Jason Lee of ‘Earl’ fame becomes Elvis impersonator

Posted Nov 18, 2009 by Walt Belcher

Updated Nov 23, 2009 at 08:07 PM

This sounds like my kind of show:

Jason Lee, who starred for four seasons on “My Name Is Earl,” has been cast in the lead role of the TNT pilot “Delta Blues.”

He will play Dwight Hendricks, a Memphis police officer who lives with his mother and moonlights as an Elvis impersonator. But is it a drama or a comedy?

The pilot comes from George Clooney and Grant Heslov’s Smokehouse Pictures, and Warner Horizon Television.

It will be directed by Emmy nominee Clark Johnson (“The Shield”) from a script by Liz M. Garcia (“Cold Case”) and actor Joshua Harto (“The Dark Knight”).

“Jason Lee is the ideal choice to bring the compelling, off-kilter Dwight Hendricks to life,” said Michael Wright, executive vice president and head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies.  “With extraordinary talent in front of and behind the camera, along with an outstanding script, ‘Delta Blues’ is shaping up to be a hugely entertaining show and a great fit with our lineup of original dramas.”

Lee’s career includes two Golden Globe nominations and two Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for his starring role as Earl Hickey on the comedy series “My Name Is Earl.”