TV SALES
NBC has bought VANISH, a mystery drama from “Moonlight” creator Trevor Munson, Sony Pictures Television and Sam Raimi and Josh Donen’s Star Road banner. Story will follow a man with a mysterious past who protects deserving people from danger and helps them disappear. Munson, Raimi, and Donen will executive produce along with Michael Dinner, who is expected to direct the pilot.
NBC has also pushed ahead with the pickup of the pilot PALM BEACH From writer Burr Steers. The series, which is pitched as an an “Upstairs, Downstairs” style family drama in the exclusive enclave of Palm Beach, will be exec produced by Steers, alongside Lorenzo DiBonventura, Dan McDermott, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein and Shawn Simon.
Conan O’Brien has sold his buddy comedy project FAT CHANCE to frequent supporter TBS. The multi-camera half hour comedy finds out what happens when two friends, one fat and one incredibly good looking, have a beautiful girl enter their lives. O’Brien will also serve as executive producer along with David Kissinger, Jeff Ross, and Jay Lacopo.
Josh Schwartz (The OC, Chuck) has announced plans to adapt UK series MISFITS for an American audience. The original series follows a group of teenagers who receive super powers following an electrical storm, though don’t necessarily do anything heroic with them. No network has been announced as of yet, with Schwartz’s Fake Empire banner producing for Warner Bros. Pictures.
Marc Cherry is adapting a new show DEVIOUS MAIDS for ABC, loosely based on a Televisa format “The Disorderly Maids of the Neighborhood”. Project will follow four Latina maids in Beverly Hills. Cherry will write the show as well as executive produce along with Sabrina Wind, David Lonner, John Mass and Larry Shuman.
FX has snagged the dark comedy series DRONES from writer Chad Kultgen. The project, which centers on drone pilots in Nevada who commute to war, will be exec produced by Kultgen, alongside Milo Ventimiglia, Russ Cundiff, and their Divide Pictures.
Syfy has picked up new alien abduction drama THE COMMUNION LETTERS from writers Jonathan Gruber and Dave Matalon. The series, which will be based on the book of the same name by Whitley Strieber and Anne Strieber, examines the claims people have made of being abducted by aliens.
HBO has snatched up the rights to the Karen Russell novel SWAMPLANDIA for producer Scott Rudin to develop. Story will revolve around Ava Bigtree, a 12-year-old alligator wrestler who embarks on an improbable journey through the mangrove wilderness of southwest Florida as she searches for her lost sister.
TV RENEWALS
NBC has picked a time slot for its reboot of FEAR FACTOR, placing it between “The Sing-Off” and “The Voice” with a premiere date of December 12. Joe Rogan returns as host along with returning producers Matt Kunitz and David Hurwitz.
