Jennifer Aniston once teamed up with Oscar-winner Julia Roberts for the 2016 feature Mother’s Day. Although the two were well acquainted with each other, Roberts quipped that she was glad she didn’t share screen time with her co-star.
Julia Roberts and Jennifer Aniston were both nervous about working with each other Jennifer Aniston and Julia Roberts | Christopher Polk/WireImage
Aniston and Roberts both had trouble getting over the idea of working together for Mother’s Day. The two actors weren’t strangers, and they’d even worked together before on a prior project. But Aniston asserted that being cast in the same feature film as Roberts still came with a certain level of anxiety. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Aniston shared why she felt intimidated by her Mother’s Day co-star.
“Because it’s Julia Roberts! Oh my gosh,” Aniston said.
According to Aniston, she even made a...
Julia Roberts and Jennifer Aniston were both nervous about working with each other Jennifer Aniston and Julia Roberts | Christopher Polk/WireImage
Aniston and Roberts both had trouble getting over the idea of working together for Mother’s Day. The two actors weren’t strangers, and they’d even worked together before on a prior project. But Aniston asserted that being cast in the same feature film as Roberts still came with a certain level of anxiety. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Aniston shared why she felt intimidated by her Mother’s Day co-star.
“Because it’s Julia Roberts! Oh my gosh,” Aniston said.
According to Aniston, she even made a...
- 11/22/2023
- by Antonio Stallings
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Lilo & Stitch movie franchise, also referred to as Stitch, was created by the Disney franchise in 2002 with the release of its animated film directed and written by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois. This family-favorite movie has been delighting audiences ever since!
The series follows the escapades of two characters: Lilo Pelekai, an orphaned Hawaiian girl voiced by Daveigh Chase, and Stitch, created initially as Experiment 626, a little blue alien and adopted by Lilo. Both are mischievous beings who make for a funny duo full of eccentric adventures.
If you love comedy and animation, then the Lilo & Stitch movie series is perfect!
Here is a list of all the films in this franchise in order:
All the “Lilo and Stitch” Movies in Order of Release Date Lilo and Stitch (2002) Stitch! The Movie (2003) Lilo and Stitch 2: Stitch has a Glitch (2005) Leroy and Stitch (2006) Lilo and Stitch (2002)
“Lilo & Stitch...
The series follows the escapades of two characters: Lilo Pelekai, an orphaned Hawaiian girl voiced by Daveigh Chase, and Stitch, created initially as Experiment 626, a little blue alien and adopted by Lilo. Both are mischievous beings who make for a funny duo full of eccentric adventures.
If you love comedy and animation, then the Lilo & Stitch movie series is perfect!
Here is a list of all the films in this franchise in order:
All the “Lilo and Stitch” Movies in Order of Release Date Lilo and Stitch (2002) Stitch! The Movie (2003) Lilo and Stitch 2: Stitch has a Glitch (2005) Leroy and Stitch (2006) Lilo and Stitch (2002)
“Lilo & Stitch...
- 1/24/2023
- by Israr
- buddytv.com
Click here to read the full article.
Allison Janney has just made a deal to produce her first project by partnering with veteran executive and producer Bob Greenblatt on a series adaptation of the book Confident Women: Swindlers, Grifters and Shapeshifters of the Feminine Persuasion for Amazon.
Asked why she’s putting on a producer hat for the first time in her career, Janney was quick with an answer. “Because Bob asked,” she told THR on the red carpet of her newest film, The People We Hate at the Wedding, also for Amazon. “He produced me in 9 to 5 on Broadway and I’ve had a relationship with him over the years so when he asked, I thought, yeah, Ok, I’ve not done this before but I would be comfortable doing it with Bob.”
Chairman of NBC Entertainment Bob Greenblatt (L) and Allison Janney.
They’ve already jumped in to...
Allison Janney has just made a deal to produce her first project by partnering with veteran executive and producer Bob Greenblatt on a series adaptation of the book Confident Women: Swindlers, Grifters and Shapeshifters of the Feminine Persuasion for Amazon.
Asked why she’s putting on a producer hat for the first time in her career, Janney was quick with an answer. “Because Bob asked,” she told THR on the red carpet of her newest film, The People We Hate at the Wedding, also for Amazon. “He produced me in 9 to 5 on Broadway and I’ve had a relationship with him over the years so when he asked, I thought, yeah, Ok, I’ve not done this before but I would be comfortable doing it with Bob.”
Chairman of NBC Entertainment Bob Greenblatt (L) and Allison Janney.
They’ve already jumped in to...
- 12/1/2022
- by Chris Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Bob Greenblatt is partnering with “The West Wing” star Allison Janney and writer Alexa Junge (“Grace and Frankie”) to adapt the book “Confident Women” into an anthology series for Amazon Prime Video.
The project reps the first TV project for Janney, who is attached as a non-writing executive producer alongside her producing partner, Thruline’s Chris Henze. Janney and Henze brought the idea to Greenblatt, the former NBC, Showtime, WarnerMedia and Fox exec who has been busy as of late in amassing a new stable of projects in development.
Written by Tori Telfer and released last year, the book chronicles female con women in a range of different stories over the last several decades.
“I think it’s a really cool way to tell some female-oriented stories, but with a bit of a darker twist,” Greenblatt told Variety. “It’s not ‘Dahmer.’ It’s not about serial killers. But these...
The project reps the first TV project for Janney, who is attached as a non-writing executive producer alongside her producing partner, Thruline’s Chris Henze. Janney and Henze brought the idea to Greenblatt, the former NBC, Showtime, WarnerMedia and Fox exec who has been busy as of late in amassing a new stable of projects in development.
Written by Tori Telfer and released last year, the book chronicles female con women in a range of different stories over the last several decades.
“I think it’s a really cool way to tell some female-oriented stories, but with a bit of a darker twist,” Greenblatt told Variety. “It’s not ‘Dahmer.’ It’s not about serial killers. But these...
- 11/14/2022
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
The news that Nikki Finke — the cantankerous trade blogger who traumatized and entertained Hollywood in equal measure with her vendetta-based brand of entertainment journalism — died Sunday at 68 dislodged a tidal wave of not-so-fond memories in this town.
