Will Arnett

While the ‘Arrested Development’ movie is still far from completion, a reunion project at FOX is inching closer to reality.

‘Arrested Development’ creator/executive producer Mitch Hurwitz, co-star Will Arnett and co-executive producer Jim Vallely are awaiting a pilot order on a new comedy series for FOX.

The untitled half-hour comedy was originally based at Sony Pictures Television, who have since pulled out. However, Lionsgate Television (the producers of ‘Mad Men’ and ‘Weeds’) have now stepped to take over the project.

Deals are yet to be finalised, but are looking positive now that the studio issues have been resolved.

The comedy stars Arnett as a rich Beverly Hills jackass who falls in love with a charitable tree-hugging woman who can’t stand his lifestyle or values.

Arnett will serve as a producer on the pilot, which he co-wrote the pilot with Hurwitz and Vallely. Hurwitz and Vallely will serve as executive producers alongside Eric Tannenbaum, Kim Tannenbaum, Peter Principato and Paul Young.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

The CW picks up CIA-based action pilot 'Nomads'.

In an attempt to diversify their programming line up next season, The CW has picked up the action drama pilot ‘Nomads’, from ‘Numb3rs’ creator Ken Sanzel and producers Ridley Scott and Tony Scott.

The drama centers on a group of young backpackers who find a way to make some extra money by doing secret missions for the CIA.

Sanzel will write and direct the pilot presentation, with the Scott brothers serving as executive producers under their production banner Scott Free Productions.

‘Nomads’ is from CBS Television Studios and Warner Bros. Television.

Source: Variety

Asher Keddie and Kat Stewart star as sisters in Ten's upcoming series 'Offspring'.

According to The Australian, Network Ten have commissioned a 13-episode series based on their upcoming telemovie ‘Offspring’.

The family drama, from Souther Star and producers John Edwards (‘Rush’, ‘Love My Way’, ‘The Secret Life of Us’) and Imogen Banks (‘Tangle’), stars Asher Keddie (‘Underbelly’, ‘Love My Way’) as a 30-something obstetrician Nina Proudman.

‘Offspring’ has been described as a “buoyant, romantic comedy set on the streets of Fitzroy.” It follows Keddie’s character Nina in a story of impossible loves and her fabulously messy family, as they navigate the chaos of modern life.

Kat Stewart stars as Nina’s wild sister Billie. Don Hany, John Waters and Deborah Mailman are also set to star.

Production will commence in May.

Source: The Australian

Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence in last year's telemovie 'My Fake Fiance'.

Following their stints on in celebrity reality series ‘Dancing with the Stars’, Melissa Joan Hart (‘Sabrina the Teenage Witch’) and Joey Lawrence (‘Blossom’) will return to their sitcom roots in ABC Family’s aptly unimaginatively titled ‘Melissa and Joey’.

Hart will play a politician whose niece and nephew are left in her care when her sister is thrown in jail. Unable to juggle both work and parenthood, she hires a manny (Lawrence) to help care for them.

The half-hour sitcom was developed with the actors in mind, after their ABC Family original movie, ‘My Fake Fiance’, shattered ratings records for the cable channel early last year.

‘Melissa and Joey’ will premiere later this year on ABC Family.

Source: TV Guide

'Gilmore Girls' creator Amy Sherman-Palladinois returning to The CW.

Another season, another remake for The CW. The green network will next tackle a remake of the 90’s action thriller ‘Nikita’, by famed french director Luc Besson.

The film spawned a television series in the late 90’s, starring Australia’s Peta Wilson, under the title ‘La Femme Nikita’. The Canadian/US spy drama ran for five seasons on cable network USA Network.

The CW’s ‘Nikita’ remake will follow the assasin who is trained to replace the original Nikita, after the original goes rogue. The Warner Bros. and Wonderland Sound and Vision project will be written and executive produced by Craig Silverstein, with McG and Peter Johnson serving as executive producers.

The second project hails from the creator of ‘Gilmore Girls’, Amy Sherman Palladino and her husband/producer Dan Palladino. The untitled family drama will be set on a horse farm in Wyoming.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Media Release

SQUABBLING COUPLES: COMEDY GOLD FOR MARRIAGE REF

The celebrity panel for the show each will comprise of sports stars, entertainers and comedians, who will all offer their own unique take on household bickering.

Seinfeld says his latest creation will have equal appeal for both men and women in this modern day battle of the sexes. “The aspect of it that I think will appeal to men is that we’re applying the sports simplicity to marriage complexity,” he says. “Women love relationship problems, can’t get enough of them.”

Jerry Seinfeld and Channel Seven have put the call out for Australian couples with a domestic score to settle to feature on the new comedy panel show, The Marriage Ref.

The show, created by Jerry Seinfeld, will make the most of the comedy goldmine that is marriage as couples mount their arguments about issues both big and small to a celebrity panel.

Parenting, in-laws, bad habits or petty squabbles, no issue is off limits on The Marriage Ref.

For the Australian version of the show, Channel Seven is looking for couples with character, who aren’t afraid to speak their mind regarding their pesky disagreements. Such lovers’ tiffs, which form part of any healthy relationship, will be the centrepiece for this new format. But don’t be fooled, this is all about fun, not therapy.

“It’s just the fun of the arguments, that’s what the show is about. There’s nothing in the show that’s really too heavy or serious,” says Seinfeld.

“I think anytime you have a man and a woman trying to get along, it’s funny. But what’s different about
this show is you’re seeing the actual arguments and some are very unusual, things that a writer couldn’t
make up.”

All couples keen to participate in The Marriage Ref should visit www.yahoo7.com.au and follow the links to The Marriage Ref. The Marriage Ref is produced by Southern Star Entertainment for Channel Seven.

Source: Seven Network

Kevin Connolly

FOX are looking into a new sketch comedy project after the long-running late nighter ‘Mad TV’ ended earlier this year.

However unlike ‘Mad TV’, ‘Inside Jokes’ (working title), is said to be putting a new spin on the sketch comedy genre as well as shifting gears to primetime.

“We’re reinterpreting the genre,” said Merv Griffin Entertainment president Roy Bank. “There’s a troupe of actors, but it’s not as sketchy as a lot of those other shows. It’s pure comedy, straight jokes. Imagine cutting up a sitcom into a million different pieces. It’s like a clip show,” he added.

