HBO greenlights Christopher Guest-created comedy series starring Chris O'Dowd

[BillBrasky]

From Deadline:

HBO has given a straight-to-series order to "Family Tree", a single-camera comedy from Christopher Guest starring "Bridesmaids"‘ Chris O’Dowd. Written and created by Guest and frequent collaborator Jim Piddock and to be directed by Guest, "Family Tree" is a documentary-style comedy in the style of Christopher Guest’s films, which follows the world and journey of 30-year-old Tom Chadwick (O’Dowd). Having recently lost his job and girlfriend, Tom has a rather unsure sense of his own identity. But when he inherits a mysterious box of belongings from a great aunt that he never met, he starts investigating his family lineage and uncovers a whole world of unusual stories and characters and a growing sense of who he is and who his real family are. Like he does with his movies, Guest will appear on the show along with Piddock, who had roles in Guest’s three most recent features, "For Your Consideration", "A Mighty Wind" and "Best In Show". The two will executive produce the series with Karen Murphy, who has produced all of Guest’s films.

The order for "Family Tree", which will also air on BBC Two in the UK, is yet to be finalized but is expected to be around 8 episodes. The series is being produced by NBC Universal International TV Production-owned U.K. company A Lucky Giant, which developed the project with UTA-repped Guest. Casting begins right away with David Rubin as the US casting director. O’Dowd is with UTA, 3 Arts and UK’s Gordon & French.

"Family Tree" is the third consecutive comedy project with a British pedigree to get a green light by HBO, following the pilot orders to Stephen Merchant’s "Hello Ladies" and an adaptation of the BBC medical comedy "Getting On".

[beewcar]

Beyond excited for this series. I suppose we can expect appearances from most of Guest's rogues gallery?

[mike]

Hope he doesn't have to speak in his weird american accent.

[BillBrasky]

Fred Willard, Michael McKean, and Ed Begley Jr. will all have roles in this.

Willard will play O'Dowd's neighbor, McKean will play his dad, and Ed Begley Jr. will play his uncle.

[BillBrasky]

3 more cast members were added to this: Nina Conti will play O'Dowd's sister, Tom Bennett will play his best friend, and Amy Siemetz ("Tiny Furniture") will play Ally, an aspiring writer who works in a bookstore who Tom meets in unusual circumstances when he visits Los Angeles.

If you don't know who Nina Conti is, she is a British ventriloquist who has achieved some success in the UK with her act with her monkey puppet "Monk". She actually appeared in Guest's movie "For Your Consideration" along with Monk. Here's a clip of her act: