TV SALES, DEALS & ATTACHMENTS
ABC is finalizing a deal to buy a comedy based on the book HOME GAME: AN ACCIDENTAL GUIDE TO FATHERHOOD by Michael Lewis. Greer Shephard and Michael Robin will produce with writer Rob Sheridan. The story chronicles Lewis’ first year of fatherhood for each of his three children. Warner Bros. TV is producing.
NBC has put in development a new comedy series based on 2010 British comedy THE INFIDEL with Omid Djalili set to reprise this role. Mark O’Keefe will write the pilot with Avalon Television and Slingshot Productions attached to produce. The story centers on a devoutly Muslim family man who is shocked to discover upon the death of his mother that he was adopted, and was actually born a Jew.
Carol Mendelsohn and her production team are making deals all around town, starting with FX who has picked up THROWDOWN GUN, a cop drama by James Ellroy. Next on the list is CBS, who has just acquired the FBI drama THE MURDER ROOM based on the novel by Michael Capuzzo and written by feature scribe George Nolfi. Another is female cop drama WIDOW DETECTIVE written by David Hubbard, and one more cop drama, TWO BADGES, based on the book by Mona Ruiz and Geoff Boucher, and penned by Ted Humphrey. At CW, Mendelsohn is behind UNEARTHLY, a supernatural drama based on the book by Cynthia Hand and written by Kevin Murphy, and THE HALLOWS, based on the book series by Kim Harrison and penned by Jordan Hawley.
Three “True Blood” veterans, co-executive producers Alexander Woo, Raelle Tucker and Brian Buckner, have signed separate 2-year overall deals with HBO. Additionally, the deals call for Woo, Tucker and Buckner to develop new projects for the pay cable network.
Jennifer Crittenden, Gaby Allan and Cassie Pappas have struck a deal to develop a new single-camera comedy for ABC, DON’T PANIC based on the book “Girls In White Dresses” by Jennifer Close, which centers on group of friends trying to manage life after college while attempting to survive and endless cycle of weddings and bridal showers. Crittenden and Allen will write and executive produce.
Sony Pictures Television is adding some reinforcement to their newest period-drama PAN AM in an anticipated move for a back order from ABC. Writer-producer Steven Maeda will join as showrunner and work alongside creator/executive producer Jack Orman and director/executive producer Tommy Schlamme.
Despite its second season renewal before the first episode aired, executive producers/co-showrunners Richard Levine and Lyn Greene are exiting the STARZ drama BOSS, which premiered last night.
PICK-UPS
LIFETIME has picked up to pilot AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE, a new drama that could see Melanie Griffith star and executive produce with husband and producing partner Antonio Banderas. David Slade is in negotiations to step foot behind the camera for the pilot, which centers on a mother of two children who has conversations with her inner voice while dealing with one of her kids leaving home for college and the other remaining at home. Erik Jendresen penned the script with, which is produced by Fox 2000.
NBC is returning to politics with a put to pilot commitment for 1600 PENN, a single-camera comedy from FOX about a dysfunctional family that just happens to live at the most famous address in America. The project is put together by Josh Gad, Jon Lovett and Jason Winer, all of whom will serve as executive producers.
