Showtime orders Carrey comedy

US cablenet Showtime has handed a series order to a new Jim Carrey comedy and teased the launch of the eagerly anticipated Twin Peaks revival.

Jim Carrey

I’m Dying Up Here is set in LA’s celebrated and infamous stand-up comedy scene of the 1970s during which the careers of many US comedy superstars began.

It will be exec produced by Hollywood actor Carrey alongside Dave Flebotte (Masters of Sex), Michael Aguilar (The Departed) and Christina Wayne (Copper) for Endemol Shine Studios and Assembly Entertainment.

Its cast includes Melissa Leo, Ari Graynor, Clark Duke, Michael Angarano, Andrew Santino, RJ Cyler and Erik Griffin.

The series was confirmed during the cable network’s Television Critics Association presentation yesterday.

Showtime president and CEO David Nevins also discussed the forthcoming Twin Peaks revival, revealing that the David Lynch series is due to begin airing “in early 2017.”

Meanwhile, the cablenet has renewed comedy drama Shameless for a seventh season, with production due to begin on 12 new episodes later this year.

The channel will be made available to more than 70 million homes for a free preview weekend starting this Saturday, when new drama Billions and political series The Circus will premiere.