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Latest News About Writers Who Are Doing Better Than We Are
- Nick Zano (newbie writer, experienced comedy actor on COUGAR TOWN) is creating NICKY, a sitcom project based on his life for Warner Brothers TV. (Because Warners likes making deals with actors, especially when they have best friends like Channing Tatum, who’ll be producing this show if it ever gets made.)
- Mike Reiss (THE SIMPSONS, THE CRITIC) is adapting his children’s book, How Murray Saved Christmas into a Christmas special for NBC. And it already has an airdate in December of 2014. (Probably because Mike isn’t an actor and really knows this writing stuff.)
- Simon Rich (SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE) adapting his book, The Last Girlfriend on Earth into a comedy premise/pilot for FX. (Because he’s only 28 and if the series goes he’ll get to be one of the youngest series creeators ever, which is eminently cool so we’re all for it. Although we admit that if we were much older than 28 we might not be.)
- Claudia Lonow (HOW TO LIVE WITH YOUR PARENTS) has joined the writing staff of NBC’s upcoming sitcom SEAN SAVES THE WORLD. (And she also has a new overall deal with Universal Television cuz that’s how this works.)
Latest News About Writers Who Are Doing Better Than We Are
- Lauren Graham (PARENTHOOD star – yeah, an actress) is developing a drama series from her novel, Someday, Someday, Maybe at Warner Bros. TV. (Because they’re trying to make her happy so she’ll do some acting for her in the future. How do we know? Well, do you see a network that’s actually thinking of running this series named in this announcement?)
- Rod Lurie (COMMANDER IN CHIEF) is writing MONSTERS OF GOD, a Western drama for Starz. (Because he’s partnered with Brad Pitt now and everybody’s hoping the Bradman will act. You know, just like Lauren Graham.)
- CMT has announced its first animated comedy series, BOUNTY HUNTERS, starring and produced by Jeff Foxworthy. No writer has been mentioned in the announcement. (Which either means the gig’s open so go for it…or CMT hasn’t yet figured out that shows like this need to be written. Yeppers, the truth is anybody’s call.)
- Neal H. Moritz (THE BIG C) has a brand new 2-year overall deal with CBS Television Studios through which he and Vivian Cannon (also from THE BIG C) will develop and produce comedy and drama projects. (Because these two are hot, boys and girls, in the eyes of the networks, which is much more important than them meaning anything to any audience. Another TV reality lesson from TVWriter™, not to be confused with reality TV from us because that’s not an area we dare to tread.)
Latest News About Writers Who Are Doing Better Than We Are
- Jeff Astrof (GROUNDED FOR LIFE) is the new showrunner of TBS’ upcoming sitcom GROUND FLOOR, described as “a workplace comedy with a romantic twist.” (And Jeff also has signed a development deal with Warner TV, so if you know him you’ll be doing yourself a favor by making nice.)
- Mark Goffman (WHITE COLLAR) has been hired to rewrite his NBC drama pilot I AM VICTOR, changing the focus from the title character’s HOUSE-like personal life to his cases. (Which, considering that the star is John Stamos doesn’t seem to us to move the needle on the “Can this possibly be interesting?” meter one whit to the plus side. But that’s probably just us, right?)
- Bridget Carpenter (FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS) has made a deal to be the showrunner of Sundance Channel’s drama series THE DESCENDANTS, a “hard-hitting drama” about a sheriff and the forces that, well, we’d say they stress him out, y’know? (We don’t know anybody who can tell us much about Bridget, which means that she must be quite a powerhouse. Why do we say that? Cuz if she had any weaknesses everybody, and we mean everybody, would be falling all over themselves trying to expose them. Our hats are off to you, Bridget. All our best.)
- Sam Katlin (BREAKING BAD) has re-upped on his Sony TV development deal and will continue as an EP on Fox’s upcoming drama RAKE. (Another guy to keep making nice to, baby writers cuz that’s the name of the game.)
- Diallo Riddle & Bashir Salahuddin (LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON) just got a production green light from HBO for their sitcom pilot about “a couple of rep;orters trying to make it big in the burgeoning black mecca of contemporary Atlanta.” (Yes, the press release said “black mecca,” not “Black mecca” or “African-American mecca.” Is that a genuine and current retro cool usage, or is HBO just hopelessly fucked up? Can someone let us know?)
Latest News About Writers Who Are Doing Better Than We Are
- Grant Dekernion (newbie!) has sold a new animatged comedy to FXX, a new spinoff network from FX. The show is about a gay white rapper recently released from prison and searching for redemption. (Newbie sells series about gay rapper? Why didn’t we think of that ourselves? D-d-d-dang.)
- Roberto Orci (STAR TREK reboot and more) has written the pilot for a drama described as “a Latino James Bond” for the El Rey network, also a new spinoff, this one from parent company Univision. The series is about a soccer star/playboy who doubles as a spy and has already been green-lighted for production. (This one’s live action…although we’re sensing a certain animation type vibe.)
- Amy Holden Jones (MYSTIC PIZZA) has sold THE BLACK BOX to ABC with an initial order of 13 episodes. The drama series follows a famed neuroscientist who struggles with mental illness. (How does she struggle? Does she know karate? Kung fu? Sorry, we’re just crazy, zany verb fetishists at heart.)
- John Eisendrath (the upcoming series THE BLACKLIST) will be showrunner of THE BLACK BOX when it goes into production. (Cuz he’s really good in the room, we suppose. Although we have to admit to being impressed by his credit on FELICITY, which often seemed to be about mental illness, didn’t it?)
- Tony Tost (LONGMIRE) is writing HEARTLAND TRUCKING, a drama pilot for Showtime about, you know truckers. Oh, and mobsters too. (Tost is very hot now due to the almost-success of LONGMIRE. We just hope that HEARTLAND TRUCKING will have a hero under 60…because LONGMIRE doesn’t, see, and…never mind.)
Latest News About Writers Who Are Doing Better Than We Are
- Jon Cowan (SUITS) has a new overall development deal with 20th Television. (Because with credits like MY GENERATION, PRIVATE PRACTICE and CROSSING JORDAN he must be a genius, right? Okay, so maybe not, but we bet that he’s very good in the room.)
- Lauren Beaukes’ novel about a time traveling serial killer, The Shining Girls, has bought by Leonardo DiCapprio’s production company, which intends to develop it for TV. The TV writing gig appears to be open. (Translation: The film biz is so bad that you gotta be nuts to try and put together a movie deal out of a book that hasn’t sold zillions of copies. Sigh.)
- Emily Spivey (UP ALL NIGHT) now has an overall deal with 20th Television. (No, it’s not really for development. Emily’s going to work on 20th’ MODERN FAMILY.)
- Elaine Ko (MODERN FAMILY) has been moved up to Supervising Producer on the show. (Maybe she’s teaming up with Emily Spivey?)
- Brannon Braga (TERRA NOVA) & Adam Simon (THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT) have sold a drama called SALEM to WGN America, which, evidently, is a new cable network. The show is all about life – and witches – in 17th Century Salem, Mass. (The show has been picked up for 13 episodes. TVWriter™ prediction: It’ll go 13 – but probably less – and out.)