Weaver answers 'Prayers'
Actress to star in Lifetime movie

By CYNTHIA LITTLETON

Sigourney Weaver is set to topline and co-produce the Lifetime telepic "Prayers for Bobby," playing a deeply conservative and religious woman who begins to question her opposition to homosexuality after the suicide of her gay son.

Telepic is based on the 1995 Leroy Aarons book of the same name that recounts the true story of a family's refusal to accept their son's homosexuality. Russell Mulcahy ("Queer as Folk") directs from a script by Katie Ford ("Miss Congeniality").

In her first telepic role, Weaver will star as Mary Griffith, a devout Christian who winds up becoming an advocate for gay and lesbian youths after her son is driven into a deep depression by his family's disapproval and attempts to "cure" him of his sexual orientation.

"Prayers for Bobby" is from Once Upon a Time Films, Permut Presentations and Sladek Taaffe Prods. Exec producers are Stanley M. Brooks, David Permut, Daniel Sladek and Chris Taaffe.

Jeffrey Bell is 'Harper's' showrunner

Serialized horror drama from CBS Paramount

By Nellie Andreeva

Jeffrey Bell has been tapped executive producer/showrunner on CBS' midseason series "Harper's Island," which is being retooled.

The serialized horror drama, from CBS Paramount, is described as "Scream" meets "10 Little Indians" and revolves around a group of friends who are terrorized when they meet on an island off the Seattle coast for a destination wedding.

Ari Schlossberg penned the pilot presentation, which was directed by Jon Turteltaub.

Bell will now write the first episode and run the series. He will executive produce alongside Turteltaub.

Schlossberg, Karim Zriek and Dan Shotz serve as co-exec producers.

The project will undergo major recasting. Only Elaine Cassidy from the original cast is expected to remain.

Post-upfront tweaks are common practice, especially when a project was shot as a presentation and requires the filming of a new first episode.

Last year, another new CBS drama series picked up from a presentation, "Moonlight," also was retooled, and all principal actors from the presentation were recast except the lead, Alex O'Loughlin.

Bell ("Alias," "Angel") is repped by CAA and attorney Cliff Gilbert-Lurie.

Rob Estes, Katee Sackhoff join series

He's relocating to '90210'; she's recurring on 'Nip/Tuck'

By Nellie Andreeva and Kimberly Nordyke

Rob Estes is set to star in the CW's "90210," while Katee Sackhoff has joined FX's "Nip/Tuck" as recurring.

In other casting news, Polly Walker has come on board Sci Fi Channel's two-hour pilot "Caprica," Saul Rubinek has been added to Sci Fi's pilot "Warehouse 13" and Michael Weston has been tapped for a multi-episode arc on Fox's "House."

"90210" centers on the Mills, a three-generation Beverly Hills family. Estes will play the father, Harry Mills, who takes a job as principal of West Beverly High, his alma mater, after he moves his family from Kansas.

This is the second "Beverly Hills, 90210" spinoff for Estes, who played Kyle McBride on Fox's "Melrose Place."

Estes, who most recently co-starred in ABC's "Women's Murder Club," is repped by ICM, Thruline and attorney Brad Small.

On the upcoming sixth season of "Nip/Tuck," Sackhoff ("Battlestar Galactica") will play Dr. Theodora "Teddy" Lowe, a new doctor who challenges Sean (Dylan Walsh). She will appear in four episodes.

Also set to appear in the FX drama is Morgan Fairchild, who will play a movie star in one episode.

Sackhoff is repped by manager Leland Labarre and attorney Darren Trattner.

Fairchild is with B.R.S. and McGowan Management.

On the "Galactica" prequel "Caprica," Walker ("Rome") will play Sister Clarice Willow, the gracious, eloquent and duplicitous high priestess and headmistress of the Athena Academy, a private religious school.

In "Warehouse," Rubinek ("Leverage") will play Artie Nielsen, a longtime Secret Service agent in charge of Warehouse 13, a location where the government houses supernatural objects.

On "House," Weston ("Scrubs") will play P.I. Lucas, a private investigator who is as intelligent but not as abrasive as Dr. House (Hugh Laurie). After a trial in a multi-episode arc, the character could become a regular on the hit Fox medical drama or become the center of a spinoff series.

quote:

Originally posted by PaddyFilm:
Weaver answers 'Prayers'
Actress to star in Lifetime movie

By CYNTHIA LITTLETON

Sigourney Weaver is set to topline and co-produce the Lifetime telepic "Prayers for Bobby," playing a deeply conservative and religious woman who begins to question her opposition to homosexuality after the suicide of her gay son.

