Blueprint Entertainment has two new series — an edgy comedy and a sci-fi drama — in development with American cable outlets.

The prodco, which has offices in Toronto and L.A., is developing the one-hour dark comedy Hung for HBO. Created by writing partners and real-life married couple Colette Burson (writer/director of the 1999 feature Coming Soon) and Dmitry Lipkin (creator and head writer of The Riches), the storyline follows a former high school sports legend who is now plodding along in midlife as a struggling father and high school basketball coach.

‘He wants to make a success of his life, so he uses the one attribute he has left and becomes a male escort,’ says Blueprint chairman John Morayniss. ‘It is quirky and a little dark. In the U.S. there seems to be a heightened interest for shows like this, based on the success of programs like Weeds and Californication. Hung is in that tone.’

Morayniss says Blueprint shopped the script around U.S. broadcasters and there was a resulting bidding war. Hung is one of the first projects okayed by new HBO Entertainment president Sue Naegle.

‘HBO put their money where their mouth is in terms of showing how much they love it and attached a significant penalty payment,’ says Morayniss. ‘They [Burston and Lipkin] are doing a rewrite on the script and we expect a pilot will be ordered quickly. It’s on the fast track.’

He adds that the budget will likely be in the $2.5-million per hour range.

‘So you know we will attract great talent,’ says Morayniss. ‘We already have some very high-end directors throwing their hat in the ring unsolicited by us.’

Blueprint has also teamed up with Deal or No Deal host Howie Mandel and Universal Media Studios on Kill-Switch, a one-hour drama in development with Sci Fi Channel.

The project is written by Don Mancini (best known for creating the character of Chucky, and writing the films in the Child’s Play series) and revolves around a woman who can jump into the bodies of people about to be murdered.

‘It’s basically Murder, She Wrote meets Quantum Leap,’ says Morayniss.

The project was originally developed by Touchstone, but was passed on by the networks. Blueprint then picked up the rights.

‘Howie Mandel has also been tracking the project, so we partnered with him. A rewrite of the script is currently underway.’

In other Blueprint news, the company says its comedy/reality series Kenny vs. Spenny — produced with Breakthrough Films and Television, and airing on Showcase in Canada and Comedy Central in the U.S. — is expected to be ordered for a fifth season.