The Cable Guy won by Columbia Pictures at a price of $1 million. The role of the Cable Guy was originally written for Chris Farley, who turned it down due to scheduling difficulties. Jim Carrey joined the production, receiving a then record $20 million to star. Following Carrey's signing, Columbia hired Judd Apatow to produce. The studio rebuffed Apatow's interest in directing, but accepted his suggestion to invite Ben Stiller, star of his eponymous show on which Apatow had worked. The original screenplay by Lou Holtz, Jr. was a lighter comedy, described by Apatow as "a "What About Bob?" annoying friend movie" where
Guy Sprung Guy Sprung Guy Sprung is a director of film and theatre born in Ottawa in 1947. He lives in the Mile End area of Montreal and is the artistic director of Infinitheatre. Guy co-founded Half Moon Theatre in 1972 with Maurice Colbourne and Michael Irving and was the first Artistic Director. He directed the opening production of "In the Jungle of the Cities". Other productions he directed included "Will Wat, If Not, What Will?", "Fall In and Follow Me", "Get Off My Back", "Ripper!", "The 3p Off Opera" and "Paddy". He also directed the community productions "Spare Us a Copper"