Telepic is based on the 1995 Leroy Aarons book of the same name that recounts the true story of a family's refusal to accept their son's homosexuality. Russell Mulcahy ("Queer as Folk") directs from a script by Katie Ford ("Miss Congeniality").

In her first telepic role, Weaver will star as Mary Griffith, a devout Christian who winds up becoming an advocate for gay and lesbian youths after her son is driven into a deep depression by his family's disapproval and attempts to "cure" him of his sexual orientation.

"Prayers for Bobby" is from Once Upon a Time Films, Permut Presentations and Sladek Taaffe Prods. Exec producers are Stanley M. Brooks, David Permut, Daniel Sladek and Chris Taaffe.

well i guess we know who's gonna win the emmy next year...

Fox to remake 'Hole in the Wall'
Network pacts with Fremantle for gameshow

By JOSEF ADALIAN

Fox has pacted with "American Idol" producer FremantleMedia North America to produce a U.S. version of the successful Japanese gameshow "Hole in the Wall."

Stunt-based skein is a sort of human version of the videogame Tetris. Players, dressed in spandex and hard hats, face down a moving barrier that features ever-changing cut-out shapes. They have to contort their bodies every which way in order to fit through the wall or else end up being swept into a pool of water.

Players compete in teams, making coordination and quick thinking necessary to win. Teams gain or lose points depending on whether they manage to stay dry through each round.

Fuji TV launched "Hole in the Wall" in July 2006. FremantleMedia has since produced eight international versions of the format in countries such as Australia, Russia and India.

FremantleMedia North America chief exec Cecile Frot-Coutaz said the format "has a universal comedic appeal with viewers of all ages across multiple platforms," noting clips of "Hole" have attracted more than 5 million hits on YouTube over the past six to nine months.

Frot-Coutaz indicated FMNA and Fox are looking to develop "Hole" as a family-friendly skein. Network has ordered a pilot and will decide later this year whether to greenlight the project to series.

Stuart Krasnow will join Frot-Coutaz as exec producer of the Fox version of "Hole." Krasnow has extensive gamer experience, last year producing FremantleMedia North America's "Gameshow Marathon" for CBS.

Read the full article at:
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117980832.html

Exclusive: Lost Lovely Is Weeds' Mrs. Robinson

Ausiello Report
by Michael Ausiello

No, you're not high — at least you're not just high. My Weeds mole tells me that the Showtime hit is about to fulfill millions of guys' MILF fantasies by casting knockout Julie Bowen (Lost, Boston Legal, Ed) as a cradle-robbing single mom who "befriends" Nancy's nubile son, Silas.

Although a rep for the cabler was unavailable for comment — put down that blunt already! — I trust my source, who says that at first Bowen's character and the strapping 17-year-old are just pals. Then, as will happen between two people who look like they do, an attraction develops. Then, before they know it, people are making "MILF Island" jokes about them and they're getting invited by backyard barbecues at Ashton and Demi's.

So, between this arc, the hiring of Albert Brooks as Nancy's estranged father-in-law and the downgrading of Tonye Patano and Romany Malco to recurring, clearly, when Weeds begins its fourth season on June 16, it's going to be a rather different show. How do you feel about that? Can you roll with the punches? Or are there not enough joints in the world that you can roll to deal with the changes? Discuss below. And don't bogart the Baked Lays. — Additional reporting by Ben Katner

http://community.tvguide.com/blog/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/...llo-Report/700000049

USA picks up 'Collar,' 'Pains'
Pilots fit network's character-driven brand

By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER

USA Network has picked up a pair of pilots, greenlighting the FBI-themed "White Collar" and the comedic medical drama "Royal Pains."

USA original programming exec VP Jeff Wachtel said both projects -- to be shot as 90-minute pilots -- fit USA's brand of character-driven dramas combined with a strong dose of wit ("Monk," "Psych," "Burn Notice").

"For the first time, and for the last year or so, there's been a sense in the creative community, of what a USA show is," Wachtel said. "But a brand can also become a trap. We need to push out past what's expected of us."

