Developing tv show

EXCLUSIVE: Following a competitive bidding war, Warner Bros. TV has landed the Mac Smullen spec pilot Souvenir, Alaska . Carly Wray will exec produce and oversee the development while Lee Toland Krieger will exec produce and direct the pilot (both have overall deals with WBTV ). WBTV had no comment on the project. Sources say four other networks were chasing the pilot before WBTV put in the winning bid and while plot details are being kept under wraps, sources close to the pilot describe it as a cross between a Stephen King and Michael Crichton story. Wray has become one of the more seasoned producers in television working on such acclaimed shows as Westworld, The Leftovers and Watchmen , which she won an Emmy for. She is repped by WME and Grandview. Krieger’s past credits include You, Shadow and Bone and Superman & Louis. He is repped by WME and Anonymous Content. The sale is the first for emerging writer Smullen, who won the AMC Austin Pilot … [Read more...] about Warner Bros. TV Lands Pilot ‘Souvenir Alaska’ From Mac Smullen With Carly Wray Overseeing And Lee Toland Kreiger Directing

Leave it to a sitcom vet like Melissa Rauch to remind the industry that everything old can be new again. After persuading Warner Bros. TV to dust off the Night Court IP and revive it for NBC, multi-cams are suddenly hot again, with every broadcast network — and even a few streamers like Netflix (home to new hit That ’90s Show , which just got renewed ) are putting studio audience comedies in development. While no one is straight-up abandoning single-cams — the success of CBS’ Ghosts and ABC’s Abbott Elementary have certainly made sure of that — there’s no beating the cost-effectiveness of one of TV’s most tried and true genres. “Everybody had a hunch they should probably be doing more of them,” says one high-powered comedy agent. “Night Court is a good sign there is an appetite for that. Everything I’m hearing out of CBS, for example, is that they have pretty hard caps they are trying to hit on these multi-camera shows. The Conners is an exception because … [Read more...] about Thanks, ‘Night Court’! How Multi-Cams Are Having A Moment … Again

EXCLUSIVE : Starz is developing The Comedown , a comedic drama series based on Rafael Frumkin’s book by the same name, sources tell Deadline. The project hails from Regina King ’s Royal Ties Productions and Freddie Highmore ’s Alfresco Pictures as well as TriStar Television, a division of Sony Pictures TV where The Good Doctor star Highmore has had an overall deal. A rep for Starz declined comment. Written by Gretchen Enders ( WandaVision ), The Comedown is a darkly comedic, multigenerational drama that explores delineating lines of race, class, religion, and time, through the story of two very different Cleveland families – one Black, one white – whose lives become intertwined one fateful night when a drug deal goes dramatically wrong and a mysterious yellow briefcase disappears. Highmore and Claire Londy executive produce through Alfresco Pictures alongside Enders as well as Regina King and Reina King of Royal Ties. Enders most recently was co-executive … [Read more...] about Regina King & Freddie Highmore Executive Producing ‘The Comedown’ Series Adaptation In Works At Starz

Saturday Night Live quickly turned around a sketch that riffed on the U.S. military’s takedown of the Chinese balloon earlier in the day Saturday, skewering the national obsession over suspected spy craft. Just hours after cable news covered the missile strike that sent the balloon into ocean waters off the coast of South Carolina, SNL opened with its own news report on the latest development, featuring an MSNBC interview with the floating remains of the balloon, played by Bowen Yang. “Well, I’m sorry you are in the water, but thank you for speaking to us,” Katy Tur (Chloe Fineman) told the balloon. But the indignant balloon responded, “I entertain you people for four days but then get shot down by Biden! I can’t believe I’m Joe’s Osama.” “What were you doing flying over Montana?” Tur asked. The balloon answered, “I love the show Yellowstone . It’s like Succession , but outside.” Tur then noted, “I’m actually surprised you’re still floating. Experts were … [Read more...] about ‘Saturday Night Live’ Turns Around A “Breaking News” Cold Open Featuring Interview With The Fallen Chinese Balloon

EXCLUSIVE : Gina Rodriguez , star and executive producer of Not Dead Yet , has signed an overall deal with 20th Television , the studio behind the new comedy series that premieres Wednesday on ABC. Under the pact, she will develop, direct and executive produce new series across all platforms through her production company I Can & I Will, run by executive Molly Breeskin. Rodriguez and Breeskin will continue to follow the company’s mission statement to create art that tells stories from the unheard and unseen, to discover and expose new talent, and to increase empathy and understanding for all communities. “Gina is a true multi-hyphenate, an extremely talented performer who’s as adept at directing and producing as she is in front of the camera,” said 20th Television president Karey Burke. “She has an incredible eye for IP, an optimistic and uplifting point of view, and a unique ability to spotlight underrepresented voices and stories in a broad and ambitious … [Read more...] about Gina Rodriguez Inks Overall Deal With 20th Television

