Author: munchman

Dr. Dre Gets the Network Development Deal You/We Didn’t

Dr. Dre looking as writerly as he can. Which isn’t very. Not that it matters because he’s for sure a kind, sensitive, gentle, and creative soul.

FX has signed Dr. Dre, known primarily as a rapper-record producer-record executive-entrepreneur, to develop a script for a one-hour drama. In this case “develop” doesn’t mean “write” because there’s already another writer involved, Sidney Quashie.

The circumstances here indicate that Quashie, who isn’t pictured here even though we like to highlight the writers in these deals whenever possible because we couldn’t find his pic on the web, didn’t have the pull to make this deal himself so he allied himself with Dr. Dre. We’re not saying this is fact, but it seems like a reasonable conjecture. After all, if Quashie did have what it takes his picture would probably be all over the web. (Because, children, that’s at least one of the things it takes.)

All we’ve been able to find out about the series is that it’s set in L.A. and is about music and gangsters. Here’s hoping everything gels and the show and its personnel make it through the development process and onto the air without ticking off any real gangsters. read article

Isn’t “Idealistic Secret Service Agent” a Contradiction in Terms?

Rand Ravich, this minute’s man of the hour (Huh? What did we say?)

Yes, it’s true. We’re feeling very cynical today, and it’s affected our reaction to news from NBC that they’ve bought an “untitled drama project” from Rand Ravich and Fox TV. Ravich was the creator-showrunner of the NBC series, LIFE, which limped through two undistinguished seasons before biting the dust…just when it was starting to get interesting to us, which probably explains why we aren’t running the network.

According to NBC, the series is an action thriller (can you have a thriller that doesn’t have action? Like, you know, a passive thriller?) about a Secret Service agent who ends up at the hub of international crisis on Day 1 of his gig and has to face the fact that ideals and reality don’t always go together, especially in Washington D.C.

Or something like that. Doesn’t matter. We’ve seen countless variations before. This is another show that will be all about the execution, starting with the tone, style, and structure of the pilot script. As of now, we’re assuming Ravich will be the writer, but we don’t know for sure. So if you’re interested it’s time to call your agent, manager, or well-connected (to NBC and/or Rand Ravich) lover and get your part of this show on the road. read article

munchman Sees ARMY WIVES Season 6 Episode 19

For the love of God, Lifetime, why?

I watched the whole episode. The entire damn thing, with the result that the bathroom in my apartment is now completely off-limits to anyone with a sense of smell (as this episode should have been series should be) and I’m still gagging. read article

munchman: ABC Gives McG Pilot Commitment for…”Romeo and Juliet?”

That’s a lot of initials, all adding up to another set of letters: WTF?

As modern a version of R & J as we need

For reasons I can’t for the life of me fathom, ABC today announced a deal with The Feature Film Director Who Pretentiously Calls Himself McG. (A name that might be kinda cool if he was African-American, but since he isn’t…)

The genius behind the film re-doodoos of CHARLIE’S ANGELS is producing a primetime soap based on either Shakespeare’s play or Leo DiCapria’s film or something. According to TVBizWire this time around we have two families in Southern California’s Venice Beach, one “well-off, the other struggling.” read article