"White Collar," written and exec produced by Jeff Eastin, revolves around a con man who partners with an FBI agent -- against his will -- to help the agency catch other criminals. Fox TV Studios is behind the project.

The other pilot, "Royal Pains," centers on a young doctor who loses his job and winds up in the Hamptons -- where he becomes a doctor-on-call for the super rich. Andrew Lenchewski wrote the pilot, which is exec produced by Rich Frank and Paul Frank. John Rogers is producer, while the Firm is attached as well.

Wachtel said the net was also high on picking up a medical drama because of hit hourlong "House," which USA has acquired as an off-network strip.

Given the recent New York production tax breaks, Frank expects to shoot "Royal Pains" in the state.

Both pilots, which are cast-contingent and still in working title mode, will likely shoot later this summer.

Meanwhile, Wachtel said USA will still pick up one or two more pilots around August or September, once a second crop of scripts come in.

Because of the strike, USA split its development season into two cycles, giving the network "two seasons worth of stuff ... a pretty large batch of development to look at," Wachtel said.

Projects still under consideration include "Shirleyville," about a war vet who becomes mayor of his small town, and the crime-solving babysitter project "The Nanny Files" (Daily Variety, March 26). Other titles still in the works include "The Negotiator" and "American Girl."

Meanwhile, Wachtel said negotiations for another season of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" is "looking good," and that a deal may be imminent.

Judy Greer, Teri Polo join series

Tapped as leads for HBO, ABC projects

By Nellie Andreeva

Judy Greer has been tapped as the lead in HBO's half-hour pilot "Suburban Shootout" for director Barry Sonnenfeld, and Teri Polo is set in the title role of ABC's drama presentation "Finnegan" for director Gary Fleder.

Based on the critically praised British series, "Shootout" is a dark comedy about a woman (Greer) who escapes the city for suburban bliss only to find herself caught between two rival gangs of homicidal housewives as they vie for control of their idyllic town.

For Greer, "Suburban" is formally in second position to the ABC comedy "Miss Guided," which hasn't been renewed for a second season. Producer 20th TV's options on the cast of the midseason series expire June 30.

On "Suburban," penned by Michelle Ashford, Greer joins previously cast Kelly Preston, Kerri Kenney and Rachael Harris.

Greer, whose upcoming movies include "Traveling" and "Barry Munday," is repped by CAA, Principato-Young and attorney Eric Suddelson.

"Finnegan," from ABC Studios and writer Trent Jones, centers on Erin Finnegan (Polo), a tough female detective who heads LAPD's organized crime and vice division.

The project reunites Polo with ABC, where she starred on the comedy series "I'm With Her."

Polo, who is filming the feature "Material Lies," is repped by Gersh, manager Bob McGowan and attorney Roger Haber.

quote:

Originally posted by PaddyFilm:
Judy Greer, Teri Polo join series

Tapped as leads for HBO, ABC projects

By Nellie Andreeva

Judy Greer has been tapped as the lead in HBO's half-hour pilot "Suburban Shootout" for director Barry Sonnenfeld, and Teri Polo is set in the title role of ABC's drama presentation "Finnegan" for director Gary Fleder.

Based on the critically praised British series, "Shootout" is a dark comedy about a woman (Greer) who escapes the city for suburban bliss only to find herself caught between two rival gangs of homicidal housewives as they vie for control of their idyllic town.

For Greer, "Suburban" is formally in second position to the ABC comedy "Miss Guided," which hasn't been renewed for a second season. Producer 20th TV's options on the cast of the midseason series expire June 30.

On "Suburban," penned by Michelle Ashford, Greer joins previously cast Kelly Preston, Kerri Kenney and Rachael Harris.

Greer, whose upcoming movies include "Traveling" and "Barry Munday," is repped by CAA, Principato-Young and attorney Eric Suddelson.

"Finnegan," from ABC Studios and writer Trent Jones, centers on Erin Finnegan (Polo), a tough female detective who heads LAPD's organized crime and vice division.

The project reunites Polo with ABC, where she starred on the comedy series "I'm With Her."

Polo, who is filming the feature "Material Lies," is repped by Gersh, manager Bob McGowan and attorney Roger Haber.

yay! i'm happy now, and what a great cast! lets hope greer wins an emmy now! i guess this makes up for miss guided getting cancelled... greer is awesome! and good for teri polo, thats a good casting decision.

NBC's 'Crusoe' nabs Neill, Bean, Ackland
Project based on Daniel Defoe novel

By Nellie Andreeva
May 22, 2008, 01:46 PM

Sam Neill, Sean Bean and Joss Ackland have joined the cast of NBC's action series "Crusoe."

The project, based on Daniel Defoe's novel, chronicles the adventures of the dashing and resourceful castaway Crusoe (Philip Winchester) and his companion Friday on a desert island while looking in flashbacks at Crusoe's life before he embarked on the ill-fated voyage.

Among the flashbacks are Crusoe's tragic childhood with widower father. James (Bean), the relationship with the love of his life, Susannah (Anna Walton), and his efforts to launch a business under the watchful eye of family friend, Jeremiah Blackthorn (Neill).

"Crusoe," written by Stephen Gallagher ("Eleventh Hour") and directed by Duane Clark ("CSI: NY"), will be filmed in the U.K., South Africa and the Seychelles.

Power is producing, with Justin Bodle, Michael Prupas and Genevieve Hofmeyr exec producing.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/new...04e4eda9c547ab?imw=Y

'Mollywood' welcomed to Disney
Demi Lovato to star in live-action series

By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER

Disney Channel has greenlit "Welcome to Mollywood," a live-action comedy starring teen thesp-singer Demi Lovato.

Show-within-a-show stars Lovato as Molly, a 15-year-old who is discovered via a nationwide casting call to star in a teen sketch comedy TV series.

"Mollywood" centers on the character's home and work life but will also feature fully produced comedy sketches from the fictional program.

Series is set to launch production in September and will bow sometime during the 2008-09 TV season.

Lovato starred in a series of shorts, "As the Bell Rings," for Disney Channel. She also appears opposite the Jonas Brothers in the cabler's upcoming TV movie "Camp Rock" and will star in another telepic for the channel, "Princess Protection Program," later this season.

Disney's Hollywood Records, meanwhile, has sealed a recording contract with Lovato, who hits the road in summer with the Jonas Brothers on their "Burning Up" tour.

Brian Robbins, who exec produced the hit Nickelodeon sketch laffers "All That," "Kenan & Kel" and "The Amanda Show," will exec produce "Mollywood." Also aboard to exec produce: Sharla Sumpter Bridgett ("All That"), Steve Marmel ("Fairly Odd Parents") and Michael Feldman ("That's So Raven").

Marmel and Feldman wrote the pilot; series comes from It's a Laugh Prods. Lee Shallat Chemel, who helmed the "Hannah Montana" pilot, also directed "Mollywood."

"Mollywood" also stars Tiffany Thornton, Brandon Mychal Smith, Doug Brochu and Allisyn Ashley Arm.

Read the full article at:
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117986208.html

Horvitz to direct Primetime Emmys
Awards veteran last helmed telecast in 2006

By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER

Louis J. Horvitz will help usher in the Primetime Emmy Awards' Nokia Theater era.

Horvitz has been tapped to direct the kudofest, something he's already done 13 times. Primetime Emmys exec producer Ken Ehrlich announced the appointment Thursday.

Horvitz, who has won five Emmys through his career, last helmed the Primetime Emmys in 2006. He most recently directed "The 43rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards," as well as the Academy Awards (his 12th time) in February.

Director just finished his 16th time directing the "Kennedy Center Honors" and is set for his 16th go-round on the "American Film Institute Life Achievement Award" cablecast June 12.

The Primetime Emmy Awards air live on ABC from downtown Los Angeles on Sunday, Sept. 21, starting at 8 p.m.

Read the full article at:
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117986339.html

Not so sure about this casting.
--------------------------------------------
Bow Wow to focus on acting
Hip-hop star released six albums
by Nellie Andreeva

Actor-rapper Shad Moss, aka Bow Wow, is focusing on acting full time.

Moss has joined the upcoming fifth season of HBO's "Entourage" in a recurring role, playing Charlie, a new stand-up comic client of E (Kevin Connolly).

Additionally, he has landed a role opposite Forest Whitaker and Isaiah Washington in the Weinstein Co.'s sports drama "Patriots," about a high school basketball team in post-Katrina Louisiana.