Bank will executive produce the pilot through Merv Griffin Entertainment alongside ‘Entourage’ star Kevin Connolly, Ted Brunetti, Ron Ward and John Moffitt.

The cast includes a troupe of unknown actors, including Carrie Wiita, Lauren Lewis, Jay Phillips, Cameron Bender, Paul Schackman and Mary Scheer.

The pilot is already in production, under the direction from Gerry Cohen (‘The Drew Carey Show’).

Source: Variety

Nicole Richie

According to Variety, Nicole Richie is planning a return to television in a new half-hour scripted comedy for ABC.

Richie will play as a professional woman with complicated family relationships and struggling to figure out what role she’ll take as her life and her family evolve.

In addition to starring, Richie will also receive a producing credit having had the initial idea for the show.

Daisy Gardner (‘Californication’) is set to pen the pilot; with Warren Bell (”According to Jim’) and Jamie Tarses as executive producers; and Impression Entertainment’s Michael Baum as producer.

Richie recently guest starred in an episode of NBC’s ‘Chuck’, as Sarah’s high school nemesis turned super spy. Following the first series of ‘The Simple Life’ with Paris Hilton, Richie also appeared in episodes of ‘8 Simple Rules’, ‘American Dreams’ and ‘Eve’.

Source: Variety

Sendhil Ramamurthy as Mohinder in 'Heroes'.

With limited opportunities to showcase his talents, Sendhil Ramamurthy aka Mohinder Suresh from ‘Heroes’ has signed on to another NBC dramedy, ‘Rex Is Not Your Lawyer.’

‘Rex Is Not Your Lawyer’ follows Rex Alexander – David Tennant (Doctor Who), a top Chicago litigator who begins suffering panic attacks and takes up coaching clients to represent themselves in court.

Ramamurthy is cast as a lawyer who previously played second fiddle to Rex until Rex leaves, things get complicated when he falls for a Rex’s friend’s fiancee (Abigail Spencer).

‘Rex Is Not Your Lawyer’ is produced by Universal Media Studios with the David Semel directing the pilot. Scripts will be by Andrew Leeds and David Lampson and Larry Schindel, Semel, Gail Berman, Lloyd Braun and Gene Stein will serve as executive producers.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Hayden Panettiere

The CW is hoping to snag just a little bit of the ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ crowd next year with the new medical school drama ‘HMS’, from ‘Mystic Pizza’ writer Amy Holden Jones.

The ensemble drama, which follows a group of students at Harvard Medical School, will mark ‘Heroes’ star Hayden Panettiere’s producing debut.

The project was recently brought to The CW’s attention, after originally being developed for The WB Network in the 2004-05 season.

Panettiere will co-executive produce the Warner Bros. Television project with Jones.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Morgan Lily and John Cusack stars in Roland Emmerich's '2012', out November 12.

According to Entertainment Weekly, ‘2012’ director Roland Emmerich and Mark Gordon (‘Grey’s Anatomy’, ‘Private Practice’) are already in development on a television series based on the film ‘2012’.

[FILM SPOILERS AHEAD]

“The plan is that it is 2013 and it’s about what happens after the disaster,” said Emmerich. “It is about the resettling of Earth. That is very, very fascinating.”

Emmerich adds that he thinks the show “will focus on a group of people who survived but not on the boats — maybe they were on a piece of land that was spared or one that became an island in the process of the crust moving.”

Gordon is believed to be in talks with ABC to bring the disaster drama to television.

“After the movie, there are some people who survive and the question is how will these survivors build a new world and what will it look like. That might make an interesting TV series.”

Source: Entertainment Weekly

The season finale of 'MasterChef Australia' ranks as one of Australia's most-watched programs in a decade.

FOX have picked up the ‘MasterChef’ cooking show format for next season, with Gordon Ramsay set to co-produce and star.

“['MasterChef' is] a huge reality format that works great in other countries plus Gordon Ramsay guarantees success,” said FOX’s president of alternative programming, Mike Darnell. “Gordon is like our ‘CSI.’ ”

While details are still being worked out, the network are believed to be basing their US edition on Australia’s overhauled version, which amped up the drama in the kitchen.

The show will join FOX’s other Ramsay projects, ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ and ‘Kitchen Nightmares’.

“‘Hell’s Kitchen’ is about finding a head chef that can work in a restaurant,” Darnell said. “['MasterChef'] is about creating the perfect dish, and the contestants can be plucked from anywhere.”

FOX are ordering a relatively small amount of episodes (between 12 and 15) compared to Australia’s edition, which aired six nights a week. The format will be restructured to suit FOX’s schedule.

“Hell’s Kitchen” is FOX’s second-most-popular reality series behind mega storm ‘American Idol’. However, it’s a much more solid performer, with the network changing its time slot multiple times, yet continuing to performs competitively.

“Because we’ve had such success with cooking reality, we’re the best place to make this into a big show,” said Darnell.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

AUSTRLIAN THRILLER COMING TO NINE IN 2010

THE MARIA KORP STORY

'The Maria Korp Case'

Rebecca Gibney and Vince Colosimo are teaming up for a gripping suburban thriller being produced for the Nine Network by Playmaker Media.The 90 minute telemovie, which began production on Monday, October 26, is based on the book by journalist Carly Crawford The Maria Korp Case: The Woman In the Boot Story and tells the tragic tale of a bizarre love triangle which ended in attempted murder in the outer suburbs of Melbourne in 2005.

“This story has everything a true crime drama audience could possibly want: a front page news story of passion and betrayal, delivered by a stellar Australian cast. It will be a highlight for us on air in 2010,” said Jo Horsburgh Nine Network Head of Drama.

“The Maria Korp story is a compelling writer-driven drama with a twist and we are delighted to be producing it for the Nine Network” said David Taylor – principal of Playmaker with partner David Maher.

The screenplay has been written by Ellie Beaumont and it will be directed by Ian Watson with Rebecca Gibney starring as Maria Korp, Vince Colosimo as Joe Korp and Maya Elliot as Tania Herman.

