TCA 2015: Showtime promises ‘damn good cup of coffee’ with ‘Twin Peaks’

Showtime Network President David Nevins was finishing up his introductory remarks at the Television Critics Assn. press tour when a tall handsome man walked on stage offering him a “damn good cup of coffee.”

It was Kyle MacLachlan, a.k.a. FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper from the quirky and groundbreaking 1990s series “Twin Peaks.” MacLachlan’s appearance was to hype the upcoming reboot of the David Lynch series that will premiere on Showtime next year, the 25th anniversary of when the show last aired.

Lynch and fellow executive producer Mark Frost will write all nine episodes of the limited series, and Lynch will direct every episode, said Nevins.

Nevins said the series would be a highlight for the premium network, and that the two would have creative control: “I just write the checks and let them do their show,” he said.

Lynch and Frost met months ago in Nevins’ office to discuss the project, and Nevins said Lynch seemed particularly impressed by the violent imagery in some of the artwork, including a painting involving a small girl and a falling bookcase.

Nevins said that the reboot would differ somewhat from the previous series, which frustrated some viewers with puzzles and unanswered questions. “David promised that there will be closure,” said Nevins.

The upcoming slate also includes the Feb. 21 premiere of “Kobe Bryant’s Muse,” the April 12 launch of the final season of “Nurse Jackie,” and the second season of “Penny Dreadful,” which will launch April 26.

In addition, the network has picked up “Happyish,” the dark comedy series that was to have Philip Seymour Hoffman before the actor died last year.

Steve Coogan will star in the series as Thom Payne, a 44-year-old man whose world is turned upside down when his 25-year-old “wunderkind” boss arrives and introduces social media and modern concepts into his world. The show, which will premiere Aug. 26, also stars Bradley Whitford and Kathryn Hahn.