Tag: Larry Brody

Kathy Sees Star Trek: Into the Darkness

EDITOR’S NOTE: Yesterday we brought you Herbie J. Pilato’s take on STAR TREK: INTO THE DARKNESS. But you know how we hate being harsh. So we turned to our own Kathy Fuller for a whole ‘nuther viewpoint. Didn’t exactly get it, but we tried.

Say what?
Say what?

Twenty-one years ago when I met my husband, little did I know that there were strings attached. Their names were Kirk, Spock, Picard, Riker, Data, Sisko, Odo…you get the picture.

Star Trek was woven into the fabric of my life by virtue of syndication, movies, dvd’s, and a son who also possessed the Star Trek fan gene. But over the twenty-one years of our relationship, there became a dearth of new Star Trek material. Thank God JJ Abrams & Co. revitalized the franchise, because I don’t think I could spend the next two decades watching the same reruns fifty gazillion times, all in the pursuit of marital happiness. read article

Love & Money Dept – TV Writing Deals for 6/7/13

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.)

“If You Wish To Be A Writer, Have Sex With Someone Who Works In Publishing”

Best Onion article ever. Especially if you’re a writer.

Because then you know that, sadly, this is as true as it is funny:

“by Joyce Carol Oates”

I have so much sympathy for aspiring writers. Our profession is difficult to master, and the deluge of advice writers receive doesn’t make it any easier: “Write every day,” “Study the works of writers you admire,” “The essence of writing is rewriting,” etc. Such guidance isn’t wrong, exactly, but it certainly misses the big picture. read article

Ken Levine Knows How Networks and New Shows Work

Or don’t work, as the case may be. For example:

nbc-new-series-fall-2013-585x308Coming this Fall
by Ken Levine

As a former showrunner of new shows, one of my constant battles was with the network promotion department. The network never aired enough promos of our show to suit me. I’m sure all showrunners say this (except maybe the WHITNEY guys two years ago – I’m surprised NBC isn’t still promoting it even after canceling it).

And when networks do run your promo, in which show do they air it in? Getting a pop on THE VOICE is way better than SAVE ME. Every new comedy on ABC wants exposure on MODERN FAMILY, not MALIBU COUNTRY. And of course promoting your show on Saturday night is like someone making announcements in an empty theater. read article

IN THE FLESH – a New Kind of Zombie Series. Honest.

inthefleshJust when you couldn’t stand the thought of another show about zombies, along comes IN THE FLESH. These guys actually have a whole new take on the subject, and we’re just plain fascinated by it.

Here’s what BBC America has to say about the show, which premieres Thursday, June 6th, at 10 p.m.:

Zombie teenager Kieren Walker isn’t comfortable in his ‘undead’ state. He didn’t want to come back – he wanted to be dead. After his suicide four years ago, his friends and family thought they’d never see him again read article