Playmaker Media is a production partnership between David Maher and David Taylor whose drama producing credits include telemovie Make or Break, anthology series Love Bytes and two series of the comedy Supernova. Based at Fox Studios, Playmaker Media is a new player in the production sector, creating and producing original programming for both local and international broadcasters.

Source: Nine Network

Anna Hutchison, Jay Ryan, Alix Bushnell and Bronwyn Turei star in TV2's 'Go Girls'.

South Pacific Pictures’ dramedy ‘Go Girls’ is set for an American remake, following word that the concept has been picked up by ABC Studios.

The US production company, who are behind some TV’s biggest hits (‘Lost’, ‘Desperate Housewives’ and ‘Grey’s Anatomy’), have hired ‘He’s Just Not That Into You’ writer Liz Tuccillo to adapt the series.

Tuccillo, who also served as a story editor on HBO’s ‘Sex and the City’, will write and produce the pilot with executive producers Julia Franz and John Barnett.

Barnett, chief executive of South Pacific Pictures, said the idea for ‘Go Girls’ could be taken anywhere.

The series focuses on three girls who want to be individually rich, famous and married within a year.

“That kind of thing, or variation of it, can work anywhere in the world,” said Barnett.

“I think [ABC] liked the relationships between the girls and the quest. It’s a very accessible premise and a very international premise.”

South Pacific Pictures’ other hit series, ‘Outrageous Fortune’, was similarly picked up by ABC in 2007, however the pilot (which was developed by ‘Veronica Mars’ creator Rob Thomas, and renamed ‘Good Behaviour’) was not picked up for series.

A US version of ‘Fortune’ is still believed to be in the cards, with the studio bringing in a new writer for a different take on the series.

Barnett said that the effort being taken to rewrite the project, indicated that Americans still love the idea.

“There’s no question that ‘Outrageous’ pushes boundaries…In that sense ‘Go Girls’ is possibly an easier adaptation.”

A second series of ‘Go Girls’ is already in production in Auckland.

The first series is currently airing 10.30pm Fridays on Network Ten.

Source: The New Zealand Herald

David Fincher

Media Rights Capital are teaming up with ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’ director David Fincher for ‘House of Cards’.

Based on the political-thriller novel by Michael Dobbs, ‘Cards’ follows a British politician with his eye set firmly on the top prime ministerial role, during the end of Margaret Thatcher’s period in office.

The book was previously adapted for television in 1990 by Andrew Davis for the BBC.

The US adaptation which will relocate the story to Washington, but will maintain the same political themes raised in the novel regarding ambition and blackmail.

“David Fincher, whose body of work speaks for itself, is sure to put an unforgettable stamp on the celebrated British series,” said MRC CEO, Modi Wiczyk.

‘Cards’ will be exec produced by’Benjamin Button’ writer Eric Roth, Fincher, Dobbs, Davis and producer Josh Donen (‘Spiderman 4′).

The project is expected to be shopped around to networks soon.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Jillian Michaels and Curtis Stone

Jillian Michaels, who rose to fame on the weight loss reality series ‘The Biggest Loser’, is set to host her own show for NBC.

Entitled ‘Losing it with Jillian’, the series will follow a new family each week trying to change their lives, not just physically but mentally and even financially.

While sharing similar themes, the new show will be somewhat distinctive from ‘The Biggest Loser’.

“Biggest Loser is the last resort — our show is an intervention,” said Michaels. “I wanted an opportunity to [go] to people’s homes and [teach] them in their own environment.”

Michaels isn’t kidding, she will literally be moving into their homes, going to work with the parents and attending school with the kids.

Joining Michaels on the new series is Aussie Chef Curtis Stone, who has made several appearances in the US on ‘The Biggest Loser’. Stone will be the resident nutrition expert, teaching the families about eating and maintaining a health diet.

The eight-episode series is scheduled to air in 2010 o NBC.

Source: TV Guide

Indestructible Man

Fox21 is partnering with Platinum Studios to develop a television series based on Platinum’s upcoming comic-book series ‘Indestructible Man’.

The comic-book series revolves around elite secret agent Nick Rabel, who curiously can’t be killed, however discovers the difference between “indestructible” and “unbreakable” the hard way.

The story is “a unique combination of superpowers and humor,” said Fox21 president Chris Carlisle. “This is a fun comic story where our indestructible lead character has major issues.”

Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, chairman and CEO of Platinum Studios, said Fox21 “really understood this character and the world he inhabits from the very first meeting.”

Rosenberg will serve as a producer on the project.

Fox 21 is a low-cost specialty television production arm of Twentieth Century Fox. Their previous projects included reality series ‘Beauty and the Geek’, gritty medical drama ‘Saved’ and US remake of ‘Mistresses’.

Platinum Studios holds an independent library of over 3,800 characters. Their filmed project devision has several feature films in production including ‘Cowboys & Aliens’, ‘Dead of Night’, ‘The Darkness’ and ‘Witchblade’.

Source: Heat Vision

The cast of UK comedy 'Gavin and Stacey'.

It’s seemingly become the norm for each television season to see yet another show being remade Stateside.

This season saw an American take on the UK comedy ‘Absolutely Fabulous’. Thankfully it wasn’t picked up for series by FOX.

Next season, America is set to try and remake another UK comedy, ‘Gavin and Stacey’, which revolves around a boy from England and a woman from Wales, who fall in love over the phone.

A pilot has been green-lit by ABC, though BBC’s commercial arm, BBC Worldwide.

Unlike the upcoming MTV remake of ‘Skins’, the British creators of ‘Gavin and Stacey’, James Corden and Ruth Jones, won’t be penning the US adaptation.

Stacy Traub (‘Notes From the Underbelly’) and Hayes Jackson (‘According to Jim’) will take on writing duties for the ABC pilot.

‘Gavin and Stacey’ joins other ABC pilot orders ‘18 Years’, from ‘The King of Queens’ writers Cathy Yuspa and Josh Goldsmith; and a sitcom from ‘Samantha Who?’ exec producer Donald Todd.

Source: Guardian

Lucy Hale - In negotiations to top-line 'Pretty Little Lairs'.

Competition between The CW and ABC Family has really heated up over the last two seasons, with both channels targeting the same young female demographic.

