Here's the article as it appears in The New York Times:
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - For its next true reality hit, CBS is betting on ``Liar,'' a U.S. adaptation of the BBC comedy game show, which producer-actor D.L. Hughley has come on board to host.
The network has given a pilot order for the half-hour project from FremantleMedia North America, whose Talkback subsidiary produces the original series, and Ben Silverman's Universal-based Reveille. The show is targeted for midseason.
``Liar'' pitches six contestants against an inquiring audience for a cash prize. All six players tell similar stories, but only one of them is conveying a real-life experience, while the other five are making it up. By asking questions, the audience has to weed out the fakes until they identify the person who is telling the truth.
If the audience guesses right, they share the money; if they don't, the player who fooled them takes home the cash.
`` 'Liar' is a 21st-century version of 'To Tell the Truth,''' said Silverman, who is executive producing with FremantleMedia North America entertainment president David Lyle. ``I find D.L. to be so funny. He has such high energy and natural talent that it feels like a perfect match of a great format and a great talent.''
As for CBS jumping on the idea, ``it's really an interesting move for CBS to be looking at a primetime structured comedy show,'' Lyle said. ``It's an innovative move for them, and we're glad to be part of it.''
The project marks the first producing collaboration between Silverman and FremantleMedia, the company he once represented as an agent. It's also Reveille's first pilot for CBS.
FremantleMedia most recently produced for CBS the summer reality series ``Cupid,'' while ``Liar'' reunites Hughley with the network where he co-starred in his first primetime series, the short-lived 1995 comedy ``Double Rush.''
``I am excited to be doing a show about the very thing at which I am an expert,'' Hughley said about the show.
``Liar'' debuted on BBC2 in August, and the format already has been sold to four international territories.
Hughley co-created, toplined and executive produced the ABC/UPN sitcom ``The Hughleys,'' now in syndication. He is on the big screen in the hit comedy ``Scary Movie 3'' and next co-stars in MGM's ``Soul Plane.''
Reveille's credits include NBC's ``The Restaurant'' and ``Coupling'' and upcoming ``The Office'' and ``Adrenaline X,'' both also for NBC.
In addition to its megahit ``American Idol,'' FremantleMedia's slate also includes the syndicated ``The Price Is Right'' and ``Family Feud'' and the upcoming ``Swan'' for Fox.