HBO Picks Up Frank Rich Produced Julia Louis-Dreyfus Comedy

HBO has picked up the new comedy series VEEP, created by Armando Iannucci (Oscar(R) nominee for co-writing "In the Loop") and starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Emmy(R) winner for "Seinfeld" and "The New Adventures of Old Christine"), it was announced today by Michael Lombardo, president, HBO Programming. Iannucci co-wrote and directed the pilot of the series, which he executive produces along with Frank Rich of New York Magazine and Christopher Godsick ("Take the Lead"); Simon Blackwell, who co-wrote the pilot, co-executive produces and Julia Louis-Dreyfus produces. VEEP, which is expected to shoot in Baltimore, will begin production this fall for 2012 debut on HBO.

Louis-Dreyfus heads the ensemble cast of the show, which also stars Sufe Bradshaw ("Overnight"), Anna Chlumsky ("In the Loop"), Tony Hale ("Arrested Development"), Reid Scott ("My Boys"), Tim Simons ("Days Together") and Matt Walsh ("Outsourced").

Set in Washington, D.C., VEEP stars Louis-Dreyfus as former Senator Selina Meyer, who becomes Vice President, only to discover the job is nothing like she expected, but everything she was warned about. Bradshaw plays Sue, Vice President Meyer's assistant; Chlumsky plays Amy, her chief of staff; Hale plays Gary, her right-hand man; Scott plays Dan, an ambitious director of communications for a senator; Simons plays Jonah, a young and somewhat clueless White House liaison; and Walsh plays Mike, Vice President Meyer's weathered spokesperson.

"Armando Iannucci is a master of smart, savvy humor, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus is one of the sharpest comic actors around," notes Sue Naegle, president, HBO Entertainment. "We look forward to a memorable series from them and fellow executive producers Frank Rich and Christopher Godsick."

"I'm thrilled more than anyone is legally entitled to be," says Iannucci. "HBO is the dream network to make television for, and I'm excited to be working with such a superb and funny cast headed by the uber-superb-and-funny Julia Louis-Dreyfus. If making season one of VEEP is as much fun as making the pilot, then I can die chuckling. Plus, we get to say rude words."

"It is a true delight to work with HBO and Armando Iannucci," says Louis-Dreyfus. "I take the role of vice president very seriously, and although everyone says this is a comedy, I don't think there is anything funny at all about me being a heartbeat away from the presidency."