Category: TV Writing Deals

Love & Money Dept – TV Writing Deals for 11/14/12

“In the beginning was the word.” (um, God, we think.)

  • John Ross Bowie & Kevin Sussman (Yes, both are actors on BIG BANG THEORY) have sold their animated comedy, DARK MINIONS, to Amazon Studios. (In case anyone thought for 1 second that Amazon’s web series production arm was going to find new talent.)
  • Chris Case (RETIRED AT 34) is writing the pilot for THE CLUB, a sitcom about golf, for CBS.  (In case anyone thought CBS development knew a thing about what the audience wants to see.)
  • Austin Winsberg (JAKE IN PROGRESS) is writing the pilot for Fox’s THE TAO OF MARTHA, a sitcom based on Jen Lancaster’s forthcoming book of the same name. (And, yes, the “Martha” in question is Martha Stewart, who will be producing, of course.)
  • Sara Gamble (SUPERNATURAL) is writing the pilot for NORFOLK, a naval drama, for the CW. (The “in case” on this is that we believe the CW is going with it just “in case” the kids of NCIS viewers might be willing to give it a try.)
  • Thompson Evans (HIT LIST) is writing the pilot of NIGHT HUNTERS, a cop drama, for Fox and MAX GENERAL, a medical show, for NBC. (And “in case” you’re wondering, yes, he’s a relative unknown and we’re sure that what helped get both these deals is that he has partnered up with the former head of NBC Entertainment, Warren Littlefield.)

Love & Money Dept – TV Writing Deals for 11/13/12

“A word unwritten is a truth untold.” (Anon.)

  • Elizabeth Chandler (SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS) is writing the pilot for Fox’s family drama, THE BREAK, about a teenage girl sent to live with the father she’s never known…oh, and there’s surfing too. (Because JOHN FROM CLEVELAND did so well for HBO a few years ago, right?)
  • Sydney Sidner (THE RITE) is writing the pilot for the CW drama MERIDIAN HILLS, about the birth of women’s lib in the ‘7-s. (Because the CW does women – as opposed to “girls” – with such elan.)
  • Austin Winsberg (JAKE IN PROGRESS) is writing the pilot for Fox’s THE TAO OF MARTHA, a sitcom based on Jen Lancaster’s forthcoming book of the same name. (And, yes, the “Martha” in question is Martha Stewart, who will be producing, of course.)
  • Ron Moore (yeah, that Ron Moore) is masterminding a TV version of Diana Gabaldon’s OUTLANDER novels on Starz. (And you got it, it’s on Starz because everyplace the OUTLANDER team went turned them down.)
  • Fortune Feimster (who cares what else she’s done; what a great name!) is writing DISCOUNTED, a sitcom for ABC. (Which she’ll also produce and star in because, hey, she’s *Fortune Feimster*, you know?)

Love & Money Dept – TV Writing Deals for 11/11/12

“A word written is a penny earned – except when it isn’t.” (Anon.)

  • Olaf Olafsson (VALENTINES, the novel) is adapting his book into a pilot of the same name for the Sundance Channel. The story focuses on a high-powered NY attorney and his 3 daughters (and is produced by some guy named Robert Redford).
  • Dylan Gary (TELL ME YOU LOVE ME) is writing another Sundance Channel pilot, BEHIND THE SUN, about a Malibu family whose lives come unraveled after they learn that their teenage son has a rare allergy to the sun (because, you know, what’s Malibu without sun? Huh? Huh?)
  • Aaron Guzikowski (CONTRABAND) is writing the pilot for a 3rd Sundance Channel hopeful, THE DESCENDANTS, about a small town sheriff struggling to do his job and also keep his family together (in the time-honored tradition of – and we’re just guessing here – BEHIND THE SUN).
  • Anya Epstein & Dan Futterman (IN TREATMENT) are writing T, about a post-op transgendered male learning to live publicly as a man, yet one more Sundance Channel pilot (guaranteed to appeal…hmm, to whom, exactly? We wonder…)
  • Josh Shaffer & Eli Kooris (no major credits so we like them already) are writing DEATH IN THE MODERN AGE, about a suburban guy who plots his own death so he can start a new life for – wow, would you believe it? – the Sundance Channel (intent, it would seem on reinventing itself much like the character here).

We find ourselves fascinated by the total disregard for orthodoxy all the projects above show and hope all of them succeed. Not because we have a thing for Sundance, but because wouldn’t it be wonderful if all the other cable (and broadcast) channels had a good reason to take their own plunges into unexplored fictional terrain?

Love & Money Dept – TV Writing Deals for 11/9/12

“Of course I write for the love of it. If I wanted money I’d be a #$%! plumbing contractor!” (Anonymous Award-Winning TV Writer Person)

  • Kat Coiro (LIFE HAPPENS) is writing the pilot for an NBC sitcom based on Sally Koslow’s  Slouching Toward Adulthood, about a “messy blended family…where adult children are still living at home. (Note: If you have children of any age you probably see this as a horror show. Nothing to laugh at here, folks. Move on, move on.)
  • Shane Brennan (NCIS, NCIS: L.A.) is writing the pilot for another CBS NCIS spinoff, this one about a team of agents that goes across the country to solve what we assume are otherwise the usual NCIS style crimes. (Note: Yes, LB is still kicking himself for having turned down the chance to be a producer on JAG, the source of all this NCIS fun. Nothing to cry about here, LB. Move on, move on.)
  • Bill Lawrence (COUGAR TOWN) has sold the pilot for cop comedy FEEL THE FORCE to ABC. (Note: Bill already has 3 pilots placed at various networks, so if you want to bitterly blame someone for snatching up your piece of the pilot pie…hey, he’s the guy. If you don’t want to blame him, well, move on, move on.)
  • Janine Sherman Barrois (CRIMINAL MINDS) is writing the pilot for DARKNESS FALLS, an FBI procedural about “the darkest, most twisted single murders” over at CBS. (Note: Janine’s writing the pilot over at CBS. The murders are elsewhere…some would say, unfortunately. We, however, can only say “Move on, move on…” ’cause we’re tired of this game and wish we hadn’t started it. Damn.)

Love & Money Dept – TV Writing Deals for 11/7/12

“Writing for love is called art. Writing for money is called sticking it to the neighbors.” (Anon.)
  • Peter Mohan (DUE SOUTH, EERIE, INDIANA) has signed an overall deal with Canadian prodco Shaftesbury that will keep him busy on THE LISTENER, an international hit on CTV and Fox International Channels, through the end of 2013. (For those who claim TVWriter™ gives Canadian writers short shrift.)
  • Diablo Cody (UNITED STATES OF TARA, JUNO) is writing the pilot for an ABC comedy called ALEX + AMY, about a millennial guy and a Gen X woman in love. (For those who claim TVWriter™ gives ex-sex worker writers short shrift.)
  • Michael Jacobs (BOY MEETS WORLD) is writing the pilot for a sequel to BMW for Disney Channel. (Proving that TV execs think that a sequel featuring characters who are now adults adults belongs on kids’ TV, even though the show about these same characters as kids worked just fine on an adult – ABC – channel. Or, in other words, WTF?)
  • John Logan (SKYFALL) is reteaming with director Sam Mendes and writing a not yet named pilot “in the vein of THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN for a not yet found network. (Proving that P.R. announcements can make even the most mundane spec script sound relatively interesting.)