New Sketch Comedy Series Heading to NBC?

According to The Hollywood Reporter, NBC is "prepping" a currently untitled comedy project along with Lou Wallach, former Senior Vice President of Original Programming at Comedy Central. THR reports exclusively that the peacock network is scheduled to launch a, "multiple-city search for both new and veteran writer-performers in the stand-up, improv and sketch comedy circuits with the hopes of creating one flagship series."

The series would serve a similar function as the network's long-running NBC late night staple Saturday Night Live, which in recent years has been a launching pad for the careers of such network stars as Jimmy Fallon, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph and Seth Meyers.

In recent years, NBC has struggled with the more traditional comedy sitcom format and appears ready to experiment with an alternative means of bringing comedy to its viewers. Next season, only two NBC sitcom will be returning to the line-up; Parks and Recreation and Community. Neither series is considered a runaway hit.

The source describes the format of the planned project as similar to Fox's In Living Color and the legendary variety series, The Carol Burnett Show. Casting will be accomplished through scouring clubs, and checking out the newest talents performing in the Upright Citizens Brigade, Second City and The Improv. The search will include stops in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Montreal and Toronto.