Edie Falco comedy series close at Showtime (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Showtime is close to giving a series pickup to an untitled dark comedy starring Edie Falco.

The "Sopranos" veteran plays a strong-willed, iconoclastic New York nurse juggling the frenzied grind of an urban hospital and an equally challenging personal life. On Thursday, Falco received an Emmy nomination for her guest role as a liberal lawmaker on NBCs "30 Rock."

Showtime put the project on the fast track in February when it picked it up to pilot.

Word of the impending green light comes on the heels of the premium cable networks series pickup of "Juno" scribe Diablo Codys mental-health comedy "The United States of Tara." Also in contention for a series pickup at Showtime is the Tim Robbins-penned drama "Possible Side Effects."

Showtime, home of "Dexter" and "Weeds," is on roll of late, having nabbed 21 Emmy nominations Thursday -- its most in a single year.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter