Perry makes new friends at Showtime

LOS ANGELES, June 19 (UPI) -- Canadian actor Matthew Perry has signed on to executive produce and star in a pilot for a new Showtime series called "The End of Steve."

Perry is best known for his roles on the TV shows "Friends" and "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip."

The pilot for the series was co-written by Perry and writer-producer Peter Tolan, who has recently had success as co-creator and executive producer on the firefighter drama "Rescue Me," Variety.com said.

Perry, who will be credited as co-creator of "Steve" with Tolan, will play a local TV talk-show host who is genial on-screen, but cantankerous when the cameras stop rolling.

"Matthew had a kernel of an idea that he had been fleshing out, and he got together with Peter," Sony TV co-president Zack Van Amburg, told Variety.com. "Peter worked closely and collaborated with Matthew, and they rounded up a full show."