The situation comedy — the brainchild of Bob Halley, John's longtime business manager — concerns the lives of a rock star named Max Slash and his manager Freddy Lazarus. Slash, according to the industry paper, is an amalgam of such pop stars as John, Rod Stewart, David Bowie and Mick Jagger. Elton John and Bernie Taupin will write original music for the series, which will be penned by "Sex and the City"'s Cindy Chupack. Michael Edelstein, one of the show's executive producers, told Variety, "Cindy wrote a phenomenal script. Steve McPherson and his team at ABC and Mark Pedowitz at Touchstone were so behind the project that they moved quickly and early."

John's recent recording, "Peachtree Road," features a track titled "Him and Us," which was written specifically for the new TV venture.

In addition to his pop success, Elton John's London and Broadway musicals include The Lion King, Aida, Billy Elliot—The Musical and the forthcoming Lestat.