Category: By TVWriter.Com

More Showbiz Peeps Whose Families are Proud

Founding Fox 21 executive Jane Francis has signed a new deal with 20th Century Fox Television’s cable production company. As part of the multiyear pact, she has been promoted to EVP. Francis will continue to work under Fox 21 president Bert Salke, overseeing comedy, drama and animation development for the division whose focus is on scripted series for cable and unscripted programming for all networks. “Jane is an incredibly talented executive and someone I rely on greatly as we look to continue to grow Fox 21,” Salke said. “Writers absolutely adore her, and so do I.”

Read all about Jane read article

When Universal’s Ron Meyer Speaks, We Listen

We really enjoyed this article on a speech by one of showbiz’s truly good guys.

No, no, not ironic. Seriously.

Ron Meyer To UCLA Showbiz Grads: “You Don’t Have To Be An Asshole To Succeed”

 Universal President and COO Ron Meyer this afternoon made an expletive-laced commencement speech to the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television Class of 2012. He told the graduating students that the best way to get ahead in showbiz is to ask questions. “Assumption is the mother of all fuck-ups,” he told the audience. Twice. The longtime studio head also pointed out that despite the cliches “You don’t have to be an asshole to succeed.” He also stressed that finding an agent is the single most important thing a new graduate can do. Ask everyone you meet. “Just don’t ask me,” he warned. The ceremony was dedicated to the school’s founding dean and Oscar ceremony producer Gil Cates. The commencement also honored directors Penelope Spheeris and Shirley Jo Finney with distinguished alumni awards.

Charlie Sheen Returneth

…And with a series that at least one of the trades likes. (Blessing? Or kiss of death? You decide.)

Anger Management: TV Review
by Tim Goodman

Who would have thought that Charlie Sheen’s new series, Anger Management, would be the only show on FX without a TV-MA rating?

No doubt people thought Sheen’s return to a television series after his well-publicized brouhaha with CBS and departure fromTwo and a Half Men would result in some kind of nude-hooker hootenanny with f-bombs aplenty and graphic content meant to offend. read article

NBC’s Fall 2012 Series Premieres to Come Early

…probably because the only way they have a chance of getting an audience is if they’re on unopposed.

(Except for ANIMAL PRACTICE, above, because one of its writer-producers is TVWriter™ alum Curtis Gwinn.) read article