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Latest News About Writers Who Are Doing Better Than We Are
by munchman
- Simon Rich is adapting his book, The Last Girlfriend on Earth, Man Seeking Woman, into a comedy series for FXX. (The show is described as being about a man who “enters the dating scene, a nightmarish hellscape of untold horror.” Hey, they got that right. Now we’ve just got to hope for a few laughs.)
- Dan Harmon (where have we heard that name before?) is prepping a 6th season of COMMUNITY for Yahoo, of all places, now that the show has been axed once again by NBC. (Which could mean that we’ll have to take Yahoo seriously when it comes to laughter. Um, anybody see what Yer Friendly Neighborhood Munchman did there? Anybody care?)
- Jeff Pinkner (FRINGE), Josh Appelbaum “>(LIFE ON MARS),Andre Nemec (STAR-CROSSED) and Scott Rosenberg (LIFE ON MARS) are co-writing the pilot for the new CBS drama series, ZOO, based on the novel of the same name by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge. (Which means a big payday for all the writers involved, you can bet your muncher on that – and also big aggravation for the WGAW credits department, which is not known for its love of 4-person writing teams. As in they’re generally denied.)
- Bryan Fuller (HANNIBAL) & Michael Green (THE RIVER HEROES, whatever that is) are co-writing a pilot for a Starz series adaptation of Neil Gaiman‘s, um, masterpiece actually, American God. (Which my munchiness would greet with unmitigated pleasure if I hadn’t wanted that gig so #@!$ing much. But this is still the best TV development news I’ve heard since I started writing this department! Fucking AMERICAN fucking GODS!)
Latest News About Writers Who Are Doing Better Than We Are
by munchman
- Lodge Kerrigan & Amy Seimetz (newbies who scored big at Sundance this year) are writing and directing the Starz adaptation of a little sex type film directed by Steven Soderburgh called THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE. (Which is often referred to as “Steven Soderbergh’s THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE even though that film was written by David Levien & Brian Koppleman. Hollywood credits! How can we ever be sure who is or was responsible for what?)
- Reuben Fleischer (GANGSTER SQUAD) has an overall deal with Universal TV to develop both dramas and comedies. (The big thing about this big deal is that Reuben was first noticed as a writer-director of various Funny or Die.Com videos, once again proving – “Start on the web, young man/woman, by all means start on the web.”)
- Matt Nix (BURN NOTICE, baby!) has yet another new overall deal at Fox TV, this time to develop cable and broadcast series. (No snark here. Matt’s a bud. We love seeing his success. Have at the sons of bitches, dood!
- Jim Sharp is the new Executive Vice President of Original Programming & Development at Comedy Central. (And even though he isn’t a writer and therefore doesn’t have his name bolded, we’re rooting for him cuz, well, it’s always nice to cozy up to development head, don’tcha think? In the words of Yer Friendly Neighborhood Munchman, “Hey, ya never know when you’ll find yourself in the croc’s mouth so wouldn’t it be cool to know his name?”
- As long as I’m munching about network executives (AKA The Enemy), Ken Segna has continued his 4 year climb over at Starz, going from executive assistant to Vice Prez of Original Programming. (munchie lurves a good success story, but here’s the question: Will Ken really be able to give us something “original?” What is “original programming” in the eyes of those in the executive suites anyway?)
Latest News About Writers Who Are Doing Better Than We Are
by munchman
- Beatrice Springborn is the new Head of Originals for Hulu’s new Content Department. (So, theoretically, if you know Ms. Springborn and have an original series idea you should ring her up ASAP. Yer Friendly Neighborhood Munchman’s prob, however, is that I can’t for the life of me figure out what “original” means in this context. Nor, for that matter, am I all that sure I trust any company that hands out titles like “Head” instead of, you know, “Vice President” or “Director.” For now I’ll just chalk this up to Hulu trying to be “original.” Which, actually, makes me more confused than ever.)
- Dana Vachon (MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS) is adapting Stephen Frey‘s novel The Chairman into drama series for Spike TV. (And el muncho sure wishes I could keep track of the Stephen Freys and Frys and whatever cuz I’d love to find some scandal to report but gotta make sure I’m nailing the right guy. Can somebody help me out here?)
