legend will bring their experience in the music business to the project.
Winsberg (whose First Date opens on Broadway in August) is repped by CAA, Trevor Engelson at Underground and Sloane Offer. Get Lifted is repped by CAA and Del Shaw.
For Legend, this marks his latest project under his UCP deal. The Grammy winner is also developing an FBI business drama at USA Network, a South Beach-set drama at HBO and a semi-autobiographical comedy at Fox. For UCP, the sale marks a key sale beyond its NBC corporate siblings.
At Showtime, the project -- should it go to series -- would join comedies including Californication, House of Lies, Episodes, Web Therapy and Nurse Jackie.
Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit
