Latest News About Writers Who Are Doing Better Than We Are
J.J.Philbin (NEW GIRL) is adapting Amy Parham’s book 10 Lessons from a Former Fat Girl into a sitcom for NBC. (Gotta admit that the concept of a young woman discovering a whole other side of life because she’s now svelte and, we assume, gorgeous, is a TV natural. Just like the book’s title.)
Isaac Aptaker & Elizabeth Berger (THE NEIGHBORS) are developing the sitcom, FIRST TIMERS, about a young business partner couple (like, you know, Isaac and Elizabeth) for ABC. (Yes, it’s based on the writers’ lives. Yes, it’s a celebration of the problems of success. We should live so long.)
Mark Fergus & Hawk Ostby (CHILDREN OF MEN) are adapting The Expanse, a best- selling novel by Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck – under the pseudonym James S.A. Corey – for the Alcon Television Group.(Which hopes to sell this to a network soon so they can afford the outgo for all these writers.)
Matt Angel (newbie who used Kickstarter to fund a pilot presentation for his show) has sold the sitcom HALF to NBC. (Let that be a lesson to all of us. Kickstarter works…especially if you’re actually talented at what you’re Kickstarting.)
Joshua Safran (SMASH) has sold the drama SOCIAL CIRCLE, a thriller about a group of college friends who reunite, to ABC. He’s also sold ROYAL, another drama pilot, this one about the ex-wife of a Brit heir to the throne who’s so disgraced that she has to take a gig as a minder for a suicidal addict type. (Whoa, talk about trendy stuff, no wonder Josh keeps getting gigs. Too bad the shows themselves keep bombing…but that’s showbiz, y’know?)