Her reign of terror kicked into high gear when she moved her column Deadline Hollywood from L.A. Weekly over to Penske Media Corporation, owner of The Hollywood Reporter, in 2009; she walked away in 2013 after clashing with the ownership. During that time, Finke had grown so legendary that she even served as inspiration for an HBO dramedy.
Tilda was co-conceived by Dreamgirls director Bill Condon and Tell Me You Love Me creator Cynthia Mort. It featured a starry cast, headlined by Diane Keaton as Tilda Watski, a character based on Finke’s persona; and Elliot Page, who played a studio assistant who gets ensnared in her web.
The news that Nikki Finke — the cantankerous trade blogger who traumatized and entertained Hollywood in equal measure with her vendetta-based brand of entertainment journalism — died Sunday at 68 dislodged a tidal wave of not-so-fond memories in this town.
Her reign of terror kicked into high gear when she moved her column Deadline Hollywood from L.A. Weekly over to Penske Media Corporation, owner of The Hollywood Reporter, in 2009; she walked away in 2013 after clashing with the ownership. During that time, Finke had grown so legendary that she even served as inspiration for an HBO dramedy.
Tilda was co-conceived by Dreamgirls director Bill Condon and Tell Me You Love Me creator Cynthia Mort. It featured a starry cast, headlined by Diane Keaton as Tilda Watski, a character based on Finke’s persona; and Elliot Page, who played a studio assistant who gets ensnared in her web.
- 10/12/2022
- by Seth Abramovitch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Nikki Finke, the veteran entertainment journalist who founded Deadline in 2006 and helped grow it into a major player among Hollywood trades, died Sunday morning in Boca Raton, Fl after a prolonged illness. She was 68.
Related Story R.I.P. Nikki Finke: An Appreciation Of A Fierce Game-Changer Related Story Deadline Hires Former Business Insider Journalist Zac Ntim As International Film Reporter Related Story Liz Shackleton Joins Deadline As Contributing Editor, Asia
The famously reclusive Finke founded her site as Deadline Hollywood Daily, the 24/7 Internet version of her long-running print column “Deadline Hollywood” for LA Weekly. She posted firsthand accounts of how she saw the entertainment business and was unfazed about dressing down its biggest players. Her often biting, acerbic posts called out wrongdoing and wrongdoers as she saw fit — making her a hero to many assistants and below-the-liners while irking many in the C-suites who were not used to anything less than praise.
Related Story R.I.P. Nikki Finke: An Appreciation Of A Fierce Game-Changer Related Story Deadline Hires Former Business Insider Journalist Zac Ntim As International Film Reporter Related Story Liz Shackleton Joins Deadline As Contributing Editor, Asia
The famously reclusive Finke founded her site as Deadline Hollywood Daily, the 24/7 Internet version of her long-running print column “Deadline Hollywood” for LA Weekly. She posted firsthand accounts of how she saw the entertainment business and was unfazed about dressing down its biggest players. Her often biting, acerbic posts called out wrongdoing and wrongdoers as she saw fit — making her a hero to many assistants and below-the-liners while irking many in the C-suites who were not used to anything less than praise.
- 10/9/2022
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
The Brady organization against gun violence is calling on Hollywood writers, directors and producers to examine onscreen gun violence and depictions of gun safety, asking the creative community to sign a pledge that’s already garnered more than 200 signatures of such names as Judd Apatow, Shonda Rhimes, Damon Lindelof and Jimmy Kimmel and the writers of Jimmy Kimmel Live!
The pledge, while noting that the “responsibility lies with lax gun laws supported by those politicians more afraid of losing power than saving lives,” acknowledges that “America’s storytellers” have the power to “effect change.”
“Cultural attitudes toward smoking, drunk driving, seatbelts and marriage equality have all evolved due in large part to movies’ and TV’s influence. It’s time to take on gun safety,” the Brady pledge states, and goes on to ask writers, directors and producers to, whenever possible, to:
Use creativity “to model responsible gun ownership and...
The pledge, while noting that the “responsibility lies with lax gun laws supported by those politicians more afraid of losing power than saving lives,” acknowledges that “America’s storytellers” have the power to “effect change.”
“Cultural attitudes toward smoking, drunk driving, seatbelts and marriage equality have all evolved due in large part to movies’ and TV’s influence. It’s time to take on gun safety,” the Brady pledge states, and goes on to ask writers, directors and producers to, whenever possible, to:
Use creativity “to model responsible gun ownership and...
- 6/13/2022
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Thanks to roles on two high-profile comedies, actress and comedian D’Arcy Carden has become the common link to the two sitcom stars most likely to be dubbed “national treasures”: Ted Danson and Henry Winkler.
Through a luck of scheduling, and some patient producers and network executives, Carden juggles gigs on NBC’s “The Good Place” and HBO’s “Barry.” It’s quite a moment for the actress, who spent years dreaming of being a part of a beloved TV ensemble and now is on two.
“TV scheduling is a weird thing,” Carden said. “I shot the pilot for ‘Barry’ the same month I shot the pilot for ‘The Good Place” [in winter 2016].” “The Good Place” was immediately ordered to series, while it took a year for HBO to greenlight “Barry” — which means last year, Carden was shooting the second season of “The Good Place” and the first season of “Barry” at the same time.
Through a luck of scheduling, and some patient producers and network executives, Carden juggles gigs on NBC’s “The Good Place” and HBO’s “Barry.” It’s quite a moment for the actress, who spent years dreaming of being a part of a beloved TV ensemble and now is on two.
“TV scheduling is a weird thing,” Carden said. “I shot the pilot for ‘Barry’ the same month I shot the pilot for ‘The Good Place” [in winter 2016].” “The Good Place” was immediately ordered to series, while it took a year for HBO to greenlight “Barry” — which means last year, Carden was shooting the second season of “The Good Place” and the first season of “Barry” at the same time.
- 10/1/2018
- by Michael Schneider
- Indiewire
The international television festival SeriesFest announced its initial season four line-up of special events and industry panels. Based in Denver, Colo., the festival takes place June 22-27.
The six-day festival will open with an exclusive advance screening of NBC’s new drama, New Amsterdam which will be followed by a Q&A with the star Ryan Eggold and executive producers David Schulner and Peter Horton.
Season 4 of SeriesFest will highlight their “Year of Impact” platform with panels such as Who Runs the Show? Women which will feature Alexa Junge (Grace & Frankie, Friends),Jessica Goldberg (The Path) and Jessika Borsickzy (House of Lies). The fest will also include Inclusion Impact: Disability Representation On-Screen and Behind-the-Scenes with Rj Mitte from Breaking Bad).
