Billy Crystal to star in new US sitcom

Hollywood actor Billy Crystal has landed the lead in a US cable TV sitcom, according to Deadline.com.

The details obtained by Deadline.com are still meager, and the plot is not divulged. The only information the infotainment specialist will pass on is that the sitcom, which doesn't have a title yet, draws its inspiration from a European format.

Billy Crystal, a film star who hosted the Academy Awards nine times between 1990 and 2012, will be joining forces with Ben Wexler ("Community") to write the script, which is to be presented next week to the cable broadcasters concerned.

Larry Charles, ex-staff writer for the sitcom "Seinfeld" and director of Sacha Baron Cohen's films "Borat," "Brüno" and "The Dictator," will be sitting behind the camera on this one, with Matt Nix ("Burn Notice") doing the honors as producer.

This comedy series will mark a return to his roots for Billy Crystal, who began his career in the late '70s on the sitcom "Soap," a parody of American soap operas. His last television appearance was back in 1997 on the series "Friends."