TV SALES
Craig Pearce will develop drama series THE MAID, based on the book of the same name by Kimberley Cutter. The project tells the tale of Joan of Arc, a peasant girl who believes she is sent by God to save France. Pearce is repped by WME.
ABC has bought two comedy projects from Ben Stiller’s Red Hour Television. The first project, YOU’RE NOT DOING IT RIGHT, is written by Michael Ian Black, who will also star and executive produce with Ted Schachter. Based on Black’s book and set “in the wilds of Connecticut,” the show is described as a comedy about modern marriage and parenting and takes a hard look at what happens when you wake up, look around, and don’t recognize the life you are living as your own. Black is repped by UTA. The second project, BETWEEN TWO KINGS, centers on a divorced and devoted father with sole custody of his 11-year-old son who moves into his narcissistic father’s house to care for his ailing dad and finds himself torn between the constant needs of both his self-centered father and his demanding son. Jeff Kahn will write and executive produce. He is repped by WME.
Tom Gormican and Richie Keen have sold a comedy to Fox. The untitled project centers on Richie, a mediocre professional tennis player who returns to his college town in order to reboot his life, only to be caught between a lifestyle he never got to live – embodied by his carefree, bar-owning, younger brother Tom – and Kirsten, the love of his life he will have to grow up in order to get. Gormican and Keen will write and executive produce with Greg Daniels. Gormican and Keen are repped by WME and CAA respectively.
Fox has purchased another ‘sibling comedy’, this one from writers Alex Barnow and Marc Firek. The untitled project follows a woman, fresh out of rehab and committed to starting a new life as a sober, responsible adult, who is forced to move in with her conservative brother and young family. Barnow and Firek will write executive produce with Dave Becky and Jonathan Berry. They are repped by UTA.
Starz has purchased TURF, a drama series project charting the birth of hip-hop from the violence of gang life in 1970s Bronx. Patrick Macmanus will write. He is repped by CAA.
Victor Fresco has sold a multi-camera comedy to NBC. The untitled project follows a man who must figure out how to parent his 14-year-old daughter, who just moved in, while navigating a temperamental new boss at work. Fresco will write and executive produce with Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner. Fresco is repped by ICM.
CBS TV Studios will reboot THE TWILIGHT ZONE, a horror/sci-fi/suspense anthology original created by Rod Serling. Bryan Singer will develop, executive produce and possibly direct the pilot. He is repped by WME.
TV RENEWALS
BBC America has ordered a 10 episode order of THE NERDIST, based on the podcast by Chris Hardwick.
Nick at Nite has renewed Scott Baio’s SEE DAD RUN for a second season. Created by Tina Albanese and Patrick Labyorteaux, the family comedy will receive a 20 episode order.
FX has renewed THE LEAGUE for a fifth season with a typical 13 episode order. Jeff & Jackie Schaffer created the show. They also direct and executive produce.
USA renewed PSYCH for an 8 episode eighth season which may actually be the show’s last season.
BLACK DYNAMITE will get a second season. The funny (and absurd) animated show will receive 10 episode order.
AMC has renewed THE WALKING DEAD for a fourth season, which shouldn’t come as a surprise. However, Glen Mazzara, showrunner after Frank Darabont for season 2 and 3 will not be returning. No word on who will replace him.
TV GREENLIGHTS
Showtime greenlights THE VATICAN from writer Paul Attanasio. The drama is said to be a provocative contemporary genre thriller about spirituality, power and politics set against the modern-day political machinations within the Catholic church. Attanasio will executive produce with Ridley Scott. Attanasio is repped by CAA.
