Sitcom veteran David Steinberg (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Seinfeld) is attached to direct and exec produce Single White Spenny, a one-hour pilot for Canwest starring Spencer Rice (Kenny vs. Spenny. Breakthrough Films & Television is set to wrap shooting this week in Toronto.

Breakthrough’s Ira Levy, who coproduces with Peter Williamson, describes the show’s humor as ‘improvisational style’ similar to that of Curb Your Enthusiasm. Breakthrough also produced Rice’s recent movie Confessions of a Porn Addict, and is set to make season six of Kenny vs. Spenny for Showcase and Comedy Central.

‘We originally approached David to direct the pilot for the series Less Than Kind,’ explains Levy. The Winnipeg native was unavailable but asked to see some episodes of the ‘Peg-set sitcom when it was complete. He was impressed and asked to work on the company’s next project.

That was when comedy impresario Mark Breslin, owner of the Yuk Yuk’s chain, who also appeared in Porn Addict, suggested that Rice team up with Stevie Ray Fromstein (Grace Under Fire, Roseanne) to collaborate on a script. They came up with Single White Spenny. They took it to Steinberg, who met Rice, ‘loved him and wanted to become involved,’ says Levy.

Steinberg will direct and exec produce. Steinberg is also attached to direct the pilot for the half-hour comedy Living in Your Car, due next year on The Movie Network and Movie Central from The Nightingale Company.

The would-be series is loosely based on Rice’s personal experiences, and follows him as he attempts to disprove his ex-wife’s assertion that he’s an inept child incapable of creating or maintaining a serious emotional relationship. The pilot also stars comics Debra McGrath, Nikki Payne, Dana Puddicombe and Breslin.

The pilot will also be shopped to U.S. broadcasters.