USA Network Joins Denis Leary & Jim Serpico to Develop Comedy Pilot

Denis Leary has signed on to develop and co-write a half-hour pilot, an adaptation of the highly anticipated British Channel 4 television series "Sirens," which follows the humorous antics and dramatic conflicts of young paramedics, it was announced today by Bill McGoldrick, senior vice president, original scripted programming, USA.

Leary will co-write with Bob Fisher ("Wedding Crashers," "Traffic Light"), and both will executive produce the series along with Jim Serpico ("Rescue Me"), and Hal Vogel and David Aukin ("Hyde Park on the Hudson," "End Game," "The Promise") of Daybreak Pictures. Apostle and Fox Television Studios will produce in conjunction with Daybreak Pictures.

"We are still finding our way in the genre but we know for certain that our half hours will be written and produced by creators with a specific and unique point of view," said McGoldrick. "Since they formed Apostle, Denis and Jim have brought those two qualities to everything they've done."

The six-part UK series "Sirens" was created by Brian Fillis ("The Curse of Steptoe," "An Englishman in New York") and inspired by EMT paramedic Tom Reynolds' book, "Blood, Sweat and Tea." Swept along by an endless tide of bodily fluids rarely their own, the "Sirens" trio bicker, fight and shag their way through the darkly funny maelstrom of their lives. Behind the uniforms, the sirens, and the incredibly fast driving, they are three ordinary blokes trying to make it through yet another shift. But once they've finished saving other people's lives, they need to salvage their own.

The project joins USA's current roster of four recently announced pilots: COMMON LAW directed and executive produced by Jon Turteltaub; EDEN, from Universal Cable Productions and executive producers Ken and Mary Hanes with Jace Alexander directing; OVER/UNDER, from Universal Cable Productions and Fox TV Studios with executive producers Sheila Callaghan and Dan Halsted with Bronwen Hughes directing; and WILD CARD from executive producers Stephen Godchaux and Cary Brokaw of Avenue Pictures with Tim Matheson directing.

Since its founding in 1995 by Denis Leary and Jim Serpico, Apostle, a TV and Film Production Company based out of New York City, has produced an unprecedented amount of edgy, smart and groundbreaking projects. Not only have projects such as the television series, "Rescue Me," or a film like, "Blow," become a force in the entertainment industry, but they've also impacted the face of pop culture as we know it. While Apostle maintains its tone and darkly funny edge throughout its ventures, the production shingle's repertoire includes a wide variety of projects including scripted and non-scripted; animated and live action; drama and comedy.

Fox Television Studios produces scripted and unscripted programming for US broadcast and cable networks, and international broadcasters. Hit series include BURN NOTICE and WHITE COLLAR for USA, "The Glades" for A&E and "The Killing" for AMC. The studio also is in production on the pilots "Outlaw Country" for FX, "Three Inches" for SyFy and WILD CARD and OVER/UNDER for USA. Fox TV Studios also produces the reality hits "The Girls Next Door," "Kendra" and "Holly's World" for E! and will launch this summer the late-night comedy series "In the Flow" with Affion Crockett for FOX.

USA Network is the #1 network in all of basic cable and is seen in over 102 million U.S. homes. A division of NBCUniversal, USA is the cable television leader in original series and home to the best in blockbuster theatrical films, acquired television series and entertainment events. The award-winning USA website is located at www.usanetwork.com. Characters Welcome.

USA Network is a program service of NBCUniversal Cable a division of NBCUniversal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience.