Michael Rapaport Developing Drama For CBS

Michael Rapaport has signed a development deal with CBS. Under the deal, he will develop, star in and produce an hourlong project for the network. The project will be produced by Denis Leary and Jim Serpico’s Apostle Pictures, Sony TV and CBS Paramount TV. The untitled project, to be written by Basketball Diaries scribe Bryan Goluboff, is based on an idea Rapaport has tossed around for four years. It revolves around the lives of social workers in New York and is inspired by the experiences of a good friend of Rapaport’s who is a social worker in the Big Apple.

“It will deal with the ups and downs and the goods and bads of what social workers do,” Rapaport said. “It’s going to be very touching and emotional, as what these characters do is so tough and gritty, but there also will be a lot of room for humor.” Goluboff, Leary and Serpico will executive produce the CBS project, with Rapaport serving as producer.

The blend of drama and comedy and the setting, an ensemble of public-service workers in New York, is reminiscent of Apostle’s trademark series, FX’s Rescue Me.