Need a Foolproof Way to Create a New Series? Here It Is!

We know this works. Glen Larson created 30+ successful shows using a variation of this very same method:

The 25 Magic Words Of American Television – by Linda Holmes (NPR Blogs)
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RED DWARF Returns Again – But This Time Triumphantly

We loved the original’s hilarious chaos, so, yeah, we’re feelin’ pretty groovy right now:

Red Dwarf1 X: Trojan spoiler-free review
by Pete Dillon-Trenchard

When Dave announced that it would be making a new six-part Red Dwarf series after 2009’s Back to Earth, it’s fair to say that many fans were cautious in their optimism; the three-part special had taken the characters down a much more dramatic route, and seemed to mark a shift in direction for the Boys from the Dwarf, one which took them away from their sitcom roots. WouldRed Dwarf X continue this trend?

Put simply: no. Trojan, the first episode of Red Dwarf’s tenth series, immediately feels more like the classic show than anything that’s been broadcast in nearly twenty years, with a pair of opening scenes which each contain some strong jokes and build to neat crescendos for the characters. And yet, nothing here is without a purpose; both of these scenes contain gags that have superb pay-offs later in the episode – there’s one Cat moment in particular about halfway through the episode which is up there with some of the show’s greatest scenes. read article

Big Writer Deals!

TVWriter™ reads the trades so you won’t have to:

  • Mark Rizzo (THE MAN DATE, ZIP) is developing the film HEATHERS as a sitcom for Bravo.
  • Bret Easton Ellis (AMERICAN PSYCHO) is developing COPELAND PREP, a drama about teens at an overly competitive boarding school for (what else?) the CW.
  • Jessica Queller (GOSSIP GIRL, GILMORE GIRLS, FELICITY) is developing THE APARTMENT as a sitcom for Bravo.
  • Bill Daly (MIKE & MOLLY) has written the pilot for CONTINUING FRED, a sitcom about a slacker who finds her purpose in life as a teacher, for ABC Family.
  • Stu Zicherman (LIGHTS OUT, SIX DEGREES) is developing the drama THE DARLINGS for Bravo.
  • David H. Steinberg (AMERICAN PIE 2) is developing PHYS ED, a sitcom about a jock teaching at his old high school, for ABC Family.
  • Jenni Ross (hot on the showbiz writing “Black List”) is developing ALL AMERICAN GIRL as a drama for Bravo. (It’s about three women working at a women’s lifestyle mag, which spells “for chicks only” to us.)
  • Susana Fogel & Joni Lefkowitz (LIFE PARTNERS) have written the pilot for TERMINALES, a drama about a young woman’s life after she’s diagnosed with terminal illness, for ABC Family. (Talk about “for chicks only!”)
  • Krista Vernoff (SHAMELESS, GREY’S ANATOMY, PRIVATE PRACTICE) is developing RITA (based on a Danish TV series) for Bravo.
  • The CW has ordered a pilot script for EMBRACE, a BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER-type series to be written by Bill Laurin and Glenn Davis, based on a book by Jessica Shirvington.

Wonder How Women Writer-TV Series Creators are Doing?

Inasmuch as our favoritest people are writers, and more than half the writers we know are womens – and our favoritest womens too – this particular factoid seems very important to us:

Women Created 26 Percent of the Television Shows in the 2011-2012 Season – by Melissa Silverstein (IndieWire.Com)
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The Latest Writer Deals Since the Last Latest Writer Deals

Because we’re always thinking of you:

  • MENTALIST creator Bruno Heller has a pilot production commitment from CBS for THE ADVOCATES, a drama about a woman lawyer and a male ex-con who right wrongs for underdogs. (You know, like LEVERAGE without the team, or FAIRLY LEGAL with a duo that actually works together.)
  • Stand-up comedian Jim Gaffigan has a put pilot commitment from CBS for an untitled comedy inspired by his life. (You know, like LOUIE without Louis C.K., or EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND without Raymond.) Also on the project: Peter Tolan of THE LARRY SANDERS show.
  • John Phillips, writer of the just purchased by Universal screenplay DIRTY GRANDPA is writing the pilot for STARTING UP, a comedy about two buddies who open a start-up together, for 20th TV.
  • Lauren Pomerantz, writer-producer on ELLEN, will write an untitled comedy about a “proudly independent 32-year-old single woman” for NBC. Joining her as producer of the project will be her current boss, Ellen DeGeneres.
  • Jeff Astrof, co-executive producer of the upcoming PARTNERS, has a put pilot commitment from ABC for a comedy based on the book Fat, Forty and Fired, about a guy who gets fired and figures out that there’s more to life than work anyway.