Matthew Perry could be bringing The Odd Couple back to TV.
The Friends alum will star in, write and executive produce a new take on Neil Simon's Broadway play for CBS, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.
Mad About You's Danny Jacobson is also on board to executive produce and pen the comedy, which has received a script plus penalty commitment from the network. The multicamera comedy hails from CBS Television Studios, Timberman-Beverly and The Tannenbaum Co. Carl Beverly and Sarah Timberman as well as Eric and Kim Tannenbaum will also executive produce.
The CBS/Perry take marks the latest incarnation of Simon's classic about the uptight Felix Ungar and his easygoing roommate Oscar Madison (Perry). Walter Matthau and Art Carney starred in the Broadway run -- which earned the former a best actor Tony and production a best play, among others. Jack Klugman replaced Matthau together the two starred in a 1968 feature film based on the play and a sequel. It also spawned an ABC comedy starring Klugman and Tony Randall that ran for five seasons from 1970-75 as well as multiple other incarnations.
The CBS take marks a reunion for Perry with the network, where the Go On and Mr. Sunshine alum has had a recurring role on drama The Good Wife. Odd Couple also serves as a return to multicamera comedies for Perry, whose past two short-lived comedies (Go On, Mr. Sunshine) had been single-camera vehicles.
Odd Couple also marks the latest reboot for the broadcast networks this development season as networks look to bank on existing brands and audiences. The CW is prepping Tales From the Darkside with Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci; CBS is rebooting Charmed; NBC is readying Murder, She Wrote with Octavia Spencer; NBC has Remington Steele as well as a comedy take on Reality Bites; and Paramount TV is shopping a Ghost remake, among others.
Perry is repped by CAA, Doug Chapin Management and Surpin and Mayersohn; Jacobson is with CAA, Brillstein and Mark Temple. Timberman is with CAA and attorneys Jeff Finkelstein and Ernie Dell. Beverly is with CAA and Hansen Jacobson. The Tannenbaum Co. is with CAA and Finkelstein and Del.
E-mail: Lesley.Goldberg@THR.com
Twitter: @Snoodit