"After 16 years in the music industry and six successful albums, I've decided to shift my energy to something else I'm passionate about, acting," Moss said. "I'm going to try to be the next Will Smith."

Like Moss, Smith started off as a rapper before segueing into acting.

Moss released a collaborative album last year with fellow recording star Omarion titled "Face Off." Later this year, he is set to return to the studio to work on his seventh album, titled "H.I.M. (History in Making)."

On the acting side, he recently wrapped the indie "Driving Lessons" and has appeared in the features "Roll Bounce," "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift," "Johnson Family Vacation" and "All About the Benjamins."

He is repped by UTA and manager Teresa Caldwell.

Sam Neill joins 'Crusoe' cast
CCH Pounder to explore 'Warehouse 13'

By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER

CCH Pounder has been added to the cast of Sci Fi Channel's paranormal drama pilot "Warehouse 13."

Also Thursday, NBC announced that Sam Neill, Sean Bean and Joss Ackland have joined the Pea****'s fall drama "Crusoe."

On "Warehouse 13," Pounder will play Mrs. Fredric, the director of a secret government organization. Thesp joins a cast that also includes Eddie McClintock, Saul Rubinek and Joanne Kelly.

Pounder most recently starred in "The Tower," a CBS drama pilot about crime-solving journalists. Thesp has also played Det. Claudette Wyms throughout the run of FX's "The Shield."

"Warehouse 13" follows a pair of FBI agents who must investigate artifacts in a mysterious South Dakota facility; Pounder's character is charged with securing those threatening objects. NBC Universal Cable Studio is behind the project.

As for "Crusoe," Neill ("The Tudors") plays Jeremiah Blackthorn, the family friend who helps Robinson Crusoe (Philip Winchester) build a business empire. Bean ("Lord of the Rings") is aboard as James, Crusoe's widower father. Cast also includes Anna Walton.

"Crusoe," which comes from the U.K.'s Power shingle, will be shot in the U.K., South Africa and the Seychelles.

Kelsey Grammer to star in 'Roman's Empire'

ABC pilot is single-camera comedy

By Nellie Andreeva

Kelsey Grammer is eyeing a quick return to primetime with a starring role on ABC's comedy pilot "Roman's Empire."

"Empire" is a single-camera comedy that centers on Leo (Nick Thune), a lovable guy who, after getting dumped by his girlfriend (Christine Woods), tries but cannot extricate himself from her wealthy family, the Prettys, and her outrageous, overbearing father, Roman Pretty (Grammer).

Also cast in the CBS Par/ABC Studios pilot are Laura Leigh and Carla Gallo as Roman's other two daughters and Zachary Knighton as the boyfriend of one of them.

The single-camera "Roman's Empire" marks a departure for Grammer from the multi-camera format after his 20-year stint as Dr. Frasier Crane on NBC's "Cheers" and "Frasier" and his starring role on Fox's "Back to You" this past season.

Al Higgins penned the script for "Roman's Empire" and is exec producing with Ashton Kutcher, Jason Goldberg, Karey Burke, Andrew Zein and Ben Cavey.

Beau Bridges among latest pilot castings

Meagen Fay, Jay Harrington, several more also tapped

By Nellie Andreeva

Beau Bridges and Meagen Fay have joined ABC's untitled Kristin Newman comedy pilot.

Meanwhile, Jay Harrington has landed the lead in ABC's untitled Victor Fresco comedy pilot, joined by Malcolm Barrett and Jonathan Slavin.

The untitled Kristin Newman project centers on a thirtysomething woman (Alyssa Milano) who tries to break free of her overbearing and dysfunctional family, friends and boss.

Bridges will play her divorced father, and Fay will play his new fiancee. Fay, recurring on "How I Met Your Mother," is repped by SMS and Main Title.

The Victor Fresco project is an office comedy that centers on Ted (Harrington), the highly moral head of research and development at a major company.

Barrett, repped by Gersh and Management 360, and Slavin will play a team of researchers.

Harrington, who played Dr. Ron McCreadie on "Desperate Housewives," is repped by ICM and A Management.

'24' prequel adds cast

Eric Lively, Tony Todd, Gil Bellows join the fray

By Nellie Andreeva

Eric Lively, Tony Todd and Gil Bellows have been cast in the "24" prequel.