EXCLUSIVE: Quinta Brunson and Tyler James Williams will be lending their voices to the upcoming Harley Quinn Valentine’s Day special. As DC superheroes Hawkman and Hawkgirl, in a brief cameo, Williams and Brunson explain how they fell in love in the upcoming special, titled Harley Quinn: A Very Problematic Valentine’s Day Special . Per the logline, the special “will feature Harley and Ivy celebrating their very first Valentine’s Day together, while also revealing how the rest of the ragtag crew spends the gushiest, mushiest, most romantic day of the year.” “As a Harley Quinn fan, I’m thrilled to lend my voice to the special and to team up with my Abbott Elementary creative partners, Justin Halpern and Patrick Schumacker and co-star Tyler James Williams for this fun episode,” Brunson said. Williams added, “ Harley Quinn is such a brilliant series and it is an honor to lend my voice to this special. I think the cameo is something both Abbott Elementary … [Read more...] about Quinta Brunson & Tyler James Williams To Voice Hawkman & Hawkgirl In ‘Harley Quinn’ Valentine’s Day Special At HBO Max

The next generation of creative voices from underrepresented communities has been named to join Nickelodeon ’s annual Writing and Artist Programs. This year’s programs are back in person at the Nickelodeon Animation Studio in Burbank for the first time since 2020. Group members will develop their skills with hands-on work as the Writing Program enters its 23rd year, with 2023 marking the 12 th year for the Artist Program. Both are overseen by the Paramount Office of Global Inclusion and aligned with the company’s “Content for Change” initiative. “We are thrilled to welcome the new participants and future storytellers to the Nickelodeon Writing and Artist Programs,” said Marva Smalls, Paramount’s EVP, Global Head of Inclusion. “For over 20 years, this program has been a catalyst for many people in the creative community to learn and develop the tools needed to launch their careers. Programs like these continue our commitment to an inclusive talent pipeline and diverse … [Read more...] about Nickelodeon’s Annual Writing and Artist Programs Announce 12 New Participants

Chris McCarthy has been speaking about a franchise strategy for Showtime since he took over the network a couple of months ago. That strategy will include expanding successful series with multiple spinoffs in the mold of the Yellowstone universe as the premium cable network starts its integration with Paramount+ and getting a new moniker , Paramount+ with Showtime. Deadline has been hearing for awhile about potential Billions offshoots from series co-creators Brian Koppelman and David Levien. Showtime would not confirm the plan but McCarthy did it in an interview with WSJ , revealing that the four projects in the works are spinoffs set in Miami, the self-proclaimed crypto capital, and London, the world’s financial hub, as well as offshoots Millions , about up-and-coming financiers, and Trillions, a soap about the ultra rich. (You can find more details about all four Billions series in development at the bottom of the story.) McCarthy also confirmed that … [Read more...] about ‘Billions’ Spinoffs In Works At Showtime; ’Dexter’ Prequel Confirmed

EXCLUSIVE : Pamela Anderson is cooking up her latest television project. The actor is to host Pamela’s Cooking With Love (w/t) for Food Network Canada as her home renovation series Pamela’s Garden of Eden has been renewed for a second season at HGTV Canada. It comes as Anderson continues her book tour to promote Love, Pamela, which was released last month alongside Netflix documentary Pamela, A Love Story. The two Canadian series, which are produced by Fireworks Media Group for Corus Studios. Food series Pamela’s Cooking With Love is an eight-part series set to air on Food Network Canada in 2024. She will work with a variety of influential chefs to develop plant-based menus, gather diverse ingredients, and prepare meals for her friends and family including a casual afternoon cocktail party in the garden, an intimate dinner with family, or breakfast following a night around the campfire. Pamela’s Garden of Eden launched last year and will return … [Read more...] about Pamela Anderson To Host ‘Cooking With Love’ For Canada’s Corus From Fireworks Media As ‘Garden Of Eden’ Renewed For Season 2

EXCLUSIVE: NBC is developing The Regal , a workplace comedy from writer Brad Copeland ( Life in Pieces) , Kevin Hart ’s Hartbeat and Universal Television. Written by Copeland, The Regal is a workplace comedy about a Las Vegas casino, the biggest and craziest office in the world. The series follows the employees who overcome their different perspectives and personalities to become the one thing you can’t win at a slot machine – family. Copeland executive produces with Hart, Bryan Smiley and Mike Stein for Hartbeat. Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, is the studio. Copeland most recently worked on all four seasons of CBS comedy Life in Pieces , beginning as co-executive producer and rising to executive producer in Seasons 2 and 3 and consulting producer in the final season. His other credits include creator of comedy series The Inbetweeners and consulting producer on My Name Is Earl and producer on Fox’s Arrested Development. His film … [Read more...] about Kevin Hart To EP Workplace Comedy ‘The Regal’ From Brad Copeland & Hartbeat In Works At NBC