Here is a special thread completely devoted to all television casting and development updates. Please feel free to comment and add the latest information for March, 2009.
Kim Raver, Alyssa Milano lead ABC pilots Actresses starring in 'Inside the Box,' untitled Ricky Blitt
Former TV leading ladies Kim Raver and Alyssa Milano are back with lead roles in ABC pilots: the drama "Inside the Box" and the untitled Ricky Blitt comedy, respectively.
In other ABC pilot castings, Ty Burrell is set to star in the comedy "My American Family"; John Patrick Amedori, Robert Wisdom and Jay Paulson have been added to "Happy Town"; Sharon Leal and Brooklyn Sudano have joined "Limelight"; and Leah Pipes has been added to the Dave Hemingson project.
ABC Studios' "Box" is set at a news network's Washington bureau. Raver, repped by Paradigm and Mosaic, will play a knockout blond reporter who once was considered the next Diane Sawyer.
Raver is the second "Lipstick Jungle" star, after Lindsay Price, to book a pilot. Like Price's role on ABC's "Eastwick," Raver's "Box" gig is formally in second position to "Jungle," whose chances to return have diminished.
The Blitt multicamera comedy, from WBTV, centers on a telemarketer and struggling writer (Eric Christian Olsen) who is torn between his needy best friend and the newfound love of his life (Milano), a successful lawyer and single mother of two.
"Charmed" alumna Milano, repped by CAA, recently recurred on NBC's "My Name Is Earl."
The 20th TV-produced "Family" revolves around a traditional couple, a gay couple and a multiethnic couple. Burrell will play the goofy, upbeat dad from the traditional couple who thinks he is cooler than he really is.
On the murder mystery-in-a-small town "Happy Town," Amedori ("Gossip Girl") will play a wealthy teenager in a Romeo and Juliet-style romance. He is repped by Gersh and Station 3. Wisdom ("The Wire"), repped by APA and Kritzer/Levine/Wilkins, will play the chief deputy and investigator. Paulson will play a patrol deputy.
McG's WBTV-produced "Limelight" is set at a performing-arts college. Leal, repped by APA and Alchemy, will play a renowned choreographer-turned-actress who returns to her alma mater.
Sudano, daughter of Donna Summer, will play a young dancer auditioning for the academy. She is repped by Fortitude and Luber Rocklin.
20th TV's Hemingson project, originally ordered last year, is being partially recast. On the legal drama set at a Los Angeles law firm, Pipes will play a new associate who was born and raised in Beverly Hills. http://www.hollywoodreporter.c...6d953018bd49dfacd66a
David Lyons, Carly Pope, Adam Campbell and Thekla Reuten have booked NBC's "Day One."
In other pilot castings, Melissa George has joined CBS' U.S. Attorney drama, Christopher J. Hanke has been cast in the CBS drama "Three Rivers" and Anastasia Griffith has been added to the NBC drama "Trauma."
The UMS-produced "Day One" revolves around a group of neighbors in an apartment complex after a catastrophic event.
Lyons will play the male lead, a Marine and an Iraq veteran who is a natural leader. Reuten ("Sleeper Cell"), repped by Innovative and ICA, will play an odd woman who keeps copious notes on other tenants. Pope will play a brilliant young woman who lives with her boyfriend (Campbell), an MIT graduate and computer genius.
Pope ("24") is repped by Gersh and Kritzer/Levine/Wilkins. Campbell ("Harper's Island") is repped by ICM and manager Mary Putnam Greene.
On CBS Par's U.S. Attorney drama, a legal ensemble about New York federal prosecutors, George ("Grey's Anatomy") will play a Los Angeles ADA who joins her ex-husband's (Jason Clarke) work team.
On CBS Par's "Rivers," about organ transplants, Hanke will play the assistant to the transplant coordinator.
On UMS' "Trauma," about first-response paramedics, Griffith ("Damages") will play an EMT whose paramedic boyfriend has died in a helicopter crash.
Actresses land recurring roles in HBO's comedy series
By Nellie Andreeva
Meet Mrs. Andrew.
Jami Gertz has joined HBO's "Entourage" as a recurring. She will play the wife of Andrew Klein (Gary Cole), recently brought to Miller/Gold as an agent by his longtime friend, Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven).
Also joining "Entourage" as a recurring next season is Autumn Reeser, who will play Lizzy, a new junior agent at Miller/Gold.
Unlike Ari's wife (Perrey Reeves), famously referred to on the show only as Mrs. Ari, Gertz's character will have a name: Marlo Klein.
Gertz ("Still Standing") is repped by ICM and Alchemy.
Before "Entourage," Reeser will shoot Universal's "Smokin' Aces: Blowback." She is managed by Kritzer/Levine/Wilkins.
Jonathan Silverman, Julie Bowen, Scott Wolf land roles
By Nellie Andreeva
Jonathan Silverman is the first to be cast in ABC's untitled Jeff Strauss comedy pilot, Julie Bowen has landed the final lead on the ABC comedy pilot "My American Family" and Scott Wolf is set to co-star on ABC's drama pilot "V."
In other pilot castings, Oscar-nominated Michael O'Keefe, Courtney Henggeler, Frances Turner and Beth Broderick have landed leads in Fox's comedy "Two Dollar Beer"; Dania Ramirez, Brad William Henke and Patrick St. Esprit have been added to ABC's untitled Daniel Cerone drama; and Tawny Cypress and Sean Bridgers have joined CBS' drama "House Rules."
The ABC Studios-produced Strauss project revolves around three couples. Silverman, repped by WMA and Untitled, will play half of one of them.
The 20th TV-produced "Family" revolves around a traditional couple (Ty Burrell, Bowen), a gay couple and a multiethnic couple.
"V," from WBTV is set in the future, when the human race is ruled by aliens known as the Visitors. Wolf will play a career-obsessed TV newscaster who becomes the aliens' propaganda outlet.
"Beer," from 20th TV, revolves around a group of twentysomething friends in Detroit. It centers on ex-jock Luke (Jonathan Sadowski), whose parents (O'Keefe, Broderick) live in his house.
Henggeler, repped by David Shapira and Teitelbaum, will play Luke's girlfriend Molly, a cute Midwestern girl. Turner, repped by Bleeker Street, will play Molly's hot and smart girlfriend.
The Cerone drama, from ABC Studios, centers on a detective (Jimmy Wolk) who gets help from his brilliant 11-year-old brother (Dakota Goyo).
Henke will play the detective's partner and best friend. The ICM-repped Ramirez ("Heroes") will play another homicide detective, and St. Esprit will play an ill-tempered lieutenant.
On the D.C.-set "Rules," about the freshman class of Congress, Cypress will play a former servicewoman who was stationed in Iraq. Domain-repped Bridgers will play a congressman from Georgia who won a recount.
I have a question and I'm not sure where to ask it, so I guess I will here. Once Dancing with the Stars becomes an hour and a half what will come on right after it?
For Your Grammy Consideration: Kristin Chenoweth - in all eligible categories
Originally posted by Royal Night: I have a question and I'm not sure where to ask it, so I guess I will here. Once Dancing with the Stars becomes an hour and a half what will come on right after it?
From TheFutonCritic.com:
"Surviving Suburbia"
DESCRIPTION: (from ABC's press release, February 2009) ABC announces the premiere of new half-hour comedy series, "Surviving Suburbia," starring Bob Saget and Cynthia Stevenson, on MONDAY, APRIL 6 (9:30-10:00 p.m., ET), following "Dancing with the Stars." In the family-centered tradition of "Roseanne" and "Home Improvement," "Surviving Suburbia" opens the curtain to follow Saget ("How I Met Your Mother," "Full House") and Stevenson ("Men in Trees," "Dead Like Me") as Steve and Anne Patterson, a seemingly normal couple who have been married for 20 years, have two children and a cookie cutter house in the idyllic suburbs. But Steve maintains a rather cynical point of view on family, friends, neighbors, society -- pretty much everyone and everything -- as he tries to survive suburban life. "Surviving Suburbia" takes a contemporary look at family life and the reasons one might have to question the system -- How does exchanging keys with a neighbor for emergencies result in house sitting? Why do kids' classroom projects inevitably become the parents' responsibility? When did we start needing mediators to handle disagreements between adults? all of which goes to prove that it's never just another sunny day in the suburbs
Actors will co-star in ABC's 'Inside the Box,' 'V'
By Nellie Andreeva
Jennifer Finnigan has been tapped to co-star on ABC's drama "Inside the Box" and Morris Chestnut is set as a lead in ABC's drama "V."
Additionally, Lucy Davis has joined ABC's comedy pilot "The Bridget Show," and Jon Bernthal and Johann Urb have been added to ABC's drama pilot "Eastwick."
"Box," from ABC Studios, is set at a Washington network news bureau.
Finnigan will play the newly minted White House press secretary who has an affair with the network's D.C.-based news anchor (Jason George).
Finnigan has toplined two series, the CBS drama "Close to Home" and the NBC comedy "Committed." She is repped by ICM and manager John Carrabino.
"V," from WBTV, is a re-imagining of the original 1980s miniseries about an invasion of aliens known as Visitors and the resistance against them. It will center on a female Homeland Security agent.
Chestnut will play the woman's boyfriend, who has a dark secret -- he is a Visitor. The actor, repped by CAA and Kritzer Levine Wilkins, recently starred in and executive produced Sony Screen Gems' "Not Easily Broken."
The WBTV-produced "Eastwick" follows three young witches who come into their powers.
Bernthal ("The Ghost") will play the unemployed husband of one of them, (Jaime Ray Newman). He is repped by Endeavor and the Burstein Co.
Urb ("2012") will play a local news fotographer/volunteer fireman who is the object of affection of another (Lindsay Price). He is repped by APA and Luber/Roklin.
Network orders comedy pilot to star 'The View' co-host
By Nellie Andreeva
Sherri Shepherd may be pulling double duty.
Lifetime has ordered a pilot for an untitled multicamera comedy to star the comedian and "The View" co-host.
The project, loosely based on Shepherd's experiences, was originally developed for the CW during the 2007-08 development season. Dave Flebotte penned the script about a woman who contends with her husband's infidelity and his illegitimate child when she allows the child and mother to move in with them.
Flebotte executive produced the project from ABC Studios, with ABC Studios-based producers Nina Wass and Gene Stein.
After the comedy didn't go at the CW, the script went to Lifetime, which is half-owned by ABC Studios' parent company, Disney.
Wass and Stein will now executive produce the pilot for Lifetime. Flebotte is expected to do some rewrites and possibly executive produce the pilot if his current duties as co-exec producer on ABC's "Desperate Housewives" permit.
Shepherd follows in the footsteps of another morning talk-show host, Kelly Ripa, who also juggled her duties on "Live With Regis and Kelly" and her ABC sitcom "Hope and Faith" for three seasons.
Shepherd's series credits include a recurring role on "30 Rock" and a co-starring role on the ABC multicamera comedy "Less Than Perfect," also exec produced by Wass and Stein.
Lifetime has become a safe haven for multicamera sitcoms, which are having a hard time on broadcast TV outside of CBS.
The cable network recently renewed its first original sitcom, "Rita Rocks," for a second season and enjoys strong ratings for repeats of "Reba."
Here are two more reasons Fox's upcoming musicomedy, Glee, has us overjoyed: Kristin Chenoweth and Victor Garber are joining the cast in what will likely turn out to be recurring roles!
Wicked alum Chenoweth, who showed off her awesome pipes on the late, great Pushing Daisies, will play a part that's as top secret as it is hilarious. (Sorry, that's all you're getting out of me.) Fellow Broadway vet Garber (Sweeney Todd) will play the father of Glee's leading man, Hairspray hunk Matthew Morrison. (Tony winner Debra Monk is his mom.)
Even before this latest bit of casting was announced, the positive buzz surrounding the project -- which centers on the worst high school glee club in America -- only seemed to grow louder with each passing day. With good reason, too. The extended trailer Fox showed us at press tour in January was so good it gave me chills, and the lucky few who have seen the pilot have been effusive with their praise. (In the new issue of EW, our own Ken Tucker calls the debut "witty and high-spirited" and a potential "sleeper hit.")
Luckily, Fox seems to know it has something special on its hands. Rumor has it the network may launch the show this May after American Idol.
'Til then, and probably beyond then, producer Ryan Murphy (whose Popular musical episode remains a kooky triumph) will just have to deal with music-lovin' actors chasing him down wherever he goes. Says an insider: "They're literally banging down his door to be on this show."
My question is how is Kristin Chenoweth going to be able to be a cast member in 3 different shows? This means she will be part of the cast of "Sit Down, Shut Up", "Legally Mad" and now "Glee" She is going to be very busy! But IMO there can never be enough Kristin Chenoweth.
For Your Grammy Consideration: Kristin Chenoweth - in all eligible categories
British actress Indira Varma has landed the starring role in the ABC drama project, from writer Richard E. Robbins and executive producer Shonda Rhimes.
Meanwhile, Gina Torres has joined CBS' drama pilot "Washington Field," and David Giuntoli has joined CBS' U.S. Attorney drama pilot.
"Box" is set at a Washington network news bureau and revolves around Catherine (Varma), an ambitious news producer, and her colleagues, who pursue the story at all costs, juggling personal animosities and crises of conscience along with the daily deadlines of a nightly news show.
Catherine is fast-talking, whip-smart and wound a little too tight for her own good. She runs the news bureau and thinks she finally is getting a promotion, but she is passed over.
Mark Tinker is directing the pilot, which is being executive produced by Robbins, Rhimes and Betsy Beers.
Varma is best known for her role as Niobe on the HBO/BBC drama series "Rome."
The actress, who also co-starred on the CBS miniseries "Comanche Moon," is repped by Affirmative and U.K.'s Gordon and French.
"Washington Field," from CBS Par, revolves around an FBI squad made up of experts who travel the world responding to crises that concern U.S. national interests. Torres ("Don't Let Me Drown") will play the rapid-deployment team coordinator and tactical pilot. She is with Domain and Framework.
The U.S. Attorney project, from CBS Par, revolves around a team of federal prosecutors in Manhattan. Giuntoli ("Privileged") will play a wealthy young attorney who is a member of the team.
Exclusive: Seinfeld cast to appear on Curb Your Enthusiasm Mar 5, 2009, 04:06 PM | by Lynette Rice
The Seinfeld cast is making another must-see appearance. EW has learned exclusively that the four stars of NBC's long-running comedy -- Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jason Alexander, and Michael Richards -- will be featured in a multiple-episode story arc on HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm this fall. The cameos will mark the first time that all four actors have appeared together in a scripted TV show since Seinfeld went off the air nearly 11 years ago. No date has been set for this event, or for Curb's seventh season, which will run for 10 weeks. Curb, of course, was created by and stars Larry David, the cocreator of Seinfeld.
The episodes, which are currently shooting in Los Angeles, appear to represent a continuation of David's relationship with the Seinfeld stars. As Curb fans know, Seinfeld, Louis-Dreyfus, and Alexander have made individual appearances on the award-winning series over the years.
This film might put MTV on the Emmy radar. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- WORLD TELEVISION PREMIERE EVENT: THE FILM "PEDRO" AIRS ON MTV, MTV TR3S, mtvU, & LOGO ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1 AT 8:00PM ET/PT
mtv.com March 5, 2009
Of all the "Real World" seasons, no one cast member has made more of a positive impact than "Real World: San Francisco"’s Pedro Zamora. His story touched millions of viewers, his courage educated many Americans and his life changed the MTV generation.
Introduced by President Bill Clinton, BMP Films and MTV Bring Academy Award-Winner Dustin Lance Black’s (“Milk”) Story of "The Real World"’s Pedro Zamora To Life
MTV, mtvU, LOGO, and MTV Tr3s, with subtitles in Spanish, will present the world television premiere of Pedro, a movie based on the remarkable life of "The Real World"’s Pedro Zamora, on Wednesday, April 1 at 8:00pm ET/PT. BMP Films, in association with MTV, produced this biopic written by Academy Award-winner Dustin Lance Black (“Milk”). For more information, please visit www.pedro.mtv.com.