The two-hour "24" prequel to the upcoming seventh season will feature Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) battling an international crisis in Africa while the U.S. ushers in a new president on Inauguration Day.

"L Word" alum Lively, brother of "Gossip Girl" star Blake Lively, will play the president's son.

Bellows, best known for his role on Fox's "Ally McBeal," will play a State Department officer ordered to serve Bauer with a subpoena to appear before the Senate.

Todd, who also will appear during Season 7, will play cruel African dictator Gen. Juma. Todd has been recurring on NBC's "Chuck" as CIA director Graham.

On the prequel, Lively, Todd and Bellows join previously cast Robert Carlyle.

Lively is managed by Untitled.

Alan Ball bounces to 'Bad Girls'

Adapting the British series with HBO

By Nellie Andreeva

Move over "Oz," some "Bad Girls" are coming to HBO.

The pay cable channel and Alan Ball are developing an American version of the long-running British prison drama.

Nancy Oliver and Raelle Tucker are penning the adaptation, with Ball supervising the writing.

The three will executive produce with Eileen Gallagher, co-creator of the original series and CEO of Shed Prods., which produced "Bad Girls" for ITV.

The drama, which bowed out in 2006 after eight seasons, revolves around the staff and inmates of a women's prison.

Co-created by Gallagher, Maureen Chadwick and Ann McManus, "Bad Girls" has been praised for its portrayal of the complex relationships among female inmates. Its U.S. rights previously were held by FX.

Women's prisons as a setting and foreign formats are hot this year. Fox is developing a spinoff of "Prison Break" that would take place at a female prison. The broadcast networks recently added seven new scripted series based on international formats. HBO adapted the Israeli series "In Treatment" and is shooting a pilot based on the U.K.'s "Suburban Shootout."

"Bad Girls" is among the first pieces of development for HBO's new entertainment president Sue Naegle.

It extends Ball's longtime association with HBO, where he created the acclaimed drama "Six Feet Under" as well as the upcoming "True Blood."

It also continues Ball's relationship with Naegle, who was his longtime agent at UTA before she left the agency last month to go to HBO.

Ball, an Oscar winner for "American Beauty," recently made his feature directorial debut on "Towelhead," which he adapted from Alicia Erian's novel.

Oliver, nominated for an Oscar this year for "Lars and the Real Girl," is serving as a supervising producer on "True Blood" and is adapting the novel "Handyman" for Warner Bros. and Plan B.

Tucker is a co-producer on "True Blood."

"Bad Girls" was packaged by UTA.

MRC unveils CW's Sunday slate
Night of programming set to launch Sept. 14

By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER

Media Rights Capital has put the finishing touches on its first-ever Sunday night schedule for the CW, lining up two dramas, a comedy and a reality skein.

MRC has worked quickly to program the night, following CW's decision earlier this month to outsource Sundays to the shingle (Daily Variety, May 9). In one case, an exec producer was informed just two weeks ago that his long-shelved script had suddenly been commissioned as a series.

Projects include "In Harm's Way," from reality vet Craig Piligian ("Dirtiest Jobs"); the family laffer "Surviving Suburbia," from Kevin Abbott ("Reba"); romantic dramedy "Valentine, Inc.," from Kevin Murphy ("Reaper"); and "Easy Money," a sudsy drama about loan sharks, from Andy Schneider and Diane Frolov ("The Sopranos"). Night is scheduled to launch Sept. 14.

The series all target a slightly older adults 18-49 aud than the rest of CW's sked -- in response to a request made by Tribune, which owns the CW's major market affils and is looking for better late-news lead-ins. And because it's going up against "Sunday Night Football" in the fall, the shows all come with a slight female bent.

"We got people who are proven successes, not only previously in this demo but also on this night," said MRC's Modi Wiczyk, who runs the company with Asif Satchu.

Nonetheless, MRC TV prexy Keith Samples said he knows the Sunday block faces an uphill battle against established competish.

"We are cognizant that NBC is running football, and we have no anticipation on our part that we'll knock off 'Desperate Housewives,' " he said. "Plus, HBO will have their Sunday block loaded up again. It's a tough, competitive night."

MRC rapidly grew its TV division over the past year and had already lined up a slew of series commitments and pilots for broadcast and cable nets when the CW deal materialized. As a result, Samples was able to dive in and quickly identify several projects that would fit the block.

