TV SALES
WGN America is developing a series based on the DC Comic book SCALPED. The story centers on a Native American reservation whose inhabitants struggle with organized crime, poverty, drug and alcohol addiction and local politics while they try to preserve their cultural identity.
ABC’s AGENT CARTER is close to being ordered to series. The sci-fi series follows a female agent in the 1940s.
TV Land has picked up a 12 episode season for YOUNGER, a comedy following a recently single mother trying to return to the workplace, only to find that it’s nearly impossible to start over at her age. The show was created by “Sex and the City” creator Darren Star.
NBC gains a variety show THE MAYA RUDOLPH SHOW, created by and starring Maya Rudolph and executive produced by Lorne Michaels. Attached to guest star are Craig Robinson, Andy Samberg, Kristen Bell, Fred Armisen, Chris Parnell, and Sean Hayes.
TV Land has given a cast-contingent pilot order to IMPASTOR, a new comedy about a con man pretending to be a gay pastor.
Pivot has announced a new slate of programming which includes FORTITUDE, FREESTYLE LOVE SUPREME, LAUGHING MATTERS, LEADER TOWN, PANIC YEARS, PRISON EARTH, and THIRST, as well as a variety of unscripted shows.
TV RENEWALS
FX renews THE AMERICANS for a third season. The drama, currently in its second season, stars Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys as two undercover KGB agents who happen to live across the street from an FBI agent.
TV ATTACHMENTS
“Dexter’s” Jennifer Carpenter and producer George Stelzner are developing a series based on “The Death Class: A True Story About Life,” a non-fiction drama. The book revolves around Norma Bowe, a Ph.D and registered nurse who teaches a class about preparing for death. Carpenter and Stelzner are looking for a writer to begin development.
“The Daily Show” correspondent Aasif Mandvi gets to work as writer/producer for HBO’s THE BRINK, a comedy series following the geopolitical crisis and its effect on three different men: US Secretary of State, a Foreign Service officer and a Navy fighter pilot. Mandvi is repped by ICM and Sweet 180.
Not only is Ben Savage reprising his role as Cory Matthews on Disney’s GIRL MEETS WORLD, he will also be stepping behind the camera to make his directorial debut.
TV DEVELOPMENT
“X Files” scribe Frank Spotnitz is developing a crime series, FREUD: THE SECRET CASEBOOK, with Nicholas Meyer. Set in Vienna, the show will portray Sigmund Freud as the world’s first criminal profiler, using his psychological know-how to help solve crimes. Carnival Films and Big Light will produce the period drama.
Annapurna Pictures is making a foray into television with a series following Hollywood icons Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich. Set in the Golden Age of Hollywood, the show will explore the relationships Garbo and Dietrich had with the likes of John Wayne, Cary Grant and Barbara Stanwyck. The writers for the series are Angela Robinson and Alex Kondracke.
George Lopez and IDW Entertainment have partnered to develop WORMWOOD, an animated series based on the IDW comics. The comics follow the adventures of an inter-dimensional worm who can re-animate corpses and use them as host bodies. David M. Stern is set to write the pilot and executive produce. Circle of Confusion is also set to produce.
TV DEALS
Joe Port and Joe Wiseman have signed a two year overall deal with CBS TV Studios. The comedy writing/executive producing team just finished an overall deal at 20th Century Fox TV to develop and supervise projects. They executive produced “New Girl” at Fox and “The Crazy Ones” at CBS. Port and Wiseman are repped by UTA and Myman Greenspan.
Michael Fresco has re-signed with ABC Studios for the third time. He will direct and executive produce a pilot next year, having previously helmed the Fox pilot “Raising Hope” and the ABC pilot “Better Off Ted.” Fresco is repped by ESA.
Matt Lopez has signed an overall deal at Universal TV. The feature writer made his TV debut with Universal TV, inking “One Kick,” a drama project in conjunction with NBC. On the feature side of things, Lopez has written “Bedtime Stories,” “Race to Witch Mountain,” and “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.” Lopez is repped by WME and Lichter, Grossman.