In 1994, Zamora captured the hearts of millions as the first-ever openly gay, HIV-positive main character on TV — on MTV’s "The Real World: San Francisco." Zamora’s time in the house on Lombard Street brought a face to the AIDS crisis. President Bill Clinton has long credited Zamora with personalizing and humanizing the epidemic, and he will introduce Pedro when it makes its world television premiere April 1st.
“To this day, Pedro Zamora remains an extraordinary example of what a huge impact one young person can make in our world,” President Clinton said. “I’m glad to have known him, and I’m grateful his life has been able to inspire and enrich so many others.”
Told through the eyes of his friends and family, the film Pedro celebrates the extraordinary life a young man who found out he was HIV positive at 17, then made the courageous decision to dedicate his life to speaking out about the disease. Zamora testified before the United States Congress to argue for more explicit HIV/AIDS educational programs aimed at youth of color before auditioning for "The Real World" in 1993.
Zamora’s appearance on "The Real World" brought his story and message to a national audience; and when his health began to deteriorate in late 1994 (after he left the show), his condition quickly became front page news nationwide. His death at age 22, following the final episode of “The Real World,” provoked a worldwide outpouring of grief.
“Our historic, simultaneous premiere of the film across multiple networks demonstrates the power of Pedro’s journey to reach a vast array of audiences, just as it did 15 years ago,” said Brian Graden, President of Entertainment, MTV Networks Music Channels and President of Logo. “His story originally ignited a national dialogue, permanently impacted our consciousness around the challenges of HIV, and gave untold millions the courage to open up about their sexual orientation. For those of us who remember him as a treasured television friend, and for a new generation coming to his story for the first time, we remain grateful for the gift of his story.”
“Pedro made us promise to tell his story to his very last breath; this film delivers on that promise by telling his entire life story in a scripted film - including his early life in Cuba, his teen years in Miami and the final months of his life as he fought to stay alive,” said BMP Films President, Jon Murray. “For the first time viewers will see all the forces that made Pedro the man he was and gave him the courage to take his message of AIDS education to a nationwide audience.”
Nearly 15 years since Pedro heightened national awareness of HIV/AIDS, the epidemic in the U.S. remains a serious concern, especially among younger Americans (under 30) who account for a larger share of new infections than any other age group. Other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) – such as chlamydia and gonorrhea – are even more common, with one in two sexually active Americans being infected by age 25 – and most not knowing it. Since 1997, MTV and the Kaiser Family Foundation have partnered to inform millions of young adults about HIV, other STDs and related sexual health issues. Beginning in April (STD Awareness Month), MTV and Kaiser will partner with Planned Parenthood Federation of America and its nearly 880 affiliate health centers to make an aggressive push to inform America’s young people about STDs, as well as help normalize and drive increased testing. Full details on the rest of the campaign will be unveiled soon.
Planned Parenthood is also developing an educational discussion guide for teens, young adults, and parents to use when they watch the Pedro premiere on MTV. It will be available for download on MTV’s www.ItsYourSexLife.com and on Planned Parenthood’s website at www.plannedparenthood.org.
"Pedro" was Produced by Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland, Chris Panizzon and Anne Clements (“Quinceanera”). Jon Murray, Gil Goldschein and Scott Freeman of Bunim-Murray Productions served as Executive Producers along with Paris Barclay. Pedro was directed by Nick Oceano and written by Dustin Lance Black (“Milk”) with story by Paris Barclay and Dustin Lance Black. Pedro stars Alex Loynaz as Pedro, Justina Machado (“Six Feet Under”) as Pedro’s sister Mily, and Hale Appleman (“Teeth”) as Pedro’s roommate from "The Real World," Judd. Maggie Malina is executive producer for MTV.
Congratulations, Primetime Emmy Winners!
