Sarah Silverman Lands Lead Role in New Lorne Michaels HBO Comedy

Sarah Silverman will reunite with ‘SNL’ creator, Lorne Michaels, for his upcoming comedy pilot, ‘People in New Jersey’, for HBO.

The 30-minute show, written by Girls’ Bruce Eric Kaplan, is described as “a hilarious, poignant look at life today as seen through the prism of an adult brother and sister living in New Jersey. They each struggle to get through the day, asking themselves the big questions, little questions and everything in between,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Silverman will play the “adult sister”, Melanie Levin, a former management consultant who currently works at a department store part-time. Although the job is meant to be temporary, Melanie doesn’t feel that it is.

“Melanie is involved with a man in what her mother describes as a "half-relationship." Melanie is starting to wonder if she deserves something better. She can be extremely driven and fights for what she believes in. She is a closet optimist,” The Hollywood Reporter writes.

‘That 70’s Show’ star, Topher Grace, is confirmed to play Silverman’s brother, Carl Levin. He is described as “an affable locksmith who has a definite idea of how things and people should be, and when the world doesn't conform to his vision, he resists mightily. He is warm and thinks of others, but at the same time is rigid and hates change. Carl is single and dating constantly.”

Broadway star, Patti LuPone, will play Rachel Levin, Melanie and Carl’s mother.

If ‘People in New Jersey’ gets picked up, it will mark the first leading TV role for Silverman since Comedy Central’s ‘The Sarah Silverman Program.”