TV SALES, PICK-UPS, ATTACHMENTS, RENEWALS & DEALS (12.19.14)
TV SALES
ABC Family will move forward with RECOVERY ROAD. The series, based upon the young-adult novel by Blake Nelson, centers on a teenage girl dealing with addiction who decides to live at a rehab facility. A pilot was ordered in march, but the series has now been re-developed and will move forward with a new pilot and cast. The pilot was written by Bert V. Royal and Karen DiConcetto, who both also serve as executive producers. Beth Miller, Pilgrim Studios’ Craig Piligian and Danielle von Zerneck will also executive producer.
FOX has ordered the non-scripted comedy series WORLD’S FUNNIEST FAILS. The series, hosted by Terry Crews, will showcase the best “epic fail” viral videos, which will be riffed on by a panel of comedians and celebrities. Dick Clark Productions and Jukin Media will produce.
FX has given a pilot order to the comedy series ATLANTA. The series, starring Donald Glover, centers around two cousins on their way up through the Atlanta rap scene with opposing views on art versus commerce and success and race. Glover created the series and will serve as an executive producer, along with Paul Simms and Dianne McGunigle of Schiff Co. FX Productions will produce.
ITV has ordered the thirteen episode drama series BEOWULF. The series, which is a dark re-imagining of one of literature’s greatest and most enduring heroes, a “western set in the Dark Ages.” James Dormer and ITV Studios’ execs Tim Haines and Katie Newman created the series, with Dormer writing and executive producing. The series will see Haines and Newman also executive producing, with Stephen Smallwood producing.
Logo TV is co-producing with Channel 4 in UK the two drama series CUCUMBER and BANANA. Both series will tell interwoven stories, connecting to each other. The hourlong Cucumber centers on the lives and misadventures of Henry Best and his long-suffering boyfriend of nine years. The half-hour Banana will follow the lives of younger characters appearing in Henry’s world, dealing with their various struggles in life and love. Both series are set in urban Manchester, England. Russell T Davies created the series and will write and executive produce. Red Production Company will produce in association with Channel 4 and Logo TV.
HBO is developing LIVING ON VIDEO (tentative title), a comedy about them music video scene in the 1980s. The series, from David Fincher, centers on Bobby, a wide-eyed guy who drops out of college and drives to Hollywood with dreams of directing a sci-fi epic. He lands a job as a PA for a company making music videos. Rich Wilkes wrote the script and Bob Stevenson is expected to direct.
HBO is developing SHAKEDOWN, a 1950s Los Angeles drama with David Fincher & James Ellroy. Inspired by the life of legendary 1950s Hollywood vice cop-turned-private eye Fred Otash, the series is set in the tabloid world and the underbelly of 1950s LA and centers on a real-life private detective. Fincher and Ellroy are executive producing with Joshua Donen, Clark Peterson, and Steven Hoban.
TBS has ordered the half-hour comedy series QUALITY TIME. The fatherhood family will follow four college buddies, stuck in a perpetual state of arrested development past their 30’s, that try to overcome their shenanigans when they become fathers. The series is written, executive produced by, and starring Paul Soter, Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme and Erik Stolhanske, four of the members of the Broken Lizard comedy troupe. Michael Rosenberg, John Morayniss, Steven Amato and Michael Wallen will also executive produce.
TLC has ordered six episodes of the late-night talk show series ALL ABOUT SEX. Hosted by Margaret Cho, Heather McDonald, Marissa Jaret Winokur and Dr. Tiffanie Davis Henry, the series will feature frank and humorous discussions about sex and love.
USA is developing the alien space drama THE TERRESTRIAL. Gary Dauberman will write the series, which follows a schizophrenic man who, after her daughter is kidnapped, believes her kidnappers to be alien in origin. Dauberman will executive produce with Fabrik’s Mikkel Bondesen, Henrik Bastin and Kristen Campo. Fox21 TV Studios will produce.
TV RENEWALS
Starz, teamed with BBC One, has renewed THE MISSING for a second season. Harry and Jack Williams, who wrote the eight-episode original mystery series, will return to write the eight-part second season, which follows a new case, new characters and a new location.
TV DEALS
Priyanka Chopra has signed a one-year TV development deal with ABC Television Studios. Under the deal, the Bollywood actress will lead an ABC series developed for her or star in an existing project targeted for next fall.
ABC Television Studios has signed an overall deal with Barbie Kligman, the EP/Showrunner of Secrets & Lies. Under the deal Kligman will continue to work on the mystery drama, if it gets renewed for a second season, while also developing new projects for the company. She is repped by WME.