Last season, ABC Family’s ‘The Secret Life of an American Teenager’ even topped the reboot of The CW’s ‘90210’.

Now it looks as though ABC Family are taking a page from The CW’s playbook, with the cable channel eyeing a project from Warner Bros. Television and Alloy Entertainment — the duo behind ‘Gossip Girl’, ‘Privileged’, and this season’s breakout hit, ‘The Vampire Diaries’.

The project, entitled ‘Pretty Little Liars’, is based on the series of novels by Sara Shepard.

Adapted for television by Marline King (“Just My Luck”), ‘Liars’ revolves around four 16-year-old friends, Aria, Emily, Spencer and Hanna, who’ve had a falling out following the disappearance of their manipulative and vindictive “Queen Bee”, Alison. Three years after her disappearance, the girls begin to receive mysterious messages suggesting that Alison is watching them and knows all their dirty secrets. The messages continue to arrive, even after Alison’s body is finally discovered.

‘Privileged’ star Lucy Hale is said to be negotiations to top-line ‘Liars’, with Bob Levy, Leslie Morgenstein and King serving as executive producers.

Alloy and Warner had previously attempted to turn ‘Liars’ into a TV series, with a project in development for The WB back in 2005. Mimi Schmir had penned the script, but it wasn’t green-lit for pilot by the network.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

The US network have picked up ‘Rehab’, from writer Sam Laybourne.

The comedy project centers on a man who fakes going to rehab to reconnect with his former high school sweetheart-turned rock star, who’s undergoing rehabilitation.

Peter Chernin will produce with Will Gluck, who’s also looking to direct. Debbie Liebling will oversee.

Laybourne and Gluck previously collaborated on FOX’s short lived comedy ‘The Loop’, which Gluck co-created.

Laybourne is currently serving as a writer/producer on ABC’s ‘Cougar Town’.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Confessions of a Backup Dancer

Following a rather mixed start to the season, The CW have started thinking about their future development slate, with new projects ranging from singers, dancers and cheerleaders to spies, sisters and space cadets.

Projects include, ‘Confessions of a Backup Dancer’ from ‘The L Word’ creator Ilene Chaiken, who is adapting the Alloy Entertainment novel. Chaiken will pen the pilot and serve as executive producer along side Alloy’s Leslie Morgenstein and Bob Levy.

‘Confessions’, from Warner Bros. Television, explores the glamorous and gritty behind-the-scenes world of a major pop tour from the point of view of the star’s troupe of backing dancers.

‘One Tree Hill’ creator Mark Schwahn will co-write and exec produce ‘Nashville’, with country star Brad Paisley and Neal Dodson.

‘Nashville’, from CBS Studios, is set in Music City USA and centers on a young female singer destined for stardom and a young male songwriter whose career path is uncertain.

Schwahn is also developing another project for the CW about a spy school for girls.

‘Veronica Mars’ creator and former ‘90210′ developer, Rob Thomas, will return to The CW with ‘Plymouth Rock’. Thomas will write and exec produce with Danielle Stokdyk, Jennifer Gwartz and Dan Etheridge.

The project, from Warner Bros. Television, is a soap set aboard a spaceship and revolves around young people headed to a distant planet with a mission to colonize and procreate to save the human race.

Joining ‘Gossip Girl’ in New York is ‘The March Sisters’, from CBS Studios. The project has been described as ‘Sex and the City’ meets ‘Little Women’ in Manhattan, revolving around working-class siblings trying to make it in the wealthy, glamorous world of Park Avenue.

Jill Gordon (‘90210′, ‘Cupid’) will exec produce ‘March Sisters’, along with Meryl Poster.

Finally, the CW will develop cheerleading drama ‘Cheer’, from Kevin Murphy (‘Reaper’) and exec produced by ‘Smallville’ star Tom Welling.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

'Gilmore Girls' Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel.

Amy Sherman-Palladino will make her first foray into cable television with a new mother-daugher relationship dramedy for HBO.

The ‘Gilmore Girls’ creator-executive producer will pen and executive produce the untitled dramedy, which chronicles the complicated relationship between three adult sisters, all writers sharing the same upper east side apartment building, and their mother, a domineering literary lioness who reserves most of her affections for their ne’er-do-well brother.

“It’s a story of love, hate, family — and finding the perfect opening line,” said Sherman-Palladino.

Sherman-Palladino’s last outing was the short-lived comedy series ‘The Return of Jezebel James’ on FOX.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Alex Kurtzman and Robert Orci

According to Variety, CBS have given a pilot commitment order to a reboot of ‘Hawaii Five-O’, following a pitch from Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and Peter Lenkov on Thursday.

The trio will serve as executive producers on the CBS Television Studios project.

Lenkov (‘CSI: NY’) will pen the pilot, under supervision from Kurtzman and Orci, and will serve as showrunner should the project be picked up to series.

The original ‘Hawaii Five-O’, created by Leonard Freeman, was filmed on location in Hawaii. The reboot is also expected to shoot on in the Pacific to take advantage of tax credits for film and TV productions offered by the state.

Hawaii has hosted several television productions over the years including ‘Fantasy Island’, ‘Magnum P.I.’ and ‘Baywatch Hawaii’.

Capital city, Honolulu is the current base of ABC’s ‘Lost’, which will wrap up this season. Scoring another major television production will be a big win for the Hawaii Film Office.

Writing duo, Kurtzman and Orci were behind two of this years biggest box office hits, ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’ and ‘Star Trek’. The pair also co-created ‘Fringe’ with frequent collaborator J.J. Abrams for FOX.

Source: Variety

Marc Cherry

‘Desperate Housewives’ helped turn around ABC’s ratings hell, along with ‘Lost’ and ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ back in 2004.

Now the ‘Housewives’ creator, Marc Cherry, is developing a new series for the network which is being targeted for next season.

The project, originally thought to be a spin-off of ‘Desperate Housewives’, has now been confirmed as a stand alone show — though is expected to have a similar tone.

The premise for the new series is still being developed, but will written by Cherry and fellow ‘Housewives’ executive producer Alexandra Cunningham.

