Following his Emmy-nominated turn on FX's drama "Damages," Ted Danson is staying on cable with a lead role in HBO's comedy pilot "Bored to Death."

The project stars Jason Schwartzman as a struggling Brooklyn writer with a drinking problem who pretends to be a private detective in the vein of his heroes from Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett novels. Danson will play his friend and quasi-mentor, a pompous but articulate magazine editor.

Danson's role as the sinister Arthur Frobisher on "Damages" earned him his first Emmy nomination in 15 years, since "Cheers." He is set to reprise his "Damages" character, who was shot in the first season finale, in at least three episodes on the legal thriller's second season.

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