'Family Guy' Creator Seth MacFarlane Sells New Comedy to Starz, with Patrick Stewart

Seth MacFarlane is taking the leap to premium cable, and he's taking Sir Patrick Stewart with him.

Starz has officially picked up 20 episodes of a new, live-action comedy from MacFarlane titled "Blunt Talk" and starring the erstwhile Captain Picard. Stewart and MacFarlane have a long history of working together, as Stewart has provided voices for "Family Guy," "American Dad" and MacFarlane's feature film "Ted."

The series will center on Stewart's character Walter Blunt, a Brit working in America in the world of cable news. But Blunt's own editorializing on his nightly interview show gets him in trouble as he starts trying to influence how Americans think and behave.

The character will give those who haven't been keeping up with Stewart's comedy career, in particular his cameo on "Extras," a look at a completely different side of the British legend...especially if Starz CEO Chris Albrecht's description proves true. "In the character of Walter Blunt, Seth, Jonathan and Patrick have found the alchemy that makes a borderline alcoholic, mad-genius-Brit the man you want fighting in America’s corner," Albrecht said. "Seth and Jonathan have struck the right balance between biting wit and outright absurdity in building this world, and we cannot wait for Patrick to breathe life into Walter."

The 20-episode order will be split into two 10-episode seasons, set to begin in 2015.

As for MacFarlane, this will make him one of the more diversified producers in television right now: "Family Guy," "American Dad" and his other new animated show "Bordertown" will be airing next year, and "Cosmos" and "Dads" both have a chance (albeit a slim one) of being renewed. Additionally, MacFarlane has the upcoming film "A Million Ways to Die in the West" hitting theaters soon, and a sequel to "Ted" also in the works.