Comedy Series: 30 ROCK Drama Series: MAD MEN Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Alec Baldwin, 30 ROCK Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Toni Collette, UNITED STATES OF TARA Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Bryan Cranston, BREAKING BAD Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Glenn Close, DAMAGES Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: Tina Fey, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE Guest Actress in a Drama Series: Ellen Burstyn, LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT
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Jackie Earle Haley joins Fox's "Human Target" Chi McBride also lands roles in DC Comics-based pilot by Nellie Andreeva
"Watchmen" star Jackie Earle Haley is segueing into another comic book role, this time on TV.
The actor has been tapped to co-star in Fox's drama pilot "Human Target."
"Pushing Daisies" alum Chi McBride also has been cast in project, based on the DC Comics title.
The WBTV-produced "Target" centers on Christopher Chance (Mark Valley), a mysterious freelancer who offers a unique form of security for hire: He assumes the identities of people in danger, becoming the "human target" on behalf of his clients.
Haley will play Chance's information gatherer, who keeps his ear to the ground.
McBride will play Chance's business partner and friend.
The castings keep Haley and McBride in the Warner Bros. family.
Warners produces "Watchmen," in which Haley plays Walter Kovacs/Roschach, while WBTV produced the quirky ABC dramedy "Pushing Daisies," in which McBride played gumshoe Emerson Cod.
Congratulations, Primetime Emmy Winners!
Comedy Series: 30 ROCK Drama Series: MAD MEN Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Alec Baldwin, 30 ROCK Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Toni Collette, UNITED STATES OF TARA Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Bryan Cranston, BREAKING BAD Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Glenn Close, DAMAGES Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: Tina Fey, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE Guest Actress in a Drama Series: Ellen Burstyn, LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT
Posts: 24734 | Location: North Carolina, USA | Registered: April 11, 2005
Andrew McCarthy in "Gossip Girl" spinoff Actor set to play Lily's father opposite Brittany Snow by Nellie Andreeva
Andrew McCarthy has joined the "Gossip Girl" spinoff, playing Lily's father, Rick Rodes, a music company exec.
In other CW pilot castings, Tim Matheson has been tapped for the DC-set "Body Politic."
The WBTV-produced "Gossip Girl" spinoff chronicles Lily's (Brittany Snow) wild teen years in 1980s Los Angeles.
McCarthy joins Snow and Krysten Ritter, who plays Lily's sister Carol Rodes.
Co-starring on a show set in the '80s is fitting for McCarthy, who was a big '80s movie star, appearing in such features as "St. Elmo's Fire," "Pretty in Pink" and "Less Than Zero."
McCarthy, who most recently co-starred on NBC's "Lipstick Jungle," is repped by the Glick Agency and One Entertainment.
CBS Par's "Politic" evolves around young staffers in Washington. Matheson will play a charming, JFK-type senator.
Congratulations, Primetime Emmy Winners!
Comedy Series: 30 ROCK Drama Series: MAD MEN Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Alec Baldwin, 30 ROCK Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Toni Collette, UNITED STATES OF TARA Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Bryan Cranston, BREAKING BAD Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Glenn Close, DAMAGES Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: Tina Fey, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE Guest Actress in a Drama Series: Ellen Burstyn, LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT
Posts: 24734 | Location: North Carolina, USA | Registered: April 11, 2005
Darren Star reunites with HBO "Sex and the City" creator inks first-look deal with pay net by Nellie Andreeva
Darren Star is back at HBO.
The creator of one of HBO's signature series, "Sex and the City," has inked a two-year first-look deal with the pay cable network.
Under the pact, he will create a series, his first solo creation in almost a decade. He also will shepherd comedy and drama projects from other writers.
"They say you can never go home again, but with this deal at HBO, I feel I am," Star said. "I can say from my fortunate experience that there is nothing in the world quite like having a series on HBO."
Star's past experience at HBO was mostly with the network's previous regime -- on "Sex" and on Star's most recent project there, "Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl," put in development by Chris Albrecht.
But he said he already has developed great rapport with HBO's new top programming team, Richard Plepler, Michael Lombardo and Sue Naegle, whom he called "the best creative allies one could hope for."
