Latest News About Writers Who Are Doing Better Than We Are=&0=&(SPOOKS) are developing a drama series called HUMANS for – wait for it – XBox! It’s all about a parallel universe where humans use highly developed robot servants and the moral, ethical, and just plain dangerously real problems the situation creates. (A slavery parable, kids? Possibly. And also the prequel to BATTLESTAR GALACTIC that should have been. )
Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day and Glenn Howerton (IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA) have a new 3 year deal with FX Productions. (And not only does it give them all kinds of development ops, it also renews IASIP for 2 more years and picks up their new Tracy Morgan comedy series as well. (Congrats, guys. Hey, remember how great I was when I guested on Philly?Wouldn’t this be a terrific time to, you know, lock me into your new show?)
The Weinstein Company has a new deal with Gannett giving the Weinsteins the rights to develop TV projects based on anything in Gannett newspapers, TV stations, websites, etc. (Which means – and this is confidential, just between us – that our Beloved Leader, Larry Brody, is sitting with his fingers crossed that somebody at Weinstein tries to develop LB’s old Gannett newspaper column, Live, from Paradise, into a series. But is that cuz he wants to see it on the air or cuz he wants to sue their butts off since Gannett never bought those rights from him? Whatcha think, fellow idealists?)
Category: TV Writing Deals
Love & Money Dept – TV Writing Deals for 4/8/14
Latest News About Writers Who Are Doing Better Than We Are=&0=&book of essays, Self-Inflicted Wounds is heading for TV as a half hour comedy via CBS Television Studios, and – good news fellow strivers – the search is on for a writer or writers to do the adaptation. (In other words, get your agent on the phone NOW funny people! Or, better yet, tell your agent to get in touch with Yer Friendly Neighborhood munchman and give me a much-needed boost.)
Paul Ackerman (THE AMERICANS) is adapting his Tony winning play, Things You Shouldn’t Say Past Midnight into a comedy series for Direct TV, which has already ordered ten episodes. (Actually, this is a good thing for those of us amongst the Great Writing Unemployed because it shows that DTV is now open for comedy proposals. So if you didn’t call your agent after reading the last item, the time to punch in her numero has re-arrived. Hmm. Is that a word? It should be.)
Matthew and Daniel Libman (HAPPY ENDINGS) are writing the comedy pilot DUTY for Comedy Central cuz…it’s a comedy, you know? (Bastards! It’s not like they need the gig. No way their hefty savings from HAPPY ENDINGS are already gone. Unlike the savings of a certain muncher with whom I’m very close who is thisclose to being homeless. Sigh.)
Love & Money Dept – TV Writing Deals for 4/3/14
Latest News About Writers Who Are Doing Better Than We Are=&0=& (LAYER CAKE ?WTF?) is adapting Wilbur Smith’s novel Birds of Prey into a series scheduled for the UK. (So we know it has to be good. After all…it’s going to be British. Woo hoo!)
David Benioff & Dan Weiss (GAME OF THRONES) have signed on for two more seasons on the show. (Which is great news cuz munch me would much rather hang with those guys than with THRONES creator George R.R. Martin. Can you imagine GRRM as your wingman? Didn’t think so.)
Carol Leifer (SEINFELD) has a memoir – Lessons from a Life in Comedy – coming out April 8th. (The way we hear it, said tome is loaded with life and showbiz lessons. Which should be interesting since the two have absolutely nothing to do with one another. Wait, was that mean? As mean as what I said about His Wonderfulness, George Martin? Cool! Thanks!)
Love & Money Dept – TV Writing Deals for 4/1/14
Latest News About Writers Who Are Doing Better Than We Are=&0=& (upcoming FRIENDS WITH BETTER LIVES) has a new overall deal with ABC Studios. (Cuz his previous shows, DON’T TRUST THE B— IN APARTMENT 23 and TRAFFIC LIGHT (?!) were such big hits, your little muncher supposes.)
Julie Plec (THE VAMPIRE DIARIES) has a new overall deal with Warner Bros. TV. (Cuz she’s got a bunch of shows on the air, don’tcha know? And that, justifiably, makes Julie hot, hot, hot!)
Jennie Snyder Urman (EMILY OWENS, MD) has extended her deal at CBS TV Studios. (Woo! Talk about big hits. EMILY OWNS is right up there with – wait, don’t tell me – DON’T TRUST THE BITCH. How can you not love a business that rewards failure as well as TV does?)
Love & Money Dept – TV Writing Deals for 3/28/14
Latest News About Writers Who Are Doing Better Than We Are=&0=& is adapting Full Circle, the book she and Gloria Killian co-write about Gloria’s struggle to get through law school while serving time for a wrongful murder conviction into a series pilot for Entertainment One. (Except that the series will be called INSIDE OUT and there’s no network deal yet so this announcement isn’t much different than you or I saying, “Hey, I’m writing a pilot!” Definitely a lesson to be learned here.)
Erik Sommers (HAPPY ENDINGS) is an overall deal with Sony TV. (Cuz CBS is high on his pilot, CUZ-BROS…for reasons that the titles sure as #@$! doesn’t make clear.)
Hilary Winston (BAD TEACHER) also has a new deal with Sony and is officially hot, hot, hot. (Just ask her agents at UTA. In fact, Hilary is so hot that she’s also a contributing editor to “Playboy Magazine.” I know, I know, “Playboy” is so cold and outdated that only a few of you will have any inkling why I’ve even mentioned it. To you others I say, think interweb porn only…really, really boring.)