Other events include a screening of AMC’s Lodge 49 with show creators as well as the world premiere of the Facbook Watch series Sacred Lies. SeriesFest will also showcase...
The six-day festival will open with an exclusive advance screening of NBC’s new drama, New Amsterdam which will be followed by a Q&A with the star Ryan Eggold and executive producers David Schulner and Peter Horton.
Season 4 of SeriesFest will highlight their “Year of Impact” platform with panels such as Who Runs the Show? Women which will feature Alexa Junge (Grace & Frankie, Friends),Jessica Goldberg (The Path) and Jessika Borsickzy (House of Lies). The fest will also include Inclusion Impact: Disability Representation On-Screen and Behind-the-Scenes with Rj Mitte from Breaking Bad).
Other events include a screening of AMC’s Lodge 49 with show creators as well as the world premiere of the Facbook Watch series Sacred Lies. SeriesFest will also showcase...
- 5/30/2018
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Us writer and producer, Jesse Stern.
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NCIS co-executive producer and writer Jesse Stern has been confirmed as a speaker at this year's National Screenwriters' Conference.
Stern's credits include five seasons as a co-executive producer and writer of NCIS, writer of the game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Modern Warfare 2.
Stern works across independent features, network television and video games and is currently the lead writer for studio Respawn Entertainment on their hit game Titanfall and its forthcoming sequel Titanfall 2..
Over the course of his career Jesse has sold comedy and drama television pilots to CBS, NBC and Fox..
Stern joins international guests including Shane Brennan (show runner NCIS and NCIS: Los Angeles), Michael Petroni (Backtrack, Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Till Human Voices Wake Us), Alexa Junge (Sex and The City, Friends, The West Wing), and Jan Sardi (The Notebook, Shine) as the industry discusses creating...
.
NCIS co-executive producer and writer Jesse Stern has been confirmed as a speaker at this year's National Screenwriters' Conference.
Stern's credits include five seasons as a co-executive producer and writer of NCIS, writer of the game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Modern Warfare 2.
Stern works across independent features, network television and video games and is currently the lead writer for studio Respawn Entertainment on their hit game Titanfall and its forthcoming sequel Titanfall 2..
Over the course of his career Jesse has sold comedy and drama television pilots to CBS, NBC and Fox..
Stern joins international guests including Shane Brennan (show runner NCIS and NCIS: Los Angeles), Michael Petroni (Backtrack, Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Till Human Voices Wake Us), Alexa Junge (Sex and The City, Friends, The West Wing), and Jan Sardi (The Notebook, Shine) as the industry discusses creating...
- 1/27/2016
- by Inside Film Correspondent
- IF.com.au
Michael Petroni with Adrien Brody on the set of Backtrack.
Australian writer Michael Petroni has been confirmed as a speaker at this year's National Screenwriters' Conference in March.
Petroni, whose writing credits include The Book Thief, The Rite and The Chronicles of Narnia, has joined this year's lineup of speakers strong lineup of speakers at the conference which is being held from March 9-11 at the Silverwater Resort in Phillip Island, Victoria.
He is also the writer of the upcoming Adrien Brody starrer Backtrack, as well as Dawn Trader.
With Masterclasses, Discussions and In Conversations, the National Screenwriters Conference has gathered leading international industry authorities including the previously announced Shane Brennan (show runner NCIS and NCIS: Los Angeles), Alexa Junge (Sex and The City, Friends, The West Wing), Douglas Petrie (American Horror Story, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Daredevil) and Jan Sardi (The Notebook, Shine).
Petroni started his career in the...
Australian writer Michael Petroni has been confirmed as a speaker at this year's National Screenwriters' Conference in March.
Petroni, whose writing credits include The Book Thief, The Rite and The Chronicles of Narnia, has joined this year's lineup of speakers strong lineup of speakers at the conference which is being held from March 9-11 at the Silverwater Resort in Phillip Island, Victoria.
He is also the writer of the upcoming Adrien Brody starrer Backtrack, as well as Dawn Trader.
With Masterclasses, Discussions and In Conversations, the National Screenwriters Conference has gathered leading international industry authorities including the previously announced Shane Brennan (show runner NCIS and NCIS: Los Angeles), Alexa Junge (Sex and The City, Friends, The West Wing), Douglas Petrie (American Horror Story, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Daredevil) and Jan Sardi (The Notebook, Shine).
Petroni started his career in the...
- 1/20/2016
- by Staff Writer
- IF.com.au
Us writer, producer and showrunner Alexa Junge has been a writer or producer on Friends, Sex and the City, West Wing and United States of Tara.
Next year she will be one of the international headline guests at the 2016 National Screenwriters' Conference, Australia's premier gathering of film and television writers.
Junge has been an important figure in the screenwriting industry for two decades and is now leading the charge into online entertainment with projects including Netflix.s Emmy-nominated Grace and Frankie starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Martin Sheen.
The conference at Phillip Island in Victoria from 9-11 March next year will bring together screenwriters from around Australia together with international speakers and other industry luminaries from around the world.
Awg executive director, Jacqueline Elaine, said Nsc 2016 would be one of the major film and television industry events of the year and a must-attend for professional and aspiring screenwriters and...
Next year she will be one of the international headline guests at the 2016 National Screenwriters' Conference, Australia's premier gathering of film and television writers.
Junge has been an important figure in the screenwriting industry for two decades and is now leading the charge into online entertainment with projects including Netflix.s Emmy-nominated Grace and Frankie starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Martin Sheen.
The conference at Phillip Island in Victoria from 9-11 March next year will bring together screenwriters from around Australia together with international speakers and other industry luminaries from around the world.
Awg executive director, Jacqueline Elaine, said Nsc 2016 would be one of the major film and television industry events of the year and a must-attend for professional and aspiring screenwriters and...
- 10/30/2015
- by Inside Film Correspondent
- IF.com.au
NBC aired only seven episodes of Save Me but 13 episodes were supposedly ordered in May 2012. What happened?
Well, it seems that 13 installments were indeed produced of the Anne Heche comedy but the network opted to only air the pilot and episodes eight through 13. The Futon Critic suggests that the unaired episodes are likely the ones that were shot before Alexa Junge was replaced as showrunner by Darlene Hunt.
Unfortunately, the peacock network has no plans to air the cancelled show's remaining episodes.
Though there were some devoted viewers, Save Me did very poorly in the ratings and averaged only a 0.6 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 2.78 million viewers. The series finale was the lowest-rated episode.
A complete series set of Save Me may be released on DVD at some point but no...
Well, it seems that 13 installments were indeed produced of the Anne Heche comedy but the network opted to only air the pilot and episodes eight through 13. The Futon Critic suggests that the unaired episodes are likely the ones that were shot before Alexa Junge was replaced as showrunner by Darlene Hunt.
Unfortunately, the peacock network has no plans to air the cancelled show's remaining episodes.
Though there were some devoted viewers, Save Me did very poorly in the ratings and averaged only a 0.6 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 2.78 million viewers. The series finale was the lowest-rated episode.
A complete series set of Save Me may be released on DVD at some point but no...
- 7/28/2013
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
Did Save Me have you shouting hallelujah?
NBC’s newest comedy premiered Thursday (8/7c) with two back-to-back episodes. In them, we meet Beth Harper (played by Anne Heche, Men in Trees), a Midwestern wife and mother who has a near-death experience in her kitchen after choking on a hero sandwich.
When she’s revived, she claims to be able to receive messages from God. This mortifies her daughter Emily (Madison Davenport, Shameless) and stymies Beth’s husband Tom (Michael Landes, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman)… who’s got a different kind of religious moment happening on the regular...
NBC’s newest comedy premiered Thursday (8/7c) with two back-to-back episodes. In them, we meet Beth Harper (played by Anne Heche, Men in Trees), a Midwestern wife and mother who has a near-death experience in her kitchen after choking on a hero sandwich.
When she’s revived, she claims to be able to receive messages from God. This mortifies her daughter Emily (Madison Davenport, Shameless) and stymies Beth’s husband Tom (Michael Landes, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman)… who’s got a different kind of religious moment happening on the regular...
- 5/24/2013
- by Kimberly Roots
- TVLine.com
Bite-sized news from the world of television, including changes at NBC's upcoming Anne Heche comedy "Save Me" and pilot castings for "Bridesmaids'" Wendi McLendon-Covey and "My Boys'" Jim Gaffigan.
After holding options on the cast for nearly a year, Fox has officially passed on Cuba Gooding Jr.'s legal drama pilot "Guilty." Although the Oscar winning star was said to get high marks from test audiences, the show's case is now closed. [Deadline]
"Skyfall" writer John Logan and director Sam Mendes are reuniting to produce a new psychological horror series for Showtime called "Penny Dreadful." The show will combine famous horror characters including Dracula, Van Helsing, Dorian Gray and Dr. Frankenstein. [IGN]
Anne Heche's upcoming NBC comedy "Save Me" is undergoing a showrunner change after filming two episodes. "The Big C" creator Darlene Hunt is very close to signing on to replace Alexa Junge ("Friends"). [Deadline]
"Bridesmaids" and "Reno 911!" actress Wendi McLendon-Covey,...
After holding options on the cast for nearly a year, Fox has officially passed on Cuba Gooding Jr.'s legal drama pilot "Guilty." Although the Oscar winning star was said to get high marks from test audiences, the show's case is now closed. [Deadline]
"Skyfall" writer John Logan and director Sam Mendes are reuniting to produce a new psychological horror series for Showtime called "Penny Dreadful." The show will combine famous horror characters including Dracula, Van Helsing, Dorian Gray and Dr. Frankenstein. [IGN]
Anne Heche's upcoming NBC comedy "Save Me" is undergoing a showrunner change after filming two episodes. "The Big C" creator Darlene Hunt is very close to signing on to replace Alexa Junge ("Friends"). [Deadline]
"Bridesmaids" and "Reno 911!" actress Wendi McLendon-Covey,...
- 1/13/2013
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
Ray Richmond contributes to Deadline’s TCA coverage. At TCA to promote the final installment of her Showtime comedy The Big C, series creator Darlene Hunt was asked about her pending new job as showrunner of NBC’s midseason comedy series Save Me starring Anne Heche. She cautioned that her hiring was still unofficial even though “it’s a real ‘probably.’ It’s leaning in that direction,” she said. “There are still a couple of steps in terms of making sure NBC and I both feel we’re going in the right direction and want to tell the same stories on that show.” Related: ‘Save Me’ Showrunner Alexa Junge Exits, Darlene Hunt In Talks To Replace Her The single-camera comedy, from creator John Scott Shepherd, Sony TV and Original Film, stars Heche as a woman who lets herself — and her marriage — go until she undergoes an “awakening” that transforms her...
- 1/13/2013
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
Exclusive: NBC has hit the pause button on midseason comedy series Save Me starring Anne Heche after two episodes for a major behind-the-scenes changeover. Alexa Junge, who joined the project after the pilot as executive producer/showrunner, is out. Production on the series has been put on hold while a new showrunner is put in place. I hear talks are underway with The Big C creator/executive producer Darlene Hunt to take over the reins of the show, produced by Sony TV and Original Film. The single-camera comedy, created by John Scott Shepherd, stars Heche as a woman who lets herself — and her marriage — go until she undergoes an “awakening” that transforms her spiritually and physically into a desirable and outspoken woman who just might be channeling god. Save Me has not been scheduled, allowing NBC to take time and re-examine the series’ creative direction. The project has been a...
- 1/11/2013
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
NBC has released a bunch of trailers and clips for a new collection of TV series that they have been developing. We've got stuff from 1600 Penn, Infamous, Save Me, Next Caller, Do No Harm, The New Normal, Guys With Kids, and Go On. It will be interesting to what shows make it and what shows end up on the chopping block. Check out the trailers and clips and let us know which ones look good to you!
1600 Penn:
“1600 Penn” — The Gilchrists are just the average American family dealing with all the everyday issues – like a grown kid who’s forced to move back home, children who are smarter than their teachers and a stepmom (Jenna Elfman, “Dharma and Greg”) desperately trying to win over the kids. They’re loving, fun and a little crazy. In other words, just like everybody else. With one exception: they live in a very special house.