"Once this thing looked like it might happen, we looked at what kind of things we could do or might be able to do," said MRC TV prexy Keith Samples. "Over the last six months, we've seen so much material. This is an opportunity to try something different and not just replicate what's being done (on the rest of the CW schedule). It wouldn't make sense to compete against what they're doing."

For this first batch, Samples centered on auspices he'd worked with in the past -- as a director, he's helmed segs in the past for Abbott and Murphy -- and said he felt confident he could deliver, given the quick turnaround.

"In Harm's Way" secured a 10-episode order from MRC, while the shingle is producing 13 segs of the scripted series.

The block will still be branded "CW Sunday night" and receive promotions throughout the week on the net. In exchange, the Sunday-night block will include promos for other CW fare.

MRC has gone immediately into production on all four series, bypassing the pilot process to ensure that the series are ready for a fall launch.

"Unless you have the luxury of looking at a lot of pilots, I'm not sure producing these as pilots would gain us a significant advantage," Samples said. "The piloting process can tell you a lot, but at the same time, I think you have to look at other ways to do things in the current environment."

Some of MRC's CW series will shoot two episodes at once with the same director, while others have already scheduled reshoot days with the understanding that they may not get it right the first time. Samples also notes that going pilotless allows productions to bank five or six scripts before turning the cameras on.

Samples said he plans to gather the showrunners this week for a meeting with advertisers and media buyers about potential sponsor integration, but he stressed that producers will decide for themselves what works for their show.

"It's just good business: Put them in a room, and let the advertisers hear from the men and women who are going to make these shows," he said. "It makes for better communication. They'll hear any concerns about integration or placements and where the shows are going."

Samples said the shows have budgets "comparable" to those of other mid-range network series.

"It's not going to be in the 'Heroes'/'Lost'/'Fringe' range, but we're also not making those kinds of shows," he said. "I told Kevin (Murphy) that he could blow up a plane, but it has to be a Cessna."

In an unusual move, MRC has also decided to start the evening at 6:30 p.m., rather than the usual 7 p.m. start for Sunday primetime. MRC can do so because it has also taken over CW's 5-7 p.m. Sunday afternoon block, which the weblet previously programmed with repeats. (MRC is still mulling what to do with the 5-6:30 p.m. slot).

MRC had originally planned to air two half-hour comedies in the 7 p.m. hour -- "Surviving Suburbia" and "Book of Murphy." Samples decided that "Murphy" wouldn't be ready in time for fall, but the show will continue to be developed for midseason. Samples said he expected to pick up at least two more shows for the Sunday block later on.

MRC probably won't pick up canceled shows or busted pilots just yet -- and said it didn't make sense to take on shows like CBS' recently axed "Moonlight" (something that was pitched to them) in the first go-round.

"It just didn't seem in the end that it was the right thing to do at this moment in time," he said. "We're going down a new path here, I'll be the first to admit. Things will come up on this road we didn't foresee, and we will evolve."

The MRC shows:


"In Harm's Way," an hourlong reality skein that airs at 6:30 p.m., will follow the stories of people who work for the benefit of society in dangerous jobs: avalanche hunters, subway tunnel diggers and hurricane chasers, for example.
Show, currently in pre-production, is still scouting for a host. Piligian and MRC had originally been shopping another show to networks, but Samples asked Piligian to come up with "In Harm's Way" after the CW deal was inked.


"Surviving Suburbia" will follow at 7:30 p.m. Half-hour comedy, which scored a 13-episode pickup, was originally written several years ago by Abbott, who then tucked the project away and forgot about it. Abbott's "Reba" exec producer partners Mindy Schultheis and Michael Hanel alerted Samples to the comedy. (It's unclear whether Schultheis and Hanel will be further involved). "It was just a bolt from the blue," Abbott said. "In this marketplace, with no comedy going on, to get a call like that."
Project is based on Abbott's own experience as a grumpy dad -- Abbott, who worked on "Roseanne," said it's in the mode of that blue-collar laffer but told from the husband's perspective.


"Valentine, Inc.," which will air at 8 p.m., is based on a feature spec script that Murphy (who's no longer with "Reaper") is adapting for the smallscreen.
High-concept romantic comedy centers on the premise that the Greek gods live among us, and that Ap