Sean Jablonski’s Escort Drama Gets Series Order at USA

USA Network is continuing to bulk up on original programming, ordering its Sean Jablonski drama to series.

The cable network has picked up 10 episodes of the untitled drama starring Matt Passmore (The Glades) for a debut in the summer.

The untitled effort revolves around investment banker Neil Truman (Passmore) and his wife, Grace (Stephanie Szostak, The Devil Wears Prada), as they try to sift through their stagnant relationship looking for what they once had. But when Neil discovers that Grace is seeing a male escort and accidentally comes into possession of the escort’s phone, he gains a unique perspective on his life and what motivates women. Meanwhile, Grace contemplates whether her needs are being met and whether her marriage is worth saving.

STORY: USA Orders Escort Drama Pilot From Former ‘Suits’ Showrunner

Jablonski — who served as showrunner on the first season of USA’s Suits before exiting ahead of its second run — will write and executive produce the Universal Cable Productions drama alongside Community‘s Russ Krasnoff. Jablonski currently serves as a co-executive producer on ABC’s fall drama Betrayal and developed React at TNT. The series will film in Atlanta, with a specific premiere date yet to be announced.

“This is a powerful new addition to our drama slate and marks the next generation of sophisticated storytelling for USA,” USA Network president Chris McCumber said. “Through a culturally resonant story of an imperfect marriage, the series takes a captivating look at real modern-day issues facing couples in today’s complicated world.”

For USA, the drama pickup comes as the cabler is poised to launch what it called an unprecedented amount of new original series this year. In addition to the Jablonski drama, USA recently picked up six-episode mini Dig, starring Jason Isaacs, and will premiere two original comedies — Sirens from EP Denis Leary as well as Jessica St.Clair‘s and Lennon Parham‘s Playing House — this year. Also on the roster are ABC Signature’s first entry, the Mark Gordon-produced comedy Benched, starring Happy Endings‘ Eliza Coupe.

STORY: Sexual Infidelity: Fall TV’s Hottest Topic

The Jablonski entry also comes as USA is poised to say farewell to one of its signature series, Psych, this month. The Passmore-starrer joins an original lineup that includes Covert Affairs, Graceland, Royal Pains and Suits, with negotiations underway for a sixth season of White Collar. 

On the pilot side, USA also has Matt Nix drama Complications as well as hourlong entries Rush and The Novice. Meanwhile, comedy pilot Love Is Dead from Chuck‘s Zev Borow and starring Ben Rappaport will not move forward at the network. Producer Universal Cable Productions will shop the half-hour effort, about a company who breaks up relationships, elsewhere.

The Jablonski drama is one of a handful of dramas exploring sexual infidelity in the works at both the broadcast and cable networks. Showtime has Joshua Jackson drama The Affair; HBO has Ryan Murphy‘s Anna Torv drama pilot Open; and FX recently picked up a comedy starring Judy Greer as a wife who allows her husband (Nat Faxon) to seek sexual satisfaction elsewhere in a bid to save their marriage.

Jablonski is repped by WME and Underground.

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@THR.com
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