1600 Penn:
“1600 Penn” — The Gilchrists are just the average American family dealing with all the everyday issues – like a grown kid who’s forced to move back home, children who are smarter than their teachers and a stepmom (Jenna Elfman, “Dharma and Greg”) desperately trying to win over the kids. They’re loving, fun and a little crazy. In other words, just like everybody else. With one exception: they live in a very special house.
- 5/14/2012
- by Venkman
- GeekTyrant
New Comedies & Dramas For 2012-13 NBC Primetime Schedule Sitcoms expand to four nights this fall including Tuesday and Friday nights. New dramas from Dick Wolf and Jj Abrams. Here’s your first look: NBC’s Save Me - Comedy Produced by Sony Pictures Television and Original Film. Novelist John Scott Shepherd is executive producer/creator along with executive producer/director Scott Winant and executive producers Neal H. Moritz, Vivian Cannon, and Alexa Junge: NBC’s 1600 Penn - Comedy Produced by 20th Century Fox. From executive producer/director Jason Winer. The executive producers are Winer (who also directed the pilot), Gad and former White House speechwriter Jon Lovett: NBC’s Next Caller – Comedy Produced by Lionsgate Television and Universal Television. Created and executive-produced by Stephen Falk and directed by Marc Buckland, who also serves as executive producer on the pilot: NBC’s Guys With Kids – Comedy Produced by Universal Television and Holiday Road.
- 5/13/2012
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
Get ready to meet your new best TV friends: "Best Friends Forever" (premieres Wed., Apr. 4, 8:30 p.m. Et on NBC) is the kind of show you're gonna want to hang out with every week. Just trust me.
Written, created by and starring funny ladies (and real-life friends) Jessica St. Clair and Lennon Parham, "Best Friends Forever" is a sweet, funny, so-true-it-doesn't-feel-like-a-sitcom kind of sitcom. I visited the set and instantly fell in love with the whole vibe, but watching these two women work together reminded me of those "Best Friends" split heart charms you got with your grade school partner in crime -- they just fit together.
In this case, when Jessica (the "Be/Fri" half of the heart charm) gets served divorce papers, she moves back in with the friend who completes her, Lennon (the "st/ends" half of the heart charm). The only thing that can come...
Written, created by and starring funny ladies (and real-life friends) Jessica St. Clair and Lennon Parham, "Best Friends Forever" is a sweet, funny, so-true-it-doesn't-feel-like-a-sitcom kind of sitcom. I visited the set and instantly fell in love with the whole vibe, but watching these two women work together reminded me of those "Best Friends" split heart charms you got with your grade school partner in crime -- they just fit together.
In this case, when Jessica (the "Be/Fri" half of the heart charm) gets served divorce papers, she moves back in with the friend who completes her, Lennon (the "st/ends" half of the heart charm). The only thing that can come...
- 4/4/2012
- by Maggie Furlong
- Huffington Post
Get ready to meet your new best TV friends: "Best Friends Forever" (premieres Wed., Apr. 4, 8:30 p.m. Et on NBC) is the kind of show you're gonna want to hang out with every week. Just trust me.
Written, created by and starring funny ladies (and real-life friends) Jessica St. Clair and Lennon Parham, "Best Friends Forever" is a sweet, funny, so-true-it-doesn't-feel-like-a-sitcom kind of sitcom. I visited the set and instantly fell in love with the whole vibe, but watching these two women work together reminded me of those "Best Friends" split heart charms you got with your grade school partner in crime -- they just fit together.
In this case, when Jessica (the "Be/Fri" half of the heart charm) gets served divorce papers, she moves back in with the friend who completes her, Lennon (the "st/ends" half of the heart charm). The only thing that can come...
Written, created by and starring funny ladies (and real-life friends) Jessica St. Clair and Lennon Parham, "Best Friends Forever" is a sweet, funny, so-true-it-doesn't-feel-like-a-sitcom kind of sitcom. I visited the set and instantly fell in love with the whole vibe, but watching these two women work together reminded me of those "Best Friends" split heart charms you got with your grade school partner in crime -- they just fit together.
In this case, when Jessica (the "Be/Fri" half of the heart charm) gets served divorce papers, she moves back in with the friend who completes her, Lennon (the "st/ends" half of the heart charm). The only thing that can come...
- 4/4/2012
- by Maggie Furlong
- Aol TV.
Next month, a new sitcom called "Work It," about two out-of-work salesmen who dress up as women to get jobs, will make its debut on ABC. There's nothing new about the premise -- Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari covered the same ground on the early-80s sitcom "Bosom Buddies" -- and the tone isn't exactly novel either. The stars of the show, Ben Koldyke and Amaury Nolasco, are operating in the prevailing frat-boy mode perfected by Bradley Cooper and Seann William Scott.
In May, an 84-second trailer of "Work It" hit the Internet, instantly attracting more blogger rage than most shows accumulate over the course of several seasons. Gobsmacked by the very fact that "This got made! And is going to series!", The Futon Critic lambasted the show's "limp attempts at misogyny," "groan worthy madcappery" and "Mrs. Doubtfire hijinx."
The Best Week Ever blog took special umbrage at the network's...
In May, an 84-second trailer of "Work It" hit the Internet, instantly attracting more blogger rage than most shows accumulate over the course of several seasons. Gobsmacked by the very fact that "This got made! And is going to series!", The Futon Critic lambasted the show's "limp attempts at misogyny," "groan worthy madcappery" and "Mrs. Doubtfire hijinx."
The Best Week Ever blog took special umbrage at the network's...
- 12/14/2011
- by Richard Rushfield
- Huffington Post
Next month, a new sitcom called "Work It," about two out-of-work salesmen who dress up as women to get jobs, will make its debut on ABC. There's nothing new about the premise -- Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari covered the same ground on the early-80s sitcom "Bosom Buddies" -- and the tone isn't exactly novel either. The stars of the show, Ben Koldyke and Amaury Nolasco, are operating in the prevailing frat-boy mode perfected by Bradley Cooper and Seann William Scott.
In May, an 84-second trailer of "Work It" hit the Internet, instantly attracting more blogger rage than most shows accumulate over the course of several seasons. Gobsmacked by the very fact that "This got made! And is going to series!", The Futon Critic lambasted the show's "limp attempts at misogyny," "groan worthy madcappery" and "Mrs. Doubtfire hijinx."
The Best Week Ever blog took special umbrage at the network's...
