TV Hot Spot: News

NBC Picks up 'Kath & Kim'!

Post by: Sal


Source: Zap2It

NBC has put its money where its CEO's mouth is, skipping the pilot process to go straight to series with the comedy "Kath & Kim."

The network has ordered six episodes of the show, which is based on a hit Australian series about the love-hate relationship between a woman and her adult daughter. NBC's version will star Molly Shannon ("Saturday Night Live," "Pushing Daisies") and Selma Blair ("Hellboy," "Legally Blonde").

"This hilarious new series exemplifies how we are changing the pilot process by ordering shows that we believe in and green-lighting them straight to series," NBC co-chairman Ben Silverman says. "We are confident that this proven international hit will effortlessly translate to American audiences, and we couldn't be more excited that Molly and Selma will be playing the leads."

NBC CEO Jeff Zucker said recently that the network would scale back its pilot production in the future and instead order more projects direct to series. "Kath & Kim" was in development last year at NBC -- in conjunction with Reveille, the production company Silverman owned at the time -- but was put aside because of difficulty casting the leads.

When they came to NBC, Silverman and Teri Weinberg, now the executive vice president of NBC Entertainment, put the show back in development. Shannon was cast in the fall, and Blair signed on a couple weeks ago.

Michelle Nader ("The King of Queens") wrote the first-episode script and will serve as an executive producer with Paul Feig, who's directing the first episode. Gina Riley and Jane Turner, who created and starred in the Aussie show, will also be exec producers, along with Rick McKenna.


Take Care,

Sal

TV Hot Spot: News

NBC: Upcoming Shows

Post by: Sal


Ordered To Series

Fear Itself: A horror anthology which consists of 60-minute tales from the biggest names in the genre.

Robinson Crusoe: (from Power's press release) NBC announced a new, 13-part, hour-long series based on the classic "Robinson Crusoe," from Power, the leading award-winning European drama producers, and industry-leading Universal Media Studios, it was announced today by Ben Silverman, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios. The epic event series is an ambitious remake of Daniel Defoe's masterpiece novel.

Ordered To Pilot

Backyards & Bullets: (from NBC's press release) In the drama pilot "Backyards & Bullets" (working title), the bucolic suburb of Ridgeview, Wisconsin seems like the perfect place to live: pristinely manicured lawns, friendly hellos and a community that looks out for its own. But big-city crime is spilling into the bedroom town, forcing Ridgeview's Neighborhood Watch group to take matters into their own hands. In this light look at a new form of suburban justice, Lonnie -- the new Chief Detective -- finds himself in a world where blackmail and murder walk hand-in-hand with recycling, barbeques and soccer games. Ed Decter & John Strauss (both for "There's Something About Mary," "The Santa Clause") are the writers and executive producers; Jamie Tarses, Charles McDougall ("The Tudors") and Gavin Polone also are executive producers. Emmy Award winner McDougall ("Desperate Housewives") is the director of the pilot, which is produced by Sony Television and Pariah. Starring: Abigail Spencer, Billy Burke, Casey LaBow, Enuka Okuma, Jessalyn Gilsig, Kristen Lehman, Lou Diamond Phillips, Matthew St. Patrick, and Richard Ruccolo

Blue Blood: A drama revolves around a Harvard graduate who has decided to continue the family tradition and pursue a career in the N.Y.P.D. Starring Logan Marshall-Green, Larenz Tate, Vincent Piazza, Alex Fernandez, April Lee Hernandez, and Kate Levering

Kath & Kim: (from NBC's press release) Michelle Nader ("King of Queens") becomes executive producer of "Kath & Kim," a comedy pilot adapted from Australia's hit comedy -- a look into the minutiae of middle-class suburbia that digs deep into the daily lives of Kath, a cheerful, forty-something divorcee, and her obscenely self-absorbed daughter, Kim. It's the love and hate, push and pull, of the dysfunctional relationship only a mother and daughter could share. Original series creators and stars Gina Riley and Jane Turner will serve as executive producers of the pilot along with fellow executive producers Nader and Rick McKenna. The series is a production from Reveille for Universal Media Studios. Starring: Molly Shannon

Kings: A drama that will be set in a modern city that's a sort of meta-New York City (think Gotham City, but not as dark). City will be the center of a kingdom financed by a wealthy entrepreneur who's benefited from the constant state of war in the kingdom. First season plot will have a young solider catapulting to fame via a heroic act that pits him as a David vs. a much stronger Goliath. He'll ultimately end up running the kingdom.

Knight Rider: A 21st century take on the 1980s staple about a man and his indestructible supercar. 2-Hour backdoor pilot ordered. Starring: Justin Bruening, Sydney Portier

The Philanthropist: A drama about a rebel billionaire who uses his money, connections and power to help people in need - no matter the risks. Executive Producers: Tom Fantana, Barry Levinson, and Charlie Corwin

Untitled Luke Reiter Project: A legal drama about the unapologetic lawyers at a prestigious new york law firm who will do whatever it takes to win their high-profile cases and outmaneuver one another. Starring: Alan Tudyk, Christina Vidal, Frankie Faison, Kurtwood Smith, Megan Dodds, and Andrew Lincoln. Executive Producers: Luke Reiter and Barry Sonnenfield.

Zip: (from NBC's press release) Trip Stringer is a con artist who believes that the power of positive thinking will help him go from "have not" to "have lots." Unfortunately, none of his schemes have panned out and he's a long way off from his dream house in zip code 90210. For years, this single father of three has been forced to make the most of coupons and "borrow" clothes from the tailor shop where he works. In every episode, Trip juggles a get-rich-fast con with his duties as a parent, but he'll never give up trying to break into high society's inner sanctum. Starring: Steven Weber

The Unititled The Office Spinoff: A spin off the original "The Office".

Script Orders

Serial Frank (NBC): (from NBC's press release) Based on the French-Canadian format, "Serial Frank" is a single-camera series that depicts a young man whose life is turned upside-down when his normal life is constantly interrupted by the many unpredictable physical manifestations of his multiple personas that he acts out -- all unseen to others.

Untitled John Stephens Project (NBC): A drama about a team of regular cops dedicated to busting vampires, zombies and other criminal demons.



Take Care,

Sal