show will lampoon excesses of rock industry
Mackenzie Crook, star of The Office, is developing a comedy with former RI:SE presenter Iain Lee set in the world of rock 'n' roll for Five.
Crook and Lee have been commissioned by Five comedy editor Graham Smith to write scripts for the as-yet-untitled show, which will lampoon the flamboyance and excesses of the rock industry.
"It's not about a band and it's not going to be another Spinal Tap. It's more behind the scenes in the world of rock, in the deadpan style of The Office and Curb Your Enthusiasm," Mr Smith said.
"The idea is to highlight the vanity, stupidity and silly money you get in the rock industry. Mackenzie is very, very keen - he's the world's biggest Nirvana fan," he added.
"It's not going to be a big BBC1-style show, shot in a studio with multi-camera filming. It will have closer parallels with The Office and Spaced, with a budget of about £140,000 per episode," Mr Smith said.
Five is moving into original UK comedy for the first time in a major way, after hiring Mr Smith as a commissioning editor in July in a joint programming venture with the Paramount Comedy Channel.
If commissioned, the Crook/Lee show could be on air next year and would be one of the first projects from the Five/Paramount comedy venture to see the light of day.
Mr Smith has around 15 projects in development, including sitcoms such as the Crook/Lee programme, a number of sketch show ideas and other scripted comedy formats.
"I'd like to get two or possibly three series on air next year. The pot of money is still tight, but the ambition is to do longer runs than the traditional six-part comedy - a minimum of eight or 10 if possible," he said.
Five has bought Friends spin-off
Joey and two other US comedies -
Two and a Half Men, starring Charlie Sheen, and
Crazy For You - to help launch a new comedy night on the channel next year.
mediaguardian