In May, an 84-second trailer of "Work It" hit the Internet, instantly attracting more blogger rage than most shows accumulate over the course of several seasons. Gobsmacked by the very fact that "This got made! And is going to series!", The Futon Critic lambasted the show's "limp attempts at misogyny," "groan worthy madcappery" and "Mrs. Doubtfire hijinx."
The Best Week Ever blog took special umbrage at the network's...
- 12/14/2011
- by Richard Rushfield
- Aol TV.
Exclusive (Updated Below): There's been no announcement yet. But Ann Blanchard is already being accused of breaking Hollywood protocol by not first informing those agents repping her Mosaic Media Group's TV management clients of her change of employment. Instead, she's calling those clients today and trying to take them with her to CAA. As a result, agencies who gave her clients to manage are calling me spitting mad. For instance, UTA reps Mosaic's TV biz and yet Blanchard today was phoning UTA clients to come with her to CAA. Before moving to Jimmy Miller's Mosaic where she's been producing several projects, Blanchard had been a TV lit agent and Svp at the old William Morris Agency and is now calling her former clients from there, too. Blanchard, who wasn't supposed to start at CAA for another 3 weeks, already has 10 high level clients at the tenpercentery including Amy Brenneman,...
- 3/19/2011
- by NIKKI FINKE
- Deadline Hollywood
HBO has passed on the comedy pilot Tilda, which starred Diane Keaton as a powerful and reclusive Hollywood blogger (not unlike Deadline's Nikki Finke). The hot pilot had a great pedigree - co-written by Bill Condon and Cynthia Mort, directed by Condon, and starring Keaton, Ellen Page and Jason Patric. But a rift between Condon and Mort during the production of the pilot became messy and ultimately public. Then after the pilot was deep-sixed, HBO tried hard to make the show work by ordering additional scripts and hiring Six Feet Under alum Alan Poul, Alexa Junge and John Hoffman as executive producers. But the option on the actors was set to expire in mid-March, and HBO gave the thumbs down "despite everyone’s best efforts", the pay cable network said in a statement today. While Tilda was conceived and written and developed without Finke's knowledge or involvement, word is HBO...
- 2/26/2011
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
Updated, 1/7: Each year, the five broadcast networks develop hundreds of scripted dramas and comedies in hopes they’ll become the next NCIS and Desperate Housewives, or the latest Modern Family and The Big Bang Theory. And like every year, a great deal of them are not worth mentioning here — mostly because they involve the bland types of cops, lawyers, and doctors who you’ve already seen fighting crime or sneaking a kiss on the way to the ER.
But fascinating projects continue to pass the first smell test at the broadcast networks. The key is whether the suits take...
But fascinating projects continue to pass the first smell test at the broadcast networks. The key is whether the suits take...
- 1/6/2011
- by Lynette Rice
- EW - Inside TV
Filed under: TV News
Lisa Rinna, a cast member of 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills'? Almost, according to PerezHilton.com.
Rinna was among one of the more than 500 women who came out to audition for the Bravo reality series. Other famous names who didn't make the cut include Marla Maples, Shawn King and Alana Stewart.
Don't feel too sorry for Rinna, she's got her TV Land reality series and is part of the new 'Celebrity Apprentice.' However, it would be fun to see her tangle with some of those 'Beverly Hills' ladies.
In other TV news ...
o. Disney Xd is working on an animated 'Tron' series. The network has ordered 'Tron: Uprising' for summer 2012. The voice cast includes big names such as Elijah Wood, Mandy Moore, Paul Reubens,Emmanuelle Chriqui, Nate Corddry and Lance Henriksen. Bruce Boxleitner is also on board as Tron. [Variety]
o. NBC is planning a sitcom around comedian Russell Peters.
Lisa Rinna, a cast member of 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills'? Almost, according to PerezHilton.com.
Rinna was among one of the more than 500 women who came out to audition for the Bravo reality series. Other famous names who didn't make the cut include Marla Maples, Shawn King and Alana Stewart.
Don't feel too sorry for Rinna, she's got her TV Land reality series and is part of the new 'Celebrity Apprentice.' However, it would be fun to see her tangle with some of those 'Beverly Hills' ladies.
In other TV news ...
o. Disney Xd is working on an animated 'Tron' series. The network has ordered 'Tron: Uprising' for summer 2012. The voice cast includes big names such as Elijah Wood, Mandy Moore, Paul Reubens,Emmanuelle Chriqui, Nate Corddry and Lance Henriksen. Bruce Boxleitner is also on board as Tron. [Variety]
o. NBC is planning a sitcom around comedian Russell Peters.
- 11/5/2010
- by Chris Harnick
- Aol TV.
HBO has yet to make a decision whether it will pick up comedy pilot Tilda to series but it has put in place a team in case it does. Six Feet Under alum Alan Poul has come on board as an executive producer. Writers Alexa Junge and John Hoffman have also been brought in as executive producers and to work with co-creator/executive producer Bill Condon on conceptualizing the potential series. Condon directed the pilot for Tilda from a script he co-wrote with Cynthia Mort. Tilda stars Diane Keaton as a powerful and reclusive Hollywood blogger (not unlike Nikki Finke) and boasts an A-list cast including Ellen Page and Jason Patric. The pilot was shot in June but the show has had a rocky production and post-production run marred by creative differences.
- 11/4/2010
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
J.K. Rowling suggested to Oprah that she could write three more Harry Potter novels if she wanted to. You know, she totally wants to. (Vulture)
You remember Mamma Mia, the movie they made based around Abba songs. Yeah. They're going to do the same with Beach Boys songs. Because God hates you all. (Variety)
With the Bayfier, now you can star in your own Michael Bay movie, like this one, which I'll call Priscosplosion, which stars not one, but Two Shia Labeoufs. (Bayifier)
The Fug Girls pick the Best and Worst dressed characters on television. Oh, Manny! (Vulture)
Amy Adams, after a year off to have a ginger spawn, is weighing three offers: The lead female in The Muppet Movie opposite Jason Segal; the love interest opposite Matt Damon in Cameron Crowe's We Bought a Zoo (pick me! pick me!); and opposite Chris Pine in Alex Kurtzman's directorial debut,...
