Nellie Andreeva

Andrew Lenchewski Royal PainsSteve Franks PsychEXCLUSIVE: USA Network is expanding its relationship with the creators of two of its most successful series. The cable network has put in development a drama executive produced by Psych creator Steve Franks and a half-hour comedy executive produced by Royal Pains co-creator Andrew Lenchewski. Both projects hail from Universal Cable Prods where Franks and Lenchewski are under overall deals.

Franks will supervise writers Terry Matalas and Travis Fickett (Terra Nova), who will write and co-executive produce the drama about a brother and sister who take over the family’s successful investment firm after the untimely death of their parents, only to discover that the business isn’t quite what it seems. Franks will executive produce with Chris Henze and Kelly Kulchak of Tagline Television, which has a first-look development deal with UCP. Tagline, whose sister company Thruline manages Franks, also produces Psych, which is in production on its seventh season. Franks, Tagline and Matalas & Fickett are repped by ICM Partners.

Lenchewski will executive produce half-hour single-camera comedy Speak American, which centers on Lotte Hansen, a young accent-reduction teacher with unconventional methods. She forces a group of strangers from around the world to question what it means to be American in the 21st century, and in the process, they form an unlikely family. The script will be written by Benjamin Brand (IFC’s Bollywood Hero), who will serve as co-executive producer. Speak American is part of USA’s recent push in the half-hour comedy area with the goal to have an original series on the air for the fall 2013 launch of off-network acquisition Modern Family. Lenchewski co-created Royal Pains, now is in its fourth season, with John P. Rogers. Lenchewski is repped by CAA; Brand is with Gersh and Aperture Entertainment.

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