TV SALES
FOX has gone ahead and given JJ Abrams’ produced series ALCATRAZ a 12-episode pick up.
HBO has once agin greenlit forward progress on the project COCAINE COWBOYS by hiring new writer Michelle Ashford to write a new pilot from scratch. The project, which will be exec produced by Ashford, Michael Bay and Jerry Bruckheimer will be based on the 2006 docu of the same name, which focused on the rise of cocaine in America, and the waves of violent crime that followed it in Miami during the 70s and 80s.
SHOWTIME has picked up the new drama series NEXT PEOPLE from writer/exec producer Salman Rushdie. The series, which is keeping under the radar with plot details is said to focus on the regular “American lives” and how they interact across race, class, and society on a daily basis.
TV RENEWALS
BBC has announced a new 6-episode season of LUTHER will be prepped to begin airing this Fall.
TV DEALS
David Caspe has signed a 2-year/7-figure overall deal with SONY PICTURES TELEVISION. As part of the deal Caspe will stay on as an executive producer of his new written and created series “Happy Endings” for that duration, while also developing new material.
Tony Phelan and Joan Rater have signed a 2-year/7-figure deal with ABC, where they will continue their EP duties at “Grey’s Anatomy” and work on developing new material.