In addition to the Emmy-winning "Sex," Star's series creator credits include Fox's "Beverly Hills, 90210" and its spinoff, "Melrose Place" -- both enjoying a second life with their CW updates -- as well as the critically praised WB comedy "Grosse Pointe."
Star, most recently based at Sony TV, is repped by WMA and attorneys Jamey Coen and Sam Fisher.
Congratulations, Primetime Emmy Winners!
Comedy Series: 30 ROCK Drama Series: MAD MEN Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Alec Baldwin, 30 ROCK Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Toni Collette, UNITED STATES OF TARA Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Bryan Cranston, BREAKING BAD Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Glenn Close, DAMAGES Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: Tina Fey, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE Guest Actress in a Drama Series: Ellen Burstyn, LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT
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ABC nabs rights to German mini "Impact" Sci Fi buys second window to disaster drama by Scott Roxborough
COLOGNE, Germany -- ABC has acquired the U.S. TV rights to "Impact," a four-hour miniseries produced by Germany's Tandem Communications, Jaffe/Braunstein Entertainment and Muse Entertainment and sold by Tandem.
NBC Universal's Sci Fi Channel has picked up second-window rights to the disaster drama about a meteor that strikes the moon and sends it on a collision course with Earth.
The $14 million production, licensed internationally by Tandem, stars David James Elliott, Natasha Henstridge, Steven Culp, and James Cromwell and is directed by Michael Rohl ("Eureka").
ABC is expected to air it in the summer as a limited series.
" 'Impact' is an ideal acquisition for Sci Fi's weekend-movie franchise," said Thomas Vitale, the network's exec vp programming and original movies. "A high-caliber disaster-genre film with such a stellar cast is a recipe for success for Sci Fi."
Sci Fi has a strong track record with Tandem shows, with the futuristic tale "Lost City Raiders" and fantasy epic "Ring of the Nibelungs" having scored ratings gold for the channel.
The sale to ABC is a high-water mark for Tandem, which has carved a niche in high-end TV events by combining international financing with U.S.-bankable casts and scripts. "Impact" was presold to Germany's ProSieben, France's TF1 and Spain's Cuatro before shooting began. The mini also recently inked a deal with Japanese pubcaster NHK, and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has acquired U.S. video rights.
"We have focused on nurturing relationships with U.S. broadcasters, and the sale of 'Impact' to ABC is a home run for a European independent," Tandem managing director Rola Bauer said.
Bauer's company is positioning itself as a one-stop shop for U.S. and international broadcasters, expanding its scope to development, financing, production and worldwide distribution. Tandem hopes the strategy will become increasingly attractive as channels in the U.S. and abroad cut back on production costs.
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Congratulations, Primetime Emmy Winners!
Comedy Series: 30 ROCK Drama Series: MAD MEN Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Alec Baldwin, 30 ROCK Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Toni Collette, UNITED STATES OF TARA Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Bryan Cranston, BREAKING BAD Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Glenn Close, DAMAGES Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: Tina Fey, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE Guest Actress in a Drama Series: Ellen Burstyn, LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT
Posts: 24734 | Location: North Carolina, USA | Registered: April 11, 2005
CBS Par/Scott Free pilot is a female-driven law show
By Nellie Andreeva
Julianna Margulies has been tapped as the lead of CBS' drama pilot "The Good Wife," lifting the contingency on the project.
"The Good Wife," from CBS Par and Scott Free Prods., is a female-driven law show about a politician's wife (Margulies) who pursues her original career as a defense attorney.
It's a familiar setting for Margulies, who played a fearless attorney on the short-lived Fox drama series "Canterbury's Law."
Robert and Michelle King penned the script for "The Good Wife," which will be directed by Charles McDougall, who also helmed the pilot for ABC's "Desperate Housewives."
"ER" alumna Margulies is returning to the NBC medical drama that made her a household name. She is set to appear alongside former castmates Eriq La Salle, Noah Wyle and possibly George Clooney on the March 12 episode of the Emmy-winning series, set to end its 15-season run on April 2.
