According to The Hollywood Reporter, Matthew Perry is returning to NBC. After lengthy on-again, off-again negotiations, the Friends star has signed on to star in Aaron Sorkin and Thomas Schlamme's new untitled drama for NBC, previously known as Studio 7.

D.L. Hughley and Steven Weber also have been cast in the ensemble show, set behind the scenes at a fictional long-running sketch-comedy series in the mold of Saturday Night Live. Perry will play Matt Albie, a genius comic writer who was forced out of his position as co-executive producer on the sketch show after a dispute with the network, UBS. Sorkin wrote the part with Perry in mind.