Cherry will continue to serve as an executive producer on ‘Desperate Housewives’ should the new series be picked up for series.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

MEDIA RELEASE

CHANNEL SEVEN AND JERRY SEINFELD JOIN FORCES FOR NEW AUSSIE SERIES ‘THE MARRIAGE REF’

Jerry Seinfeld

Channel Seven today announced it will go into production on a local version of the anticipated new Jerry Seinfeld-produced series, The Marriage Ref.

Co-creator and executive producer of The Marriage Ref, comedy legend Seinfeld said the show will tap into the “ultimate comedy goldmine” – marriage.

In the show, outspoken celebrities including comedians, sports stars and entertainers will candidly comment, judge and offer opinions on the pesky arguments and funny disagreements couples face.

At the recent Mipcom market in Cannes, The Marriage Ref was one of the most sought-after shows in many years. The US version will debut soon on the NBC network in America, with a host of other international deals.

The local series will be produced for Seven by Endemol Southern Star. Seven also has the exclusive rights to the US version.

The Marriage Ref is Seinfeld’s first major TV role since he wrapped his iconic sitcom Seinfeld in 1998, after a record-breaking nine year run. He said of the format: “We are very excited to be finding out that the humour of marriage has no boundaries.”

Seinfeld’s co-creator and executive producer Ellen Rakieten said: “The reception we have had from the international community has been overwhelming.”

Channel Seven’s Director of Programming and Production Tim Worner said: “Jerry Seinfeld is a legend of comedy and Seinfeld the show is a timeless classic. He doesn’t exactly need to be doing something like The Marriage Ref but to hear him talk about it is to hear someone who wants to do it all over again.

“With this show, he has a vision and is so enthusiastic and so passionate about every detail of that vision. He describes marriage as a “comedy goldmine” and this show is designed to make the most of it.

“It’s not nasty, it’s not marriage counselling, it’s making genuine fun of situations that couples the world over will be able to relate to. Seven is really excited to be part of his vision and belief that The Marriage Ref can do for marriage what Seinfeld did for singledom”.

Rory Callaghan, Managing Director of Southern Star Entertainment said:
“This is the show that everyone wants and we are extremely proud to be partnering with Seven to bring it to viewers in Australia. It’s very easy to imagine The Marriage Ref becoming a major hit down under – not only has it got brilliant comedy value but people are going to have a lot of fun getting involved and taking sides.”

Source: Seven Network

Chris Lilley gets ‘angry’ with ABC TV for new series

Chris Lilley

In the most hotly-awaited news in television, ABC TV and the USA’s HBO jointly today announces a new 12-part, half-hour series from multi-award winning writer and performer, Chris Lilley.

Angry Boys is a co-production between the team of Chris Lilley and Princess Pictures, creators of the enormously popular Summer Heights High and We Can Be Heroes, ABC TV and HBO.

In an Australian first, the series will be co-produced with HBO, a broadcaster which has built its reputation by offering some of television’s most creative and edgy programming, and in association with the UK’s BBC, the home of British comedy.

Shooting in a mock documentary style, Angry Boys explores what it means to be a 21st century boy by putting the male of the species under the microscope. It will be shot in Australia and overseas locations and goes into pre-production on Monday October 5.

Chris Lilley says he’s been writing the new show for a long time. “There will be new characters and lots of surprises for the audience, and I’m really excited about having a longer-running series to work with.”
Laura Waters, Princess Pictures, says “Angry Boys will be the biggest challenge and most fun we’ve ever had making a television show.”

ABC TV Executive Head of Content Creation, Courtney Gibson says “The scripts are absolutely terrific: Once again Chris is pushing comedy and character somewhere really challenging and ambitious. Moving forward with HBO and the BBC as partners means the series will play on the world stage right after we premiere it here in Australia.”
Sue Naegle, President, HBO Entertainment. said “Chris Lilley combines a wicked sense of humour with fearless insights into human nature, which gives his comedy a universal appeal. We were thrilled to share Summer Heights High with the U.S. audience and are sure that Angry Boys will connect with our subscribers and the media.”
In 2007, Summer Heights High screened in Australia to phenomenal success, with a peak audience of 1.48 million and a 33.5% share (5 cities).

Summer Heights High has not only been a success in Australia but has been seen in dozens of countries around the world including on HBO in the USA and on the BBC in the UK.

It’s the highest-selling Australian comedy TV series DVD. In 2008 it won the Most Outstanding Comedy Series and most Popular Actor Logies and the AFI Award for Best Comedy Series and Best Actor in a Comedy Series.
We Can Be Heroes was also seen in dozens of countries including the US (Sundance Channel) and UK (FXUK), and won the Most Outstanding Comedy Series Logie in 2006.

Chris won the Logies’ inaugural Graham Kennedy Award in 2006 and the AFI’s the Byron Kennedy Award in 2008.

Source: ABC TV Blog

Media Release

Think you can make exciting TV? Got the ideas & ability to back it up? Channel Seven is looking for you!

Channel Seven announced today they are on the hunt for creative, fearless and talented filmmakers to showcase their talents as part of an exciting pilot where they will be challenged to produce some of the best stories never told!

The search is on for teams (2 people per team) who are gutsy, out-going, love travel and reckon they have what it takes to write, star in, shoot and edit their own original and hugely entertaining short films or videos.

18 to 80, age is no barrier – as long as you know how to tell a story, shoot and cut your own videos and work to strict timeframes we want to hear from you.

This is a rare opportunity to genuinely broadcast yourself and showcase your unique talents as part of an exciting new pilot.

What to do?

• Grab a friend and send us a short video (around 2 minutes) telling us who you are, where you’re from and what sets you apart from the pack
• Be as creative as you like – there are no rights or wrongs. Just demonstrate who you are and convince us why you should be selected
• You can submit by yourself, or you can team with a similarly talented friend/relative/colleague/total stranger

Stardom, industry recognition and large cash prizes could await so get to it! All the info you need is at:

www.acastofthousands.com.au/film

Source: Seven Network

J.J. Abrams

J.J. Abrams, co-creator and executive producer of ‘Fringe’, will turn to laughter for a new medical comedy for FOX.

The untitled half-hour project, which will be penned by Mike Markowitz (‘Becker’), has been given a presentation order from the network, which Abrams will exec produce.

Markowitz and Bryan Burk will also serve as executive producers on the Warner Bros. TV/Bad Robot production.

