Turns out CBS likes the CBC classroom sitcom Mr. D – a lot. They just want to American it up a bit.
Comedian Gerry Dee, the creator of the sitcom, told the Sun he'd signed a deal Thursday with CBS for the format rights to the series based on his career as a Toronto teacher.
Fellow Canadian Will Arnett will be shepherding the project through his production company.
"It's like they did with The Office, they're going to do a U.S. version of Mr. D," Dee said. "Mike (co-creator Volpe) and I will be executive producers
"The evolution of it is I have a friend who said, 'I'm good buddies with Will Arnett. I used to go to high school with him. I should set you two guys up.' I've heard that, like 50 times in my life, 'I know so-and-so.' So I'm like, 'Sure, Scott. Go ahead.'
"I get an email from Will Arnett, like, four hours later. 'Dude watched your show, watched your clips, we love it, let's talk.' I went to LA. We pitched. We're working with CBS Studios."
For its part, in a release Friday, the network confirmed the planned series, as well as Dee and Volpe's involvement, and described it as "a workplace ensemble set at a public high school." It did not name Mr. D as the series' inspiration.
Tom Hertz, former showrunner for Rules Of Engagement, is attached to run the show.
No word on whether Arnett's interest means he'd like to act in it as well. "It's too early for that. We don't even have a pilot script yet," Dee said. "My role is going to be behind-the-scenes as an executive producer.
"I don't even know where I'm going to be involved creatively – except that I will be involved, because it's about my life.
"I have the same agent as Ricky Gervais down there who did that deal for The Office. I'm not Ricky Gervais, I get that. But at the same time I don't know of a Canadian sitcom that's ever done this before."
Production wrapped in September on season five of Mr. D and there is already talk of a sixth. Dee is interrupting his time in the editing booth next week to kick off a national tour as host of Just For Laughs National Tour, with comedians Robert Kelly, Cristela Alonzo and Graham Chittenden.
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