Hot Topics:

Steve Carell's Carousel forms TV arm

Production unit strikes deal with Universal

Rainbow's Carroll promoted to COO

'Rescue Me' braces for controversy

'Sit Down, Shut Up' gets airdate

'New Moon' crosses $200 million(4891 views)

Invictus(2127 views)

The costs of Hollywood spending(1759 views)

Hollywood sea of change(1502 views)

Pearce hops on to 'Hungry Rabbit'(677 views)

Football player elbows vampires on Turkey day(676 views)

Steve Carell has formed a TV wing of his Carousel Prods. shingle and struck a three-year first-look deal with Universal Media Studios, which is Carell's TV studio home for NBC's "The Office."

Carousel Television will be run by Thom Hinkle, who started out with Carell on "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart," and Campbell Smith.

The TV company is part of the Carousel Prods. banner that Carell planted last fall at Warner Bros. to develop comedy features, some of which will be star vehicles. "Daily Show" alum Vance DeGeneres and Charlie Hartsock are running the shingle for Carell.

Ben Silverman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios co-chairman and an exec producer of "The Office," called Carell "an extraordinary talent" and experienced writer and producer.

Hinkle moved from "The Daily Show" to take a senior staff position with North South Prods., for whom he established a West Coast production office. Hinkle was creator and co-executive producer of "Getting Aboard," "The Deadbeats" and "I Bet You." Smith worked closely with Hinkle at North South.

"Thom and Campbell are smart, funny and creative, and they also smell great," Carell said.