Details on the project are being kept under wraps, apart from the brief logline of “a comedic medical show”.

Source: Variety

Jerry Bruckheimer

Following interest from several networks, NBC have landed a new action procedural from Jerry Bruckheimer and writer Jennifer Johnson.

The untitled project, from Warner Bros. Television and Jerry Bruckheimer Television, is said to tell the stories of a team charged with making sure fugitive criminals don’t evade justice.

Johnson, executive producer of ‘Cold Case’, will pen the pilot under the three-year overall deal she inked with WBTV over hiatus.

Johnson will also serve as an executive producer alongside Bruckheimer, Jonathan Littman and co-executive producer Kristie Anne Reed.

WBTV/Bruckheimer TV have eight series in production this season, including newcomers ‘Miami Trauma’ for CBS and ‘The Forgotten’ for ABC.

Bruckheimer is currently developing features ‘Pirates of the Caribbean 4′ and ‘National Treasure 3′.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

The new 'Teen Wolf' is said to be much darker than the original.

The project, which was announced back in January as part of MTV’s development slate, has now been given a pilot presentation order from the cable network.

While the original 1985 film, which starred Michael J. Fox, was more of a comedy, the MTV version is said to be much darker and will explore the Warewolf mythology.

“It has a fresh take and is very different from the original,” said Liz Gateley, senior vice president of MTV series development. “It has more of an ‘American Werewolf in Paris’ feel to it.”

Although all comedy won’t be lost reassured Gateley, ”It’s a dramatic thriller with two best friends in the center, who provide a great comedy element — They are two very relatable characters on the outer circles of popular cliques.”

The new ‘Teen Wolf’ pilot was written by ‘Criminal Minds’ creator Jeff Davis, who will also serve as an executive producer, alongside Marty Adelstein (‘Prison Break’) and Rene Echevarria (‘Castle’).

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

UK drama 'Skins' will get the US remake treatment on MTV.

The announcement came today from MTV’s Senior Vice President of Series Development, Liz Gateley.

Bryan Elsley and Jamie Brittain, the UK father and son team, who created the hit phenomenon for E4 and Channel 4, will serve as writers and executive producers on the US version which is to set be based in Baltimore, Maryland.

Like the original, producers also hope to join together unknown teenagers to help write and star in the series.

“‘Skins’ is one of those rare shows that cuts through to its core audience with unusually authentic stories due to the unique writing and casting process that Bryan pioneered. Having personally pursued the UK project for almost two years, I am beyond thrilled to bring it to MTV in the US. We intend to preserve the authenticity of the British version and are excited to collaborate with the original team to develop stories that will speak to American youth,” said Gateley.

‘Skins’ will be produced by Company Pictures and Stormdog with Executive Producers Charlie Pattinson and George Faber.

“We are delighted to be making ‘Skins’ for the US and in particular, for MTV who have embraced the show and its ambitions and unusual production process. We are looking forward to talking to teenagers across the US and making a show that reflects their lives in every aspect,” said Charlie Pattinson, CEO, Company Pictures.

Season 3 of UK ‘Skins’ is set to premiere 10.30pm Monday, August 31 on SBS ONE.

Source: ComingSoon.net

The cast of the original 1985 film 'St. Elmo's Fire'.

‘St. Elmo’s Fire’ appears to be the latest 80’s property to get a new lease on life. The project has received a script commitment from US net ABC.

Following strong interest from multiple networks, the alphabet eventually landed the dramedy series project.

The original film, which was co-written and directed by Schumacher, followed a group of friends who had just graduated from Georgetown University as they adjusted to adulthood. It starred Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy, Demi Moore, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy and Mare Winningham.

‘St. Elmo’s Fire’ has been hailed as one of the defining films in the 80’s Brat Pack genre, which also includes films such as ‘The Outsiders’, “The Breakfast Club’, ‘Pretty In Pink’ and ‘Sixteen Candles’.

The series will use the movie for inspiration as it introduces six new friends – three boys and three girls, who’ll hang out in the same Georgetown setting at the St. Elmo’s Bar & Restaurant, now called St. Elmo’s Bar & Grill.

“More than anything, the movie evokes a feeling that doesn’t go away,” said writer Dan Bucatinsky, “the feeling of bonding with your friends who become your surrogate family.”

“It’s the feeling of that time in your life when everything is possible but you can’t figure out how to make it possible”, added executive producer Topher Grace.

The project is being developed for ABC by executive producers Joel Schumacher, Topher Grace, Jamie Tarses and Dan Bucatinsky at Sony Pictures Television.

Other 80’s properties which are receiving a contemporary overhaul are ‘V’ and ‘The Witches of Eastwick’ for ABC; and ‘Parenthood’ for NBC.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Seven is heading back to the kitchen with 'My Kitchen Rules'.

Last week we reported that Seven were developing a new cooking show to take on Ten’s smash hit ‘MasterChef’.

Today, Seven have showed their hand with the announcement of ‘My Kitchen Rules’.

The series will travel the country looking for Australia’s best home cooking teams, who’ll turn their homes into restaurants for one “pressure-cooker” night.

The program will be produced by the same team that brought us ‘My Restaurant Rules’ back in 2004, which showed couples competing against each other as they opened their own restaurant.

Seven are now looking for contestants, details at mykitchenrules.com.au

Channel Seven is heading back to the kitchen – from the makers of the successful cooking series My Restaurant Rules comes a new show – MY KITCHEN RULES.

This new series will travel the country to find Australia’s best home-cooking team. In a unique twist, the teams-of-two in MY KITCHEN RULES will do battle from their own kitchens in each State.

The aspiring foodies will have to cook up their culinary tricks, quirks and use local ingredients to impress the judges – whose city will rule in the kitchen?

The home chefs will also have to transform their home into an instant restaurant for one pressure-cooker night.

The competing teams will have to work against the clock to deliver a winning dining experience.

Are you passionate about cooking and entertaining?

Does YOUR Kitchen Rule?

Source: B&T, mykitchenrules.com.au

Ashton Kutcher's social experiment is coming down under with a local version of 'Beauty and the Geek' announced by the Seven Network.

