TV SALES, PICK-UPS, ATTACHMENTS, RENEWALS & DEALS (03.28.14)
TV SALES
FremantleMedia will adapt BIRDS OF PREY into a scripted drama/adventure series. JJ Connolly is set to pen the adaptation which will be set against the backdrop of the uncharted Africa of the 17th century. It will follow a family as they battle to secure their fortunes in a place where anything goes.
NBC has acquired rights to TAXI BROOKLYN, an action/comedy series that follows a detective who is determined to find out the truth about the death of her father and teams up with a cabbie after her recklessness behind the wheel gets her demoted to foot patrol.
A&E’s THOSE WHO KILL will air on the Lifetime Movie Network for its duration. The series was pulled from A&E’s lineup after disappointing ratings.
John Leguizamo and Wyatt Cenac will have a new comedy series on AMC. The untitled project follows a group of men in New York wrestling with careers, relationships, family and getting older. Leguizamo and Cenac will star, write, and executive produce the series.
AMC is developing a scripted comedy based on Andrea Abbate’s play “Random Acts.” Abbate will write and executive produce the comedy along with Todd Holland and Karey Burke. The series will revolve around two single girls in their early 30s as they work through issues with relationships, family and growing up.
TV RENEWALS
After fizzling out after its first season, HBO could be resurrecting THE COMEBACK, a comedy starring Lisa Kudrow as a washed up sitcom actress who gets a reality show documenting her attempt at a career comeback. The show only ran for 13 episodes but was nominated for three Emmys.
USA’s WHITE COLLAR has been renewed for a sixth season. No word yet on whether this truncated six episode season will be the series last.
History’s first scripted show, VIKINGS, has been renewed for a third season. The show centers on a restless young warrior who wants to conquer new lands but also wants to take care of his family.
El Rey’s FROM DUSK TILL DAWN has been picked up for another season. The network’s first original series is based on the cult classic film and stars Wilmer Valderrama and Don Johnson, among others.
TV CANCELLATIONS
ABC Family’s ALICE IN ARABIA has been cancelled before it even began. The network is scrapping the project after outcry from the Muslim and Arabic communities. “Alice” would have followed an American teenage girl who was kidnapped by her extended Saudi Arabian family and forced to live with them in their palace.
ABC cancels MIND GAMES, a mid season drama, because of poor ratings for its first five episodes.
TV ATTACHMENTS
Adam Fierro will executive produce RUSH (USA), as well as acting as showrunner for the drama which centers on an on-call doctor who can party with the best of them. Fierro’s past projects include “24” and “The Walking Dead.”
TV GREENLIGHTS
USA greenlights two new series, RUSH and COMPLICATIONS. RUSH will center on a Hollywood doctor who can party with the best of them. COMPLICATIONS will center on a disillusioned suburban ER doctor whose life changes dramatically after he intervenes in a drive by shooting, saving a boy’s life and killing one of the attackers.
BBC America has ordered its first original comedy series, ALMOST ROYAL. The series will follow two young British aristocrats on their first trip to the US. The show will premiere June 21st after the season 2 finale of “Orphan Black.”
AMC has a slew of projects in the works including:
AREA 51, a contemporary conspiracy thriller revealing the truth behind Area 51.
POLICE STATE, the story of a security guard who is secretly recruited by the NSA.
WE HATE PAUL REVERE, a comedy about the men living in the shadow of the famous history figure.
KINGMAKERS, the story of a former campaign manager who is forced to get back into politics when the current candidate is assassinated during a campaign speech.
BOMBINGHAM which follows the aftermath of a murder from 1963 in Burmingham, Alabama.
THE SPARROW, the story of a Jesuit-led mission to make contact with an alien race.
JERRY’S WORLD, follows Dinah, an artist tasked with taking care of her boyfriend, her daughter, and her estranged father who has Alzheimers.
PARADISE LOST, tells the story of a group of friends who withdraw from society to create a new community to raise their families.
SOBER BUDDIES, the story of a pro surfer turned sober coach who works to help the son of a wealthy industrialist.
TV DEALS
Jennie Snyder Urman has an overall deal with CBS. The “Emily Owens, MD” and “Jane The Virgin” creator began her career at ABC transitioning from half hour comedies to hourlong shows. She is repped by UTA and Hansen, Jacobson.
Dave Hemingson signed an overall deal with ABC Studios. The comedy writer/producer has worked on “Family Guy” and “American Dad” before transitioning to live action comedies like “How I Met Your Mother.” He is repped by WME and McKuin, Frankel.
Julie Plec has a new three year deal with Warner Bros. TV. The writer/producer serves as showrunner on “The Vampire Diaries” and “The Originals.” She is repped by WME.