- Nick Kreiss & Ian Wolterstorph (newbies) have sold EAST OF EXURBIA, a fantasy novel about brothers, debauchery, and a magical portal between worlds to X-Box for development as a series. Gotta admit – they had me at “debauchery.”
- Speaking of debauchery – kidding, kidding, I swear!!! – Carol Mendelsohn (CSI) has left that show after 14 fucking years – not really fucking, I swear!!! – for undivulged reasons. (Which means that if you know her, give me a yell and let me know if something wonderful has happened that will affect TV writing and the future of humanity, or if Carol’s just made so much damn money as showrunner that she’s going to take it easy for the rest of her life, or anything in between. Thank you kindly.)
- Stephen Scaia (HUMAN TARGET) is Kickstarting a new “love letter to Indiana Jones…featuring Indy’s daughter trying to track down her missing father.” (Does Stephen have the rights to do this as a TV or film project? How about Steven Spielberg’s blessing? Or George Lucas’? Hope not cuz that way, when this gets off the ground (it’s already reached its funding goal), the Lords of Legal Hell will go nuts and Chaos will rule. And you know how munchareeno luvs chaos!
Latest News About Writers Who Are Doing Better Than We Are
by munchman
- Kourtney Kang (HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER) has a new overall deal at 20th Century Fox TV, and her first task is to become co-exec of a new comedy series called FRESH OFF THE BOAT. (So if you know Kourtney and figure that you’re fresh enough to work on a show like that – bug the hell out of her about it. After all, a contact you can’t use isn’t really a contact…and who needs friends anyway?)
- Doug Jung (BANSHEE) is adapting the “Indian reservation-noir” comic book Scalped for WGN America. (So if you know Doug or anything about life on any of the modern-day Lakota reservations in South Dakota, bug the hell out of everyone involved. They’re gonna need ya. No, sorry, not you,LB. Yer muncher’s talking to, heh, younger folk.)
- Aasif Mandvi (THE DAILY SHOW) is now writing and producing HBO’s new comedy series, THE BRINK, as well as co-starring in it. (So if you’re one of those people who hangs with actors but not writers, but you want to write on a series, this could be a chance to worm your way in. Hey, that’s what Aasif is doing. Look out, creators Roberto Benabib & Kim Benabib, looks to el muncho like Aasif is eyeing your showrunning gig.
- Andrew Reich & Ted Cohen (FRIENDS) are writing and producing the web series ROBIN BANKS AND THE BANK ROBBERS. (Proving that what goes up must indeed eventually come down. Not that doing a web series is by definition “down,” oh no, munchman would never say that. But…this is supposed to be a comedy, and the title clearly is supposed to be funny. And it ain’t, guys. Sorry, but…blech. Hmm, could the fact that Warner Brothers is one of the prodcos have something to do with the loss of the funny? Whatcha all think?)
Latest News About Writers Who Are Doing Better Than We Are
by munchman
- David Hudgins (PARENTHOOD) has a new overall deal at Sony Pictures TV. He’ll do new stuff. (And, knowing his work, even Yer Cynical Old Munchman is confident that it’ll be great. Of course, that doesn’t mean any of us will get to see it, but, hey, this munchy one lives in hope!)
- Todd Stashwick (an actor on JUSTIFIED) is going legit with a writing gig working alongside Amy Hennig (bigtime video game writer-director) on the next STAR WARS game. (And with Amy’s brilliance and George Lucas no longer in the mix, who knows? It just might be a winner.)
- Joe Port & Joe Wiseman (THE CRAZY ONES) are taking their box of tools and tricks to CBS for a couple of years, where they intend to write their tushies off. (Wiseman is an alum of LB’s very first television writing class back during LB’s original retirement – the one that didn’t stick – in Santa Fe, NM. And I have it from his very mouth that “Joe W is one of the best comedy writers ever. Here’s hoping that this time around he gets the support – especially the acting – that his and Joe P’s work deserves.” Yeppers, the boss actually said that. Heavy praise.)
- Mark Fergus & Hawk Otsby (CHILDREN OF MEN) are adapting James S.A. Corey’s The Expanse series of science fiction books into a series for, natch, Syfy. (CHILDREN OF MEN on one hand, Syfy on the other – the TV gods giveth, and then they taketh away. Better cross your fingers, or whatever your preferred begging the gods sign is, on this one.)