MEDIA RELEASE

Seven searching for geeks…and beauties for the ultimate social experienment

June 26, 2009 – Channel Seven is putting out a call to the ‘Geeks’ of Australia – this is your chance to shine on TV.

Seven is launching a local version of the international smash hit reality series BEAUTY AND THE GEEK – and the casting call is on for a group of academically-smart men who may be socially challenged and a group of good-looking women who desperately need to brush up on their general knowledge.

The ‘beauties’ and the ‘geeks’ will be paired up as couples for a share in a major prize package. For the ultimate social experiment, they will live together during the course of the competition, facing challenges that test the beauties on academic subjects and the geeks on social skills.

Executive produced by Ashton Kutcher, BEAUTY AND THE GEEK is about to enter its sixth season in the US. Entertainment Weekly says of the show: “Ashton Kutcher one-ups the reality genre by adding…heart. “

Seven’s Head of Program Development, Lisa Fitzpatrick said: “BEAUTY AND THE GEEK is an uplifting series that will surprise people. The search is on now to find our geeks and beauties who want to change their lives and have some fun in the process.”

Prospective Geeks and Beauties must visit

www.yahoo7.com.au/beautyandthegeek

BEAUTY AND THE GEEK will premiere on Seven later this year.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Channel Seven Publicity
(02) 8777 7250

Christos Tsiolkas award-winning novel "The Slap".

Matchbox Pictures have announced that after a competitive bidding process they have purchased the rights to Christos Tsiolkas’ acclaimed novel “The Slap”, in order to produce a television adaptation of the Melbourne-based novel.

Matchbox’s Tony Ayres, said he hopes the series will be able to unfold over eight episodes, just as the novel was told through eight chapters from the perspective of a different character.”We’d like to honour that in terms of our realisation,” Ayres said.

“The Slap is about intimate human relationships and television is such a fantastic medium for that.”

“People are talking about television in the way they used to talk about movies and books, it’s what seems to be the cultural capital of our age,” he said.

Tsiolkas is also excited about the prospects of his novel turning into a television series.

“I am very excited to be working with Matchbox. From personal experience, I trust their vision and their integrity as creators of film and television and believe they will create something exhilarating, passionate and provocative with the material in the novel,” said Tsiolkas.

Matchbox are now in talks with local television networks about investing in the series.

‘The Slap’ will be produced by Ayres, Helen Bowden and Michael McMahon. Penny Chapman will serve as executive producer.

Script development on the series will likely begin soon, with production starting early next year. The series will be shot in and around Northcote and Fitzroy, where the novel is set.

The series could go to air as early as the second half of next year.

Sources: Sydney Morning Herald and TV Tonight

In an bizarre partnership, social networking phenomenon Twitter have joined forces with Reveille and Brillstein Entertainment to develop a new unscripted television project which has been described as ”putting ordinary people on the trail of celebrities in a revolutionary competitive format”.

Few details have been announced, but Brillstein’s Jon Liebman said ”we’ve found a compelling way to bring the immediacy of Twitter to life on TV”.

The concept was created by novelist/screenwriter Amy Ephron, who will serve as an executive producer alongside Reville’s Mark Koops and Howard T. Owens, Brillstein’s Liebman and Lee Kernis and producers Kevin Foxe and Steve Lathan.

I guess this is one of the ways Twitter intend to finally start making money. Odd, but inventive.

Source: Variety

The Seven Network have completed production on a new pilot for a daily TV series produced in conjunction their Pacific Magazine’s ‘New Idea’ title.

It’s believed that the series will follow a similar format to Seven’s 05-06 series ‘New Idea’s Saturday Kitchen’, but with additional segments to cover the magazine’s celebrity, gossip and fashion sections.

The ‘Saturday Kitchen’ series had a sucessful run on the network even up against stiff weekend sports competition. It was hosted by cricketer Stuart MacGill and his wife Rachel Friend.

At this stage, it is unknown who was recruited to host the new pilot, however should the pilot receive a good reception from the network, it’s expected to go to air later this year on Seven.

Source: Bandt.com.au

Judy Garland as Dorothy in the MGM's original 1939 film 'The Wizard of Oz'.

The classic 1939 film ‘The Wizard of Oz’ will see new life as an upcoming drama pilot for NBC.

Entitled ‘Dorothy Gale’, the modern day ‘Oz’ follows the story of Dorothy, from Kansas, who’s swept off to Manhattan (her version of the Emerald City). She finds a job in the art world and must deal with a wicked boss.

Jason Katims, who’s already busy working on ‘Friday Night Lights’ and the fellow NBC pilot, ‘Parenthood’, will oversee the ‘Dorothy’ pilot as an executive producer.

‘Dorothy Gale’ was penned by Bridget Carpenter (‘Friday Night Lights’), who’s also serving as an executive producer along with Meryl Poster (‘Chicago’).

Carpenter’s more recent work includes the short lived series ‘Bionic Woman’ and ‘Dead Like Me’.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, FOX is is in final negotiations with actress-comedian Wanda Sykes (‘The New Adventures of Old Christine’, ’Evan Almighty’), for a topical late-night program on Saturdays.

The show will feature a panel of recurring guests discussing hot issues, from politics to pop culture. Sykes will also present in the field segments.

The hourlong comedy program, will fill the shoes of the recently cancelled sketch show ‘MadTV’. Currently, late night time-slots are dominated by white male hosts on other networks.

The comedy program will debut on FOX in the fall (US).

Denton's love affair with the advertising industry extends with 'The Gruen Transfer', currently airing on ABC1.

Andrew Denton’s production company Zapruder’s Other Films are currently in production on ’:30 Seconds’, a new six-part scripted comedy series which will expose the the advertising industry and all it’s quirks.

The series wont screen until later this year on The Comedy Channel, but many are already tipping it as the ‘Frontline’ of the ad industry, which similar exposed the world of current affairs programs during the 90s.

‘:30 Seconds’ was created by Tim Bullock, Justin Drape and Scott Nowell, who met while working for ad agency Saatchi&Saatchi in Sydney back in 2003.

“We’ve taken scenarios we’ve at one point or another been in,” Drape says.

“Such as when a certain client called a stop to a shoot that had been story-boarded as being in the desert and asked why there was no greenery.”

Nowell added, “We’ve had 14 people standing around a barbecue judging the quality of the grill marks on a tortilla.

