TV SALES
ABC has moved to pick up the new 1-hour drama pilot MAP, MYTH, BONE from writer/executive producer Christian Trokey. The series, which centers on a recent high-school grad who must uncover a long sought-after treasure in order to save his amateur archaeologist father’s life, will also be executive produced by Marc Guggenheim.
CBS has made a deal to pick up single-camera comedy JUDGE SCHOOL from writer/executive producer Neil Cohen. Series, which is set in a tiny upstate New York town, centers on newly elected Town Judge Carly Vanderwitt, as she tries to balance the townspeople’s agendas and conflicts, while also trying to deal with her own quirky family. Gary David Goldberg will also exec produce.
CINEMAX has locked it up, securing the rights to the film TRANSPORTER, and committing to a 13-episode order to be developed for film and TV by executive producer Luc Besson, Klaus Zimmermann and Fred Fuchs. The project will center on the same character from the films – Frank Martin, and will follow the same premise as well — a professional transporter operating in a seedy underworld of dangerous criminals lives and dies by three rules: never change the deal, no names and never open the package.
FOX has made a move to pick up the single-cam comedy MAMBO PALACE from writer/executive producer Luisa Leschin. The series, which centers on a quirky neighborhood dance studio run by larger-than-life ballroom aces Ray and Lillian Del Mar, will be exec produced by Ali LeRoi.
FOX 21 has picked up the period drama MAJESTIC from writer/exec producer Will Pascoe. The series, which is set during the Golden Age of Hollywood, centers on estranged brothers and long-time rivals Benjamin and Sam Lawton, who are forced into an uneasy alliance after their father dies, leaving them in charge of the movie studio he founded. Hart Hanson will also exec produce.
GFM Films has put into development the crime drama film THE LONG GOOD FRIDAY to be turned into a series. The project, which has just added director Paul McGuigan to develop and direct, as well as Ray Winstone to star, centers on English gangster Harold, who on the verge of becoming the biggest kingpin in all of the UK, ends up going to war with the IRA on his own turf.
Haut et Court and Canal Plus have pushed into development the new crime thriller series PINK PANTHERS. The series, which will be based on the true story of the “Pink Panthers” Balkan gang, will watch as the crime ring grows across Europe through the eyes of three separate POVS – a Serbian member of the Pink Panthers, a U.K. loss adjuster embroiled in the jewelry trade and a high-ranked femme cop from the French gang repression unit. Executive producers Jimmy Desmarais and Caroline Benjo are currently seeking a writing/directing team to tackle the first season.
TV RENEWALS
AMC has made it official (albeit with some grumblings) and ordered up a fifth season of network standout MAD MEN.
FX jumped one day early, handing out a third season order for just announced Peabody Award winner JUSTIFIED.
FX has also handed out a third season order for the audience-building animation ARCHER.
TV CANCELLATIONS
HBO has pulled the plug on their drama series IN TREATMENT after a three year run.
TV ATTACHMENTS
Michael Caton-Jones has signed on to helm the 8-part mini-series WORLD WITHOUT AN END for producers Ridley Scott and Tony Scott. The project is the sequel to the “Pillars of the Earth” mini.
Stan Lee and Arnold Schwarzenegger have partnered up to produce the new animated series (and comic book series) THE GOVERNATOR. The series will follow Schwarzenegger, as he ends his term as Governor of California, and decides to become a crime fighting superhero.
TV DEALS
Steven Maeda has signed a 2-script deal with ABC. Under his deal he will be writing two original scripts for the network, and may be tapped for executive producing duties on a new series as determined.
