After playing Chandler Bing on the hugely popular television sitcom Friends for 10 years, Matthew Perry attempts to make another huge hit role as he stars on Showtime’s The End of Steve.  The dark comedy series has been given a pilot order with a substantial penalty attached with it: the promise that it will showcase a darker side of Perry viewers have never seen before.

After his stint on Friends, Perry starred in the telefilm The Ron Clark Story, where he played the title role.  He then returned to primetime television with his role as Matt Albie on NBC’s Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip where he received strong reviews for his performance.  Unfortunately, the series only lasted for one season.

On The End of Steve, Perry will star as the title character, an bitter local talk show host who is on a reluctant path to redemption.  According to Sony Pictures TV exec Zack Van Amburg, the role is unlike any character Perry has played before.

"This role will show fans that he can be not only funny but also reach to some dark places," he said.  "It will be a departure from the way America thinks of Matthew.  This is the beginning of a really exciting journey."

Aside from acting, the Friends actor will also be co-writing and executive producing the pilot with Peter Tolan, whose credits include Rescue Me and The Larry Sanders Show.  The half-hour project, which is from Sony Pictures TV, marks Showtime’s first collaboration with Perry and Tolan, as well as Tolan’s first venture with Sony.

"Tolan and Perry, a twisted match made in heaven!"  Showtime president of entertainment Robert Greenblatt said.  "I've been trying to get into business with Peter Tolan for literally 20 years, so my persistence finally paid off.  And I couldn't be happier than to have him co-creating this bitingly funny character with Matthew Perry, who seems born to play this character better than anyone I can think of."



-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
(Image courtesy of Getty Images)