You remember Mamma Mia, the movie they made based around Abba songs. Yeah. They're going to do the same with Beach Boys songs. Because God hates you all. (Variety)
With the Bayfier, now you can star in your own Michael Bay movie, like this one, which I'll call Priscosplosion, which stars not one, but Two Shia Labeoufs. (Bayifier)
The Fug Girls pick the Best and Worst dressed characters on television. Oh, Manny! (Vulture)
Amy Adams, after a year off to have a ginger spawn, is weighing three offers: The lead female in The Muppet Movie opposite Jason Segal; the love interest opposite Matt Damon in Cameron Crowe's We Bought a Zoo (pick me! pick me!); and opposite Chris Pine in Alex Kurtzman's directorial debut,...
- 10/4/2010
- by Dustin Rowles
Start your weekend with a few bite-sized pieces of TV news:
New "American Idol" judge Jennifer Lopez is executive producing a pilot in development at ABC. The project, written by Alexa Junge ("Friends," "Big Love"), is a dramedy about an extended family as seen through the eyes of three Latina nannies who work for the clan. It predates her "Idol"/production deal with Fox, hence its finding a home at ABC. [Variety]
Paris Hilton is getting another TV show, on yet another network. Oxygen has greenlit a show that will follow Hilton in "the next stage of her life" and also feature her friends Brooke Mueller (Charlie Sheen's ex), Jennifer Rovero and Allison Melnick. [Oxygen]
CNN has fired anchor Rick Sanchez after Sanchez called "Daily Show" host Jon Stewart a "bigot" and seemed to make disparaging remarks about Jews in the media during a radio interview. [Hollywood Reporter]
MTV's programming chief, Tony Disanto,...
New "American Idol" judge Jennifer Lopez is executive producing a pilot in development at ABC. The project, written by Alexa Junge ("Friends," "Big Love"), is a dramedy about an extended family as seen through the eyes of three Latina nannies who work for the clan. It predates her "Idol"/production deal with Fox, hence its finding a home at ABC. [Variety]
Paris Hilton is getting another TV show, on yet another network. Oxygen has greenlit a show that will follow Hilton in "the next stage of her life" and also feature her friends Brooke Mueller (Charlie Sheen's ex), Jennifer Rovero and Allison Melnick. [Oxygen]
CNN has fired anchor Rick Sanchez after Sanchez called "Daily Show" host Jon Stewart a "bigot" and seemed to make disparaging remarks about Jews in the media during a radio interview. [Hollywood Reporter]
MTV's programming chief, Tony Disanto,...
- 10/1/2010
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
New American Idol judge Jennifer Lopez is heaping more on her plate: The actress/singer is set to produce a new hour-long dramedy for ABC that will “center on three branches of an extended Los Angeles family — as told through the eyes of their three Latina nannies,” according to Variety. Lopez and her producing partner Simon Fields are joining with Friends and Big Love writer Alexa Junge for the still-untitled project.
ABC’s pretty full of family-centric shows these days: Modern Family, No Ordinary Family, Brothers & Sisters, The Middle, Better With You, maybe even Cougar Town. Lopez’s producing record isn’t hugely encouraging — Dancelife,...
ABC’s pretty full of family-centric shows these days: Modern Family, No Ordinary Family, Brothers & Sisters, The Middle, Better With You, maybe even Cougar Town. Lopez’s producing record isn’t hugely encouraging — Dancelife,...
- 10/1/2010
- by Margaret Lyons
- EW.com - PopWatch
The second season of Showtime's "United States of Tara" starts Monday (March 22) and it seems as though the series is ready to hit its stride.
If you stuck with it through season one, you know they were getting there towards the end of that first run, but when we meet back up with the Gregson family this week, their stories begin to unfold right away, and since we already know the characters, there's little time wasted.
About three months has passed since Tara (Toni Collette) left the in-patient treatment center, and though they never did determine the initial cause of her alters, she seems to be doing unusually well. She's on meds, she hasn't "transitioned" in quite a while and there's a skip in her step too.
But of course, all can't stay la-di-da on a series that follows a woman with multiple personalities supposedly brought on by sexual trauma.
If you stuck with it through season one, you know they were getting there towards the end of that first run, but when we meet back up with the Gregson family this week, their stories begin to unfold right away, and since we already know the characters, there's little time wasted.
About three months has passed since Tara (Toni Collette) left the in-patient treatment center, and though they never did determine the initial cause of her alters, she seems to be doing unusually well. She's on meds, she hasn't "transitioned" in quite a while and there's a skip in her step too.
But of course, all can't stay la-di-da on a series that follows a woman with multiple personalities supposedly brought on by sexual trauma.
- 3/22/2010
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2it.com - KorbitTV
A new photo and several poster standees for Iron Man 2, set photos of Robert Pattinson shooting Bel Ami, the first poster for The A-Team, a new poster for The Losers, four outdoor posters for Kick Ass, and a very saucy poster for Room in Rome.
The official site for the upcoming "Clash of the Titans" remake has launched two online games which can be played from here.
Marc Volander, the director of the upcoming and already infamous "Showgirls: The Return", gives an interview explaining the project to Twitchfilm
Photo Comparison: Jeff Bridges face in a DVD capture from 1982's "Tron", and the Jeff Bridges de-aged via CG face in the new "Tron: Legacy" trailer. Verdict: Essentially flawless FX job guys.
The full story of the behind-the-scenes feuding that led to the on-stage struggle during the 'Best Documentary Short' acceptance speech at the Oscars can be found at Salon.com.
"Having seen the film with audiences,...
The official site for the upcoming "Clash of the Titans" remake has launched two online games which can be played from here.
Marc Volander, the director of the upcoming and already infamous "Showgirls: The Return", gives an interview explaining the project to Twitchfilm
Photo Comparison: Jeff Bridges face in a DVD capture from 1982's "Tron", and the Jeff Bridges de-aged via CG face in the new "Tron: Legacy" trailer. Verdict: Essentially flawless FX job guys.
The full story of the behind-the-scenes feuding that led to the on-stage struggle during the 'Best Documentary Short' acceptance speech at the Oscars can be found at Salon.com.
"Having seen the film with audiences,...
- 3/9/2010
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Alexa Junge, the executive producer/showrunner of Showtime's "United States of Tara," has decided not to continue on the series, which recently was renewed for a second season.
Bringing "Friends" alumna Junge on board was key to securing a series order for "Tara," created by Oscar winner Diablo Cody.
The search is under way for new showrunner to take over the series.
