After having his breakout role 13 years ago on Undeclared, Jay Baruchel is heading back to the small screen for a new FX comedy titled Man Seeking Woman. The How To Train Your Dragon star has signed on to play the lead role in the pilot for Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video.
Based on Saturday Night Live writer Simon Rich’s book The Last Girlfriend on Earth, the show is focused on Josh Greenberg (Baruchel), a naive romantic who re-enters the dating scene after being dumped by his longtime girlfriend. What he finds is a terrifying hellscape, but he struggles through it with the hopes of finding someone to make all the torture and agony worthwhile.
Baruchel is one of my favorite comedic actors working today. While he was sort of the straight-man in last year’s This Is The End, there’s no denying his talents when it comes to comedy. I especially love how he can avoid being too over-the-top, which could be helpful given the show’s concept.
As for FX, they’ve turned out some of the best comedies on television. Between It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Louie, Wilfred, and Archer, they’ve got a fairly wide range of comedic styles, and it’s all hilarious. I have faith in anything they green light, at least enough so to give it a shot, and I’d say this one is definitely worth keeping an eye on, especially with Baruchel now attached.
No further casting has been announced yet, but filming is scheduled to begin this spring in Toronto. Rich will executive produce alongside Michaels, while FX Prods. will be producing the show.
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