Showtime developing ‘Californication’ spinoff — EXCLUSIVE

Showtime is developing a potential spinoff of its acclaimed comedy series Californication.

Californication writer-executive producer Tom Kapinos has created a new professional groupie character who will be prominently featured next season, with an eye toward possibly giving her a stand-alone show.

The sixth season will introduce “Faith.” She’s in her mid-to-late 20s, and described as “what happens when an innocent young Catholic school girl is exposed to the evils of rock and roll and falls heads over heels in love with the music and the men who make it.” Faith has been on the road with various bands for years and is considered a muse by some elite artists. Though she has a fondness for sex, drugs and rock and role, she remains quite religious.

Faith has a nine-episode arc next season, which will premiere in 2013. At this early stage, the spinoff is by no means assured. First the producers will have to cast the right actress, then the role must connect with viewers. 

Injecting new characters into an existing show is one of the preferred methods lately to attempt a spinoff, such as NCIS and Bones introducing characters for NCIS: LA and The Finder, respectively. The Californication plan is more unique since Faith is expected to play a significant role next season rather than just appearing in a one-off “backdoor pilot.” Californication remains a popular draw on Showtime, the recent fifth season averaged 2.8 million viewers, including DVR and encore airings, up 12 percent from season four.