After his Emmy-nominated turn in FX’s “Damages,” Ted Danson is stepping back into the comedy realm for his next TV job.
Danson has signed on to HBO’s pilot “Bored to Death,” where he’ll star opposite Jason Schwartzman. He’ll be playing a “pompous” magazine editor in the show, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
“Bored to Death” centers on Schwartzman’s character, Jonathan, a young and not-very-successful writer who also has a drinking problem.
His ennui leads him to start placing newspaper ads offering his services as a detective, hoping to emulate the likes of his fictional heroes Philip Marlowe and Sam Spade.
Danson’s character is a friend and sometime mentor to Jonathan.
Danson last headlined a comedy series in 2006, when he starred in ABC’s “Help Me Help You.”
He’s also had a recurring part on HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” last appearing in 2007.
Danson won two Emmys and was nominated nine other times for playing Sam Malone on the classic sitcom “Cheers.”
He picked up another nomination this year for “Damages,” where he played a decidedly darker character in tycoon Arthur Frobisher.
He’s set to appear in a handful of episodes on the show’s second season, which is scheduled to premiere in early 2009.
The other Arquette.
Actor David Arquette will join his sister, “Medium” star Patricia Arquette, on the Peacock airwaves when he guest-stars on an episode of “My Name Is Earl” this fall.
Alas, NBC will miss out on an opportunity to promote “Arquette Week,” as “Medium” isn’t scheduled to return until after the new year.
In the “Earl” episode, Arquette will play an amateur stuntman named Sweet Johnny.
Earl (Jason Lee) wants to cross Johnny off his list by making up for the fact that he slept with Johnny’s girlfriend a decade earlier — but after he tracks Johnny down, he finds the daredevil in no shape to receive Earl’s goodwill.
“My Name Is Earl” is the second guest spot Arquette has booked this fall.
He’s also set to appear in an episode of ABC’s “Pushing Daisies” in the early part of the season.
Arquette is currently co-starring in “Hamlet 2.” His TV credits include ABC’s “In Case of Emergency,” which aired in the spring of 2007, the miniseries “Dead Man’s Walk” and guest spots on “Friends” and “Beverly Hills, 90210.”
He was also an executive producer of “Dirt,” along with his wife and series star Courteney Cox.
“My Name Is Earl” begins its fourth season Sept. 25.