“We said, we’ve got to write this down.”

Television veteran, Andrew Knight (‘Tripping Over’, ’Sea Change’, ‘Full Frontal’), was also brought onboard to help pen the series.

This wouldn’t be the first time that the ad world has been scripted, with AMC’s hugely successful ’Mad Men’ proving to hold a winning formula and TNT’s ‘Trust Me’ currently airing in the US.

‘:30 Seconds’ will star Peter O’Brien (‘Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities’, ’White Collar Blue’), as the chief of BND Worldwide Bill Brooker, who has a fascination with all things military and no sense of humour.

Kiki, Joel Tobeck (‘Without A Trace’, ‘Shortland Street’), plays brilliant but jaded creative director Martin Manning, who is constantly watching his back and wondering if he should leave and be an artist.

Gyton Grantley (‘Underbelly’) plays loose-moralled senior art director Sumo and Stephen Curry plays can-do producer McBaney.

Shawn Seet (‘Two Fists One Heart’, ‘Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities’), is directing the series and Andrew Denton and Kim Vecera serve as producers.

‘:30 Seconds’ will air later this year on The Comedy Channel.

Source: The Australian

Matthew Bomer stars as a brilliant con artist in 'White Collar'.

Reports say that the USA Network is close to giving a series order to ‘White Collar’, a drama from 20th Century Fox TV which follows the unlikely pairing of a con artist and the head of the FBI’s white-collar crime unit.

The pickup is expected to be confirmed after final details are worked out.

Matthew Bomer (‘Traveler’, ‘Chuck’) stars as the con artist, Tim DeKay (‘Tell Me You Love Me’, ‘Carnivàle’) as the FBI agent.

The pilot was directed by Bronwen Hughes and also co-stars Tiffani Thiessen, Marsha Thomason and Willie Garson.

‘Collar’ is said to have been groomed as a potential companion piece for ‘Psych’, whose lead-in, ‘Monk’ is soon to air its final season.

The alphabet have green-lit yet another pilot, this time from ‘Mad TV’ writers Steven Cragg and Brian Bradley.

The comedy project, titled ‘This Little Piggy’, revolves around a family man who’s forced to take in his younger siblings when times get tough.

ABC Studios will produce the pilot presentation (usually shorter than a full pilot) with Cragg as executive producer and Bradley as co-exec.

The CW have ordered a pilot for The Beautiful Life, the Ashton Kutcher produced drama based on young models living in New York.

The CBS Paramount and Katalyst drama, centers on Christopher, a likable, hard-working 22-year-old with “catalog model” potential, and Raina, a savvy, grounded 15-year-old destined to become the next Heidi Klum.

The pilot was written by Adam Giaudrone, based on his own experience as a former model. Swingtown creator Mike Kelley and showrunner Carol Barbee will exec produce, alongside Kutcher and Karey Burke.

The CW have green-lit a new pilot for Melrose Place, with Oscar winner Davis Guggenheim set to direct.

The remake of the ’90s drama about a group of twentysomethings living in Melrose, was written by Darren Swimmer and Todd Slavkin (Smallville).

Guggenheim, who won an Oscar for the documentary “An Inconvenient Truth,” is best known for his work in TV dramas Deadwood, 24 and the pilot for The Unit. He also served as a producer/director on FOX drama Party of Five.

Thunder Road a new reality show involving contestants driving cars through an obstacle course is racing against other CBS reality projects which include Magical Elves’ arranged-marriage series, Live Like You’re Dying from Mark Burnett and Jeff Probst and investigative pilot called Missing You for a primetime spot in fall 2009. What the.. who would want to watch those pilots when you can see burning rubber and metal on metal contact?

Thunder Road is created by Scott Messick and Justin Hochberg with Messick and McG as executive producers.

The CW are hoping to cash in on some of that “Twilight” vampire craze.

With the current popularity of vampires, courtesy of  ”Twilight” and HBO’s True Blood, it’s no wonder The CW network have greenlit a new pilot based on the Vampire Diaries, a series of books published by Alloy Entertainment. The same company behind Gossip Girl and Privileged.

Vampire Diaries revolves around a young woman whose torn between two brothers, who happen to be vampires. One good and one evil.

The first book in the series was originally published in 1993, years before Stephanie Meyer’s “Twilight” series were even a blimp on the radar.

Kevin Williamson (“Scream” , ”I Know What You Did Last Summer”, Dawson’s Creek, Hidden Palms) will write and produce, along with Julie Plec, who’s coming off the recently cancelled Kyle XY.

The project will be housed by Warner Bros. TV under Alloy’s executive producers Les Morgenstein and Bob Levy .

Gilmore Girls star Lauren Graham has a new pilot in development that has just been green-lit by the alphabet.

The ABC comedy, entitled Let It Go follows a female talk show host who can’t take her own advice of “letting things go” after being dumped by her boyfriend.

The pilot was written by Alex Herschlag (Will & Grace), who will also exec-produce along with Mitch Hurwitz (Arrested Development), Eric Tannenbaum (Two and a Half Men) and Kim Tannenbaum (Two and a Half Men).

ABC have green-lit a comedy pilot from Family Guy writer/co-producer Ricky Blitt.

The multi-camera comedy entitled, Threesome, centers on a thirty-something guy who finds himself torn between his needy best friend and the love of his life and her teenage kids.

Warner Bros. TV will produce the pilot for ABC.

Grey’s Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes, riding on the success of her two medical dramas, is taking another stab at dramatising TV news. The writer/producer previously had two failed attempts at bringing similar concepts to screen in 2003 and 2006.

The new pilot, Inside the Box, which Rhimes will exec produce, follows a female news producer and her colleagues at a Washington D.C. network news bureau.

The pilot was created and written by documentarian Richard E. Robbins. Betsy Beers (Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice) will also serve as executive producer.

NBC have green-lit a pilot based on the Steve Martin flick, “Parenthood”.

While it will retain the same tone of the 1989 movie, the pilot is said to be based on all new characters dealing with the modern challenges that come with raising  kids today.

Jason Katims (Friday Night Lights) will adapt and produce the concept for television, along with Imagine Television’s executive  producers Brian Grazer and Ron Howard.