TV Writing Deals – Page 21

Love & Money Dept – TV Writing Deals for 3/11/14

Chrissy Pietrosh & Jessica Goldstein (COUGAR TOWN) have signed a 2 year deal to develop new projects for Universal TV. (So if you’re a big fan of COUGAR TOWN, MY NAME IS EARL, and something called BIG DAY, rejoice cuz with this kind of money changing hands something these two ladies write will definitely show up on your screen. OTOH, if you aren’t a fan….)
Lena Dunham (GIRLS) is writing a 4 part comic book series about everybody’s least hip, trendy, edgy, or even interesting teenager – Archie! Yep, she’s going to give the world her take on Archie and his gang. (And to make matters worse, Archie Comics is actually paying her to completely destroy their franchise. Oh, has the munchie one gone too far in showing his displeasure? Nah…I haven’t even come close to adequately expressing my disgust.)
Dylan Morgan & Josh Siegal (30 ROCK) have joined the uber talented Chrissy and Jessica with a 2 year deal of their own at Universal. (Except on this one el muncho is looking forward to the results of their labors.)
Leesa Dean (CHILLTOWN TV) has won the Focal Press “Bound to Create” contest, and TVWriter™ couldn’t be happier. (Cuz not only is she a genius animation writer-creator-producer, she just happens to be one of our featured columnists. Congrats, Leesa. Just one question…who’s Focal Press? Please spill cuz let’s be honest here, your friendly neighborhood munchman is way too lazy to google)

David O. Russell (you know who he is) has left ABC’s THE CLUB, a series his presence helped sell, but co-writer Susannah Grant will remain. (You gotta ask yourself: If a guy like Russell can get dumped from a TV series, how rough must the politics of the medium really be? If yours truly had a mind, it’d be boggling!)
Rick Eid (DARK BLUE) is showrunning the new Lifetime drama series, THE LOTTERY, about stuff that happens in, you know, a “dystopian future.” (Sorry, Lifetime, but there’s a show the muncher won’t be watching cuz let’s face it, those of us living in the dystopian present really could use a change.)
Hallmark Channel has picked up THE GOOD WITCH, a series based on its TV movies of the same name. No writer or showrunner has been listed, so excuse me while yrs truly calls his agent. (Not that muncho expect her to answer, but that’s another (sad!)story.)
Marco Pennette (KIRSTIE) is out as showrunner of TV Land’s comedy of that selfsame name and is working as a consulting producer on MOM instead. (Cuz the talented writer/creator/sonofabitch is so goddamn rich already why work full-time?)

Matt Hubbard (30 ROCK) has a new 2 year development deal at Universal Television. He’s also writing-producing Fox’s sitcom CABOT COLLEGE. (If those two victories aren’t reason enough to hate this far-too-talented guy, then what it? Congrat, Matty baby!)
Aron Eli Coleite (HEROES) is writing the pilot for a Fox family drama not-so-cleverly titled HOME. (Cuz family “thrillers” are in now, and so is the irony of giving something a warm and fuzzy name and then using it to scare the hell out of us. Well, guess what, Fox Network? The munchy one doesn’t scare easy. Nosirree.)
Justin Monjo (FARSCAPE) is writing the pilot for an HBO s-f series based on George C. CHesbro‘s series of novels about criminologist Mongo (not Monjo) the Magnificent. (And, cuz not only is he a fan fave, he’s a “little person” fan fave, Peter Dinklage is set to star. Political correctness, diversity, and eager, panting fans, all in one package. It’s positively munchifying, y’know?)
Nicole Riegel (newbie) is writing a Fox pilot “set in a contemporary wartime context.” (Hmm, that’s pretty vague. Nobody munchie knows could have set up that kinda pitch. But then, nobody munchie knows would have Cary Joji Fukunaga, director-producer of TRUE DETECTIVE to pitch it for ’em. Good work, Nicole!)

Charley & Vlas Parlapanides (IMMORTALS) are developing THE 36, a drama about Jewish angels, for A&E. (Time now for munchie to make an admission: I thought all angels were Jewish. And that there were a lot more than 36. Looks like my parents seriously overpaid for my Hebrew School.)
Alan Schoolcraft & Brent Simon (MEGAMIND) are developing DARK LORD OF DELAWARE, an animated comedy for Fox. (No angels here, gang. This one’s about an evil wizard who loses his job and has to adjust to suburbia. Yeah, yeah, your friendly neighborhood munchified one is laughing already. Mostly thru my, um, nose.)
Albert Kim (NIKITA) is joining SLEEPY HOLLOW as a producer as part of his new overall deal with 20th Century Fox TV. (Before you get all happy for him – he’s such a good guy – remember this: Every overall deal somebody else gets is one you don’t. In other words, Albert, you just made off with the munchman’s piece of the TV pie. Curses, you lucky dog!)

Cole Haddon (DRACULA) is developing NOTTINGHAM, a BBC America project about how the Sheriff of Nottingham (you remember him) becomes this foresty thief – yeppers, Robin Hood – to atone for the bad stuff he has to do in his day job. (And guess what? The munchy one absolutely loves that idea cuz…Zorro in tights seems very, very cool.)
Jonathan Groff (HAPPY ENDINGS) is the new showrunner for NBC’s new FIFTH WHEEL, created by interweb series writers Heidi Niedermeyer & Elena Crevello (SHIT PEOPLE SAY IN L.A.). (Criminy, gang, if ever there was a fifth wheel it’s Groff with his TV network sensibility. And yours truly was so looking forward to seeing two of our own – Heidi and Elena – kick broadcast television butt.)
Brian Larsen (not any of the Brian Larsens on IMDB) is suing all kinds of folks involved with Showtime’s RAY DONOVAN, claiming that the network stole his concept and various details. However, he isn’t suing Ann Biderman, who is credited as the creator of the show. (Cuz he figures she was just an innocent dupe who agreed to write up an idea Showtime execs gave her? Well, it wouldn’t be the first time a writer did that. Yer favorite muncher will try to keep up with this one cuz once, just once, I’d like to find out if somebody’s allegations of series stealing are, you know, actually founded in some kind of reality. Preferably real reality, but this is TV so who knows?)