Kohan grows new Showtime series

'Weeds' creator to co-write 'Ronna and Beverly'

By CYNTHIA LITTLETON

Kohan

Jenji Kohan, creator and exec producer of "Weeds," is exec producing and co-writing a comedy project for Showtime and Lionsgate TV with hyphenates Jessica Chaffin and Jamie Denbo.

"Ronna and Beverly" is based on a comedy sketch that Chaffin and Denbo have honed for the past few years at clubs and other venues.

"Ronna and Beverly" revolves around two middle-aged women in Boston who decide to self-publish and aggressively promote a dating guide for Jewish singles, "You'll Do a Little Better Next Time."

Paul Feig ("The Office") is attached to direct the project, skedded to shoot in early February. Chaffin and Denbo, who will play the title characters, co-wrote the pilot script with Kohan. Showtime has ordered a presentation reel.

The project came together quickly after Kohan saw Chaffin and Denbo in action in the sketch.

"They've created two of the most fully realized characters I've ever seen," Kohan said of Chaffin and Denbo. "It came together so easily when we all sat down to write the script."

Chaffin has worked as a writer on the Amy Poehler-produced Nickelodeon toon "The Mighty B" and had a semi-regular thesp role on Nickelodeon's live-actioner "Zoey 101." She's also logged guest stints on "Entourage" and "Weeds." Denbo's thesp credits include Comedy Central's "Reno 911," Fox's short-lived laffer "Happy Hour" and Jim Carrey's latest pic "Yes Man."