An actor from NBC’s “30 Rock” will take on a starring role in a new CBS drama. EW.com’s Inside TV reports that actor Dean Winters is joining the project “Battle Creek."

Winters will portray Detective Russ Agnew of the Battle Creek Police Department. His character is described as a “smart, tough, impatient, and pragmatic guy who gets results but whom no one wants to partner with because he prefers to cut through any nonsense, and this has earned him a reputation for being mean and gruff.”

The project is from “Breaking Bad’s" Vince Gilligan, who wrote the script, and “House” creator David Shore, who will serve as showrunner.

On “30 Rock,” Winters played Liz Lemon’s former boyfriend Dennis Duffy. He also stars in the Allstate Insurance TV ads as “Mayhem.”

Dean Winters