TV Hot Spot: News

Veteran Directors Take Pilot Controls!

Post by: Sal


Source: Zap2It


ABC hasn't done a whole lot of casting on its pilots yet, but it has landed directors for two of its drama projects.

CBS has also filled a director's chair, hiring multiple Emmy winner James Burrows to helm one of its comedy pilots.

At ABC, Gary Fleder ("Runaway Jury," "October Road") is in talks to direct "Finnegan," a crime drama presentation, while Bharat Nalluri ("Life on Mars") will take the reins of Rob Thomas' "Cupid" remake, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Burrows, meanwhile, will direct "Single White Millionaire" for the Eye.

"Finnegan," written by Trent Jones ("Threat Matrix"), is about the female head of an organize crime and vice squad in the LAPD. The presentation continues a relationship Fleder has with the network; in addition to "October Road," which he also executive produced, he has directed episodes of "The Evidence" and "Blind Justice."

His feature-film credits include "Don't Say a Word" and the upcoming Ernie Davis biopic "The Express."

"Cupid" is a remake of Thomas' 1998 ABC series about a man who believes he's the titular Greek god and tries to bring couples together. Nalluri earned an Emmy nomination last year for HBO's "Tsunami: The Aftermath" and also directed the film "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day" and episodes of "MI-5" and "Hustle."

CBS' "Single White Millionaire" is about a wealthy man (Fred Savage) who decides he wants to get married. Burrows, whose much-lauded career stretches back to "Mary Tyler Moore" and "The Bob Newhart Show," currently helms FOX's "Back to You." He also directed the pilot for CBS' "Big Bang Theory" this season.




Take care,

Sal