TV SALES
ABC Family has optioned spec pilot LONDEN’S CALLING from writer Brigitte Hales. The pilot follows a girl, Londen, who believes she is moving back and forth between our world and a dystopia–one which may only exist in her imagination. Jonathan Krauss will executive produce.
Kathie Lee Gifford is developing an 18-minute musical surrounding the Today Show. Titled NOT TODAY AND TOMORROW’S NOT LOOKING GOOD EITHER, the musical short will air this year and feature various Today Show anchors as well as Gifford’s former co-host Regis Philbin.
Syfy is developing ABSOLUTE ZERO with Universal Cable Productions and Hypnotic. The script, written by Michael Horowitz, follows a mining colony that discovers hidden life on one of Jupiter’s moons, sparking an alien invasion that threatens Earth. Horowitz will executive produce alongside Doug Liman, David Bartis, and Gene Klein.
TV RENEWALS
Cartoon Network has renewed five of its animated series: ADVENTURE TIME, REGULAR SHOW, UNCLE GRANDPA, STEVEN UNIVERSE, and CLARENCE. “Adventure Time” and “Regular Show” will each receive a seventh season, “Uncle Grandpa” and “Steven Universe” are returning for their sophomore runs, and “Clarence” is receiving an additional 13 episodes for its first season.
Comedy Central has renewed DRUNK HISTORY and NATHAN FOR YOU. Both comedies will return for their third seasons, premiering in 2015.
Disney XD has renewed Marvel’s AVENGERS ASSEMBLE and MARVEL’S HULK AND THE AGENTS OF S.M.A.S.H. Both animated series will return for their second seasons this fall.
NBC has renewed multi-cam comedy series UNDATEABLE for a second season. They’ve also picked up THE NIGHT SHIFT for another series.
VH1 has renewed HIT THE FLOOR for a third season. The series centers on a fictional basketball team, its players, dancers and owners, whose personal and professional lives are often more complex and interconnected than they expect. The series stars Dean Cain and Kimberly Elise.
TV CANCELLATIONS
TV Land has cancelled KIRSTIE after its freshman season. The series stars Kirstie Alley, Rhea Perlmand and Michael Richards and centers on a Broadway star whose life is turned upside down when her long lost son returns after the death of his adoptive mother.
TV ATTACHMENTS
“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” directors Joe Russo and Anthony Russo will direct two episode’s of the first season of Marvel’s AGENT CARTER. The series follows “Captain America” character Peggy Carter as she helps to set up SHIELD in the aftermath of World War II. The Russos are repped by WME and 3 Arts Entertainment.
Daniel Petrie Jr. has signed on as executive producer and showrunner for Hallmark’s GOOD WITCH. The limited run series centers on Cassie Nightingale who moves into an abandoned house that’s haunted by its original owner. The people of the town are divided between wanting her to stay and believing she’s a witch. The series is set to air early next year. Petrie is repped by APA and Jeff Field.
TV GREENLIGHTS
AMC has ordered geopolitical drama WHITE CITY to pilot. The script, from “Low Winter Sun” and “Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior” showrunner Chris Mundy, focuses on journalists and diplomats living and trying to do good in Afghanistan.
Cinemax has given the greenlight to a pilot for Robert Kirkman’s OUTCAST. The exorcism drama project was written by Kirkman on spec and, like “The Walking Dead,” is based on a comic by Kirkman. The project centers on Kyle Barnes, a man who was plagued by possession since he was a child and now, as an adult, uncovers a truth that could mean the end of life on Earth as we know it.
Disney is launching a new digital series starring the Muppets called DISNEY DRIVE-ON WITH THE MUPPETS. The six-part series will air each Friday and will have the classic characters interacting with celebrities on the Disney studio lot.
Disney XD has ordered a first season of an animated GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY series. No writers, producers, or actors are attached at this time.
HBO has given the greenlight for a six-hour miniseries from David Simon, SHOW ME A HERO. Oscar Isaac and Catherine Keener are set to star in the project that tells the story of Nick Wasicsko, the youngest mayor of a major city in the U.S. who is thrust into the middle of a racial controversy when he’s forced to build low income housing in the white neighborhoods of Yonkers, N.Y.
Nickelodeon has ordered live action series 100 THINGS TO DO BEFORE HIGH SCHOOL The comedy series follows three best friends on a quest to fulfill their middle school bucket list of adventures to help them overcome the traumas of junior high: class cliques, bullies and teachers who don’t understand. The series comes from Scott Fellows and will star Isabela Moner, Jaheem Toombs, and Owen Joyner.
TV Land is picking up Jim Gaffigan’s comedy pilot THE GAFFIGAN SHOW to series. The project was previously at CBS, which set up a pilot twice before dropping it entirely. Created by Gaffigan and Peter Tolan, the series will center on Gaffigan’s character who struggles to balance fatherhood and his career as a stand-up comic. TV Land is partnering with Comedy Central for the project and the episodes will air on CC within a week of their original airing on TV Land.
USA has greenlit sci-fi pilot COLONY from Carlton Cuse and Ryan Condal. The pilot centers on a family living in a near-future alien-occupied Los Angeles, who are torn between safe compliance and dangerous rebellion. Condal will executive produce.
TV DEALS
James Patterson has signed a multi-year first-look deal with CBS Television Studios. Under the deal, Treeline Films will develop series based on Patterson’s novels for the studio.
Nat Faxon and Jim Rash have inked a two-year overall deal with Sony Pictures TV. The writing duo will develop and produce new series for Sony with their producing partner Kevin Walsh.
El Rey and Celestial Pictures have signed a five-year programming partnership. Under the deal, El Rey will have the rights to broadcast 255 martial arts titles from Celestial.
“Sons of Anarchy” creator and showrunner Kurt Sutter has signed a new three-year overall deal with 20th Century Fox TV. Under the deal, Sutter will work on his current projects at Fox and develop new ones, with FX having first-look rights for his new projects.
