Tag: stephen king

Love & Money Dept – TV Writing Deals for 1/24/15

TOSHIBA Exif JPEGLatest News About Writers Who Are Doing Better Than We Are=&0=& (Dallas Buyers Club) is writing the pilot for Syfy’s 51st State, a drama series about a future in which “the United States, confronting a prison population stretched to the limit, purchases Greenland and converts it into a frontier prison colony with male and female convicts incarcerated together.” Except, of course, that things don’t work out as planned. (Notice the not-so-subtle satire here, the whole “we’re all living in prison now” thing? Thanks to the harmless outlet that this show provides, we real prisoners won’t have to revolt after all. Whew.) Matt Tarses (The Goldbergs) is writing the pilot for a CBS comedy series called Coverband about “members of a rock band left to scramble after their lead singer dumps them for a solo career.” (LB informs yer sweet munchman that his first paid-for script was for a similarly themed feature film at MGM, but his protagonist was the lead singer. The more things change….) Exciting new unknown David E. Kelley is adapting Mr. Mercedes, a novel by another new unknown named Stephen King into a mini-series detective drama for a company called Sonar Entertainment. (Cuz in this youth-oriented market two of the most successful writers still breathing can’t get broadcast or cable network deals on their own? What gives?)

That’s it for now, munchaladas. 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….)

Love & Money Dept – TV Writing Deals for 9/27/14

Latest News About Writers Who Are Doing Better Than We Are
by munchman

  • Gregg Hurwitz (V) is writing the pilot for NEW ANGELES, a series that not only sounds a lot like THE MATRIX when you read the P.R. (which the mighty muncher won’t put you through) but which also has Keanu Reeves attached. (And Roland Emmerich too. Strangely, no network has been announced as paying for this thing. Some people might wonder why, but not yers truly cuz…THE MATRIX? Again? And Keanu Reeves? Oi!)
  • Nick Rutherford & Allison Rich (some SMURFS stuff) have been added to the writing staff of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. (If you know ’em, time to send the biggest congratulation bouquets you can afford. Or not cuz…SNL writers? Remembering their old friends? Is there a basis for that in recorded history? Huh?)
  • Nikki Toscano (who has such a great name that who the hell cares about her credits?) is writing LAST HOUR, an action drama pilot for CBS. (It’s being done in “real time” ala 24, so whatcha think? Hit? Miss? Can Nikki‘s name save the day in (real) time?)
  • Nick Thomas (LET’S BE COPS) is writing the pilot for 100 GRAND, called an “action comedy that centers on two guys who learn how to grow up in the most unexpected way: paying off a debt for a local crime boss.” (Not rain on anybody’s parade but , um, and then what happens? Send your episode ideas to me at – no, wait, don’t bother. Not a chance in the Netherworld this’ll get on the air. C’mon, admit it – don’tcha know I’m right?

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 9/25/14

Latest News About Writers Who Are Doing Better Than We Are
by munchman

  • Lauren Iungerich (AWKWARD) is writing the pilot for COUCH DETECTIVE, an ABC series about a young woman detective who solves crimes “based on her encyclopedic knowledge of every true-crime TV special, police procedural and made-for-TV movie. (At last, a potential show for LB to work on! Time to hit the phones, boss. And yer friendly neighborhood munchman thinks it’s a pretty good idea too!)
  • James Ellroy (some crazy novelist) is developing an untitled noir series for HBO. (Which also could be right up LB’s alley. Are you reading this, man? Agent convo time, no?)
  • Larry Kaplow (HOUSE) has sold an untitled medical show with an eccentric protagonist to CBS. (With, methinks, a little help from his friends and producing partners on the project, Katie Jacobs and some babe name of Halle Berry. You guys got room for LB on this one? Huh?)
  • Seth Grahame-Smith (ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VAMPIRE HUNTER) is writing the pilot for THE THINGS THEY LEFT BEHIND, based on a Stephen King short story of the same name. (Uh-oh, just got a text from LB. “Stop looking at gigs for me, muncher!!! I’m too old, too rich, and way too full of my own self to work for anybody anymore, let alone the geniuses you’re trying to set me up with.” Gotcha, boss man, sorry. Too bad Stephen King doesn’t feel the same way. Every time he joins a project, even a Stephen King adaptation – well, you all know how it comes out. Not saying that you wouldn’t be brilliant if you were back in TV, LB, but–

(EDITED BY LB TO ADD: Muncher, I told you to SHUT UP!!!)

So, um, 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 12/17/13

Latest News About Writers Who Are Doing Better Than We Are

  • Mike Kelly (REVENGE) has a new overall deal with HBO after being fired from REVENGE, which has had declining ratings. (Proving that he’s a heck of a good guy in the room, no? We mean as well as being a brilliant writer who isn’t necessarily in tune with audience desires…which pretty much describes exactly what HBO is all about, which, FTR, we do not think is a bad thing.)
  • Alex Taub (DROP DEAD DIVA) is adapting Carl Hiaasen’s novel, Basket Case, into a drama series for Spike TV. (Carl Hiaassen! On TV! Finally! TVWriter™ congratulates Spike TV for finally moving in a direction we approve of. And you know how important our congratulations – and approval – are, don’tcha? Yeah, we’re afraid we know the true answer to that too. Sigh…)
  • Sam Ernst & Jim Dunn (HAVEN) are adapting Stephen King’s short story “New York Times at Bargain Rates” into a series for ABC. (How good will this be? We figure that’s in inverse proportion to Mr. King’s active participation. Hey, we love the guy’s writing, but every time he pokes his verbiage into the screen versions…)
  • Patrick Moss & Jeremy Anderson (GREAT EXPECTATIONS) are writing KING DAVID, a to-be-syndicated series featuring a take that’s likely to raise hella hackles among Bible fans. (What? You don’t think anybody will object to what the PR is describing as “a mafia show in biblical clothing?” What planet are you on?)
  • Lizzy Weiss (SWITCHED AT BIRTH) is developing INTO THIN AIR, a so-called “family drama,” for ABC family. (Just in case you still thought ABC family was really for, you know, families, this is further described as having “thriller elements.” Just what you want to sit down with your kids to watch, right?)

Why CBS Will Never Cancel Stephen King’s UNDER THE DOME

Um, 200 international licensing agreements for the series, that’s why. Even if the series, which is produced by Amblin Television (AKA Steven Spielberg) tanks – and we aren’t saying we think it will cuz it is produced by Amblin and Stevie, after all – all that overseas revenue is way too much to throw away.

Here are the specifics, brought to you in that wonderful, old-fashioned Hollywood way: Via a Press release from CBS. Thank you for sending this out and making our writing lives so much easier than usual, doods. We owe ya one. Anyway:

Under-The-Domeby Team TVWriter™ Press Service

CBS Studios International announced today agreements for the broadcast rights of “Under the Dome” with prominent broadcasters from around the world. The U.S. drama, which is produced by CBS Television Studios in association with Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Television and is based on Stephen King’s bestselling novel of the same name, will be licensed in 200 international markets, with some starting to run the series this summer. read article