Showtime Picks Up New Philip Seymour Hoffman Comedy, Joshua Jackson’s ‘The Affair’

While HBO will be losing a number of major series in the coming year, Showtime's own loss of 'Dexter' and the impending 'Californication' has necessitated some new blood of its own. Enter Philip Seymour Hoffman's new dark dramedy, 'Happyish,' and 'Fringe' star Joshua Jackon's steamy new drama, 'The Affair,' both picked up to series for the near future!

Previously titled 'Trending Down,' Showtime describes ‘Happyish’ as “a blistering attack on our youth-obsessed culture and a darkly comic examination of what it means to matter. Or matter not,” while Hoffman will play the leading role of Thom Payne, Prozac and Viagra user who finds himself adrift when his advertising agency is taken over. Kathryn Hahn will play Payne’s wife Lee, while 'Amazing Spider-Man' star Rhys Ifans will portray Payne’s boss. ‘This American Life’ contributor and author Shalom Auslander created the series and will write and executive produce alongside Hoffman.

Elsewhere, the cast for ‘The Affair’ (previewed in the above first-look photo) includes Jackson, ‘The Wire‘ vet Dominic West, ‘E.R.”s Maura Tierney and Ruth Wilson, and was created by ‘In Treatment”s Sarah Treem and Hagai Levi. The new 10-episode drama will explore the main characters' two marriages affected by the titular affairs, as well as the resulting fallout that ensues. Treem wrote the pilot to feature both the male and female perspectives, while both Treem and Levi will executive produce alongside director Mark Mylod (‘Shameless‘).

Jackson will take the part of Cole, a hard-edged cowboy who manages a generational family-owned ranch on the eastern tip of Long Island. Cole’s wife Allison (Globe nominee Ruth Wilson) works in a pancake house, attempting to piece her life back together in the wake of a terrible tragedy. Said grief leads Allison into an affair with Noah (West), a New Yorker spending his summer on the island with his family, including wife Helen (Tierney).

Both series received a 10-episode order, down from Showtime's usual 12, but what say you? Which of Showtime's new dramas has you most excited for 2014?