Matthew Perry Returns to TV

Matthew Perry is heading over to Showtime. (Image Courtesy NBC)"]

If you've been missing the smug, witty Chandler quips -- Matthew Perry is returning to the small screen, except he won't have to endure the watered-down comedy scripts like he endured on Friends. Perry is jumping from basic cable to the edgier territory of Showtime in a new dark comedy entitled, The End of Steve.

Perry joins writing and executive producing forces with Peter Tolan, co-creator and executive produces the FX drama Rescue Me.

"Tolan and Perry, a twisted match made in heaven!" Showtime president of entertainment Robert Greenblatt said. "I've been trying to get into business with Peter Tolan for literally 20 years, so my persistence finally paid off. And I couldn't be happier than to have him co-creating this bitingly funny character with Matthew Perry, who seems born to play this character better than anyone I can think of."

Apparently, Perry will play a narcissistic local talk show host who is on a reluctant path to redemption.

"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."