News – Page 148 – TVWriter.Com

Love & Money Dept – TV Writing Deals for 5/2/14

Max Brooks (WORLD WAR Z, the graphic novel) has optioned his new book, The Extinction Parade to Legendary TV for development as a TV series. (So if you know Max it’s time to put in your bid for the writing gig. And if you don’t know him, now’s the time to change that and then put in your bid.)
David Schulner (DO NO HARM) has extended his deal with Universal TV and will be developing away while the studio pays for an office, an assistant, and, munchie bets ya, a tidy chunk of change dropped into his auto-deposit every week.(Not much point in kissing up to David, though. He’ll probably write everything he develops cuz that’s where his value to Universal lies. Of course, if you like him and the friendship is real, that’s something nobody can fault you for. Except maybe your greedy agent.)
Sarah Phelps (EASTENDERS) is adapting J.K. Rowling‘s novel The Casual Vacancy into a miniseries for HBO and BBC. (Yes, Ms. Phelps is a UK writer. We Amurricans are out. Live with it.)
J. Mills Goodloe (THE BEST OF ME, whatever that is) is writing the pilot for a Bravo dramedy, ALL THE PRETTY FACES, about an immortal family in Half Moon Bay California. (Dramedy? Science fiction? A beautiful beach town? Sounds perfect to the muncher. Only one little fly in this ointment: It’s a vehicle for its producer, Jennifer Garner. And, hey, I admit it – Yer Friendly Neighborhood munchman is no fan of Ben Affleck’s women. Sorry.)

…Or a short story, or a screenplay, or a comic book, or a TV series.

But we do write for hire. Unfortunately, at one time or another just about all writers do.

This article, however, has a great twist. We think it should have been called, “The Vamp Writer’s Revenge.” Bwahhh: read article

Noah Hawley (FARGO) has a new overall deal with FX for the usual developing/writing/producing stuff. (Cuz no boring, depressing, piece of crap show goes unrewarded, and Noah has given us a doozy in the painfully Coen-like FARGO. Congratulations, Noah!)
Josh Berman (DROP DEAD DIVA) also has a new overall deal, this one with Sony. (Cuz this being showbiz even the boring, depressing piece of crap show that is DROP DEAD DIVA can make a ton of $$$ for everybody involved. Does your Fabulous Munchkin sound bitter? That’s cuz this kind of thing proves that bitter is better, y’know?)
Mitch Hurwitz (ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT) also has gotten himself a new overall deal. (His is with Netflix, proving that even though his genius faltered a tad with the ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT Netflix, um, “return,” Mitch has more talent in his little toe than any other writer mentioned so far in today’s column.)
Comedy Central is moving its really cool web series hosted by Ari Shaffir, THIS IS NOT HAPPENING, to the channel itself. Which means that TV viewers will have the chance to hear some damn fascinating stories from Ari and his very funny – brilliantly funny, actually – buds. (To which the munchman can only say, “Thank God! A reason to live after all!” Smart move, CC execs!)

David Manson (HOUSE OF CARDS) has a new overall deal with FG Productions, where’s going to do the usual developing and stuff. (Word is that the company is absolutely bonkers in love with his FX drama pilot HOKE, so this is a pre-emptive move to keep our hero – no relation to either Marilyn or Charlie Manson as far as we know – in the fold before he gets way too hot for their budget. Munchy congrats, Davey!)
Jason Aaron (Scalped graphic novel series) has sold that very series to WGN, which is developing it into a TV series for WGN America. (There’s an insider word here too: Jason’s a Prairie Village, Kansas resident who, we understand, is now going to storm the big city. That’s right, he’s coming to – wait for it – Wichita! Congrats on the deal and the new address, Jase!)
The latest news about Chris Albrecht who, okay, isn’t a writer but certainly has made a bunch of ’em rich as CEO of HBO and, now, Starz, puts the writing deals we talk about her into perspective: Dude may indeed have contributed to the wealth of all kinds of talented wordsmiths, but he himself personally made over $30 million last year just by, well, musing around, it seems to Yer Friendly Neighborhood munchman. Muse me, Chrissy baby! Muse me!)

There’s a reunion coming up! Check it out!

Herbie Pilato NBC Page Reunion Capture

Hoping to see a lot of old friends!