That’s it for now, munchachos. Don’t forget to write in and tell yers truly what you’ve sold when you sell it. Cuz TVWriter™ can’t wait to brag to all your friends. (And, more importantly, enemies. Hehehe….)
Tag: Jeff Astrof
Love & Money Dept – TV Writing Deals for 9/21/14
Latest News About Writers Who Are Doing Better Than We Are
by munchman
- Kevin Nealon (WEEDS) & Susan Yeagley (PARKS & RECREATION) have sold a to be titled comedy to NBC about “a recently divorced couple still tied to…each other…through their jointly owned business.” (To which munchadillio can say only, “Congrats to one of the coolest couples in Hollywood!” I’d be trying to hook them up with each other personally as well as professionally, but the good news is that I don’t have to. They’re already married – to each other. Lookin’ forward to this show, kids!)
- Brad Copeland (ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT) is writing the pilot ABC’s new comedy set to star Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo. (Who aren’t a married couple and about whom I’m not all that excited cuz let’s face it, Chevy’s onstage antics are legend, and not in the most positive way. And Mz D’Angelo? Well, hasn’t she basically been a kind of a cipher in every role she’s ever played? Good luck, Brad!)
- Angela Kinsey (THE OFFICE) has joined forces with Rachel Spector & Audrey Wauchope (COUGAR TOWN) to create another untitled series, this one a “female buddy comedy” for ABC. (Sorry, gang, but munchero isn’t much interested in this one. Best female buddy comedy of all time has already been on the air for over 60 years – I LOVE LUCY, yessir. What? You thought that show was about Lucy and Ricky? Watch it again – it’s a Lucy-Ethel vehicle all the way. And the only show in the world that’s ever even come close to it is BBC’s miraculous MIRANDA, which only lasted 3 series. Sigh.)
That’s it for now. Write in and tell munchilito what you’ve sold today. TVWriter™ can’t wait to brag to all your friends. (And, more importantly, enemies. Hehehe….)
Love & Money Dept – TV Writing Deals for 10/2/13
Latest News About Writers Who Are Doing Better Than We Are
- Mitchell Burgess & Robin Green (THE SOPRANOS) are writing the pilot for NBC’s PARK ROAD, a U.S. version of a Danish black comedy about, well, let’s just say it has a few SOPRANOS elements of the kind we all love. (Here’s hoping that this retains more of the comedy of the early seasons of THE SOPRANOS cuz, you know, fun.)
- Adam Armus & Kay Foster (THE FOLLOWING) have written the pilot for ODYSSEY, a global conspiracy thriller for NBC. (And thank God for that “global” part. We mean, who cares about a conspiracy on say, your block? Those things just never work.)
- Jeff Astrof (GROUNDED FOR LIFE) & Bill Lawrence (COUGAR TOWN) have sold MIDDLESENCE, a family comedy, to CBS. (This deal came about because of an already existing relationship between Bill and CBS. Jeff Astrof was brought in later…which is how it works in this biz, kids. So odn’t just sit there, make friends!)
- Jill Gordon (THE SECRET LIVES OF WIVES) is writing an untitled Bravo dramedy about a family that takes justice into its own hands when its matriarch is murdered. (Yeppers, there’s nothing like a good vigilante show to make folks snicker. You suppose Bravo’s research backs that up?)
- Hart Hanson (BONES) is writing THE GOOD THIEF’S GUIDE, based on a bestselling series of books by Chris Ewan about a thief who blogs about his adventures around the world. (Does the idea of bestselling books about a blogger sound sort of out-of-time to you? We’re having trouble wrapping our heads around it…unless these are ebooks. Hmm…)
- Bruno Heller (THE MENTALIST) is adapting/creating/writing/whatever Fox’s GOTHAM, a drama about Gotham City’s Police Commissioner in the days before Batman. (Yup, we’re talking about a series about a young James Gordon here. And we mean series – it’s been given a series greenlight without a pilot or a script, just because…comics. Wonder what Fred Wertham would have to say about that.)
Love & Money Dept – TV Writing Deals for 6/14/13
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?)
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.