The Showtime/DreamWorks TV-produced "Tara" has wrapped production on Season 1, which is still airing originals on Showtime. Junge penned three episodes, the last of which airs Sunday.
On "Tara," which stars Toni Collette as a wife and mother with multiple-personality syndrome, Junga served as an executive producer alongside Steven Spielberg, Cody, Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank.
Bringing "Friends" alumna Junge on board was key to securing a series order for "Tara," created by Oscar winner Diablo Cody.
The search is under way for new showrunner to take over the series.
The Showtime/DreamWorks TV-produced "Tara" has wrapped production on Season 1, which is still airing originals on Showtime. Junge penned three episodes, the last of which airs Sunday.
On "Tara," which stars Toni Collette as a wife and mother with multiple-personality syndrome, Junga served as an executive producer alongside Steven Spielberg, Cody, Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank.
- 3/22/2009
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Showtime's United States of Tara tackles fresh territory with its portrayal of a woman with dissociative identity disorder (Did, played by Toni Collette) through the prism of a suburban family. TVGuide.com spoke with co-writer Alexa Junge (Friends, West Wing) and Brie Larson (who plays Tara's daughter, Kate) on how the show balances quirky moments and the delicate subject material, what it was like working with the show's creator and co-writer, Diablo Cody, and why real life isn't PG.
Read More >...
Read More >...
- 3/14/2009
- by Anna Dimond
- TVGuide.com - Features
Showtime's United States of Tara tackles fresh territory with its portrayal of a woman with dissociative identity disorder (Did, played by Toni Collette) through the prism of a suburban family. TVGuide.com spoke with co-writer Alexa Junge (Friends, West Wing) and Brie Larson (who plays Tara's daughter, Kate) on how the show balances quirky moments and the delicate subject material, what it was like working with the show's creator and co-writer, Diablo Cody, and why real life isn't PG.
Read More >...
Read More >...
- 3/14/2009
- by Anna Dimond
- TVGuide - Breaking News
Showtime's United States of Tara (Sundays, 10 pm/Et) is returning for a second season.
At least one of the show's writers had her fingers crossed for a Season 2 — and not just because she likes her job. "We really had a hard time putting everything we wanted to do [with the series] in 12 episodes — and that's not always the case!" Alexa Junge told TVGuide.com at the series' outset. "[Tara's] got a good story to tell, and we're just getting rolling here."
Read More >...
At least one of the show's writers had her fingers crossed for a Season 2 — and not just because she likes her job. "We really had a hard time putting everything we wanted to do [with the series] in 12 episodes — and that's not always the case!" Alexa Junge told TVGuide.com at the series' outset. "[Tara's] got a good story to tell, and we're just getting rolling here."
Read More >...
- 2/11/2009
- by Anna Dimond
- TVGuide - Breaking News
If you're looking forward to the new series "United States of Tara," with Toni Collette and John Corbett, but don't feel like you can wait until its Showtime premiere on January 18, then Netflix has the answer for you.
Celebrity News Service has learned that Netflix, the world's largest online movie rental service, will air the series premiere starting January 8. The new Showtime original series "United States of Tara," stars Academy Award nominee Toni Collette, from "Little Miss Sunshine," and John Corbett, from "Sex and the City."
"United States of Tara" is a new series starring Collette as Tara, a suburban wife and mother struggling with Did (dissociative identity disorder) formerly known as multiple personality disorder. Executive produced by Steven Spielberg, Justin Falvey, Darryl Frank, Diablo Cody and Alexa Junge, the show is created by Academy Award winning screenwriter Cody, who came to fame thanks to her movie "Juno."...
Celebrity News Service has learned that Netflix, the world's largest online movie rental service, will air the series premiere starting January 8. The new Showtime original series "United States of Tara," stars Academy Award nominee Toni Collette, from "Little Miss Sunshine," and John Corbett, from "Sex and the City."
"United States of Tara" is a new series starring Collette as Tara, a suburban wife and mother struggling with Did (dissociative identity disorder) formerly known as multiple personality disorder. Executive produced by Steven Spielberg, Justin Falvey, Darryl Frank, Diablo Cody and Alexa Junge, the show is created by Academy Award winning screenwriter Cody, who came to fame thanks to her movie "Juno."...
- 1/5/2009
- icelebz.com
Showtime's new comedy series "United States of Tara" will debut Jan. 18.
The dark comedy penned by Diablo Cody and starring Toni Collette will air at 10 p.m., following the premiere final season premiere of "The L Word" at 9 p.m. and leading to the second season opener of "Secret Diary of a Call Girl" at 10:30.
In "Tara," Collette stars as a mom with a multiple personality disorder. John Corbett co-stars on the series, a co-production between Showtime and Dreamworks TV. Steven Spielberg, Cody, Justin Falvey, Darryl Frank and Alexa Junge are exec producing.
In other premiere news, Bravo's hit reality series "Top Chef" will return for the fifth season Nov. 12 with the debut of "Top Chef: New York."...
The dark comedy penned by Diablo Cody and starring Toni Collette will air at 10 p.m., following the premiere final season premiere of "The L Word" at 9 p.m. and leading to the second season opener of "Secret Diary of a Call Girl" at 10:30.
In "Tara," Collette stars as a mom with a multiple personality disorder. John Corbett co-stars on the series, a co-production between Showtime and Dreamworks TV. Steven Spielberg, Cody, Justin Falvey, Darryl Frank and Alexa Junge are exec producing.
In other premiere news, Bravo's hit reality series "Top Chef" will return for the fifth season Nov. 12 with the debut of "Top Chef: New York."...
- 10/1/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Adam Chase is back at it. The former "Friends" executive producer begins filming Friday on his new comedy series "Clone," which is directed by "The King of Queens" alum Rob Schiller.
What's wrong with this picture? Well, "Clone" is a British show shot in London for BBC3.
With British scripted formats invading the U.S. marketplace in the wake of the success of "The Office," Chase went against the current, creating a show for the U.K.
"Clone" is a multicamera sci-fi comedy with single-camera and greenscreen elements. It stars Jonathan Pryce as a scientist who creates the first human clone. Intended to be a prototype supersoldier, the doctor quickly realizes his creation is more likely to hug someone than shoot them.
"Clone" is described as a fish-out-of-water tale, and that's exactly what Americans Chase and Schiller are in the British TV industry.
Chase's only British production experience was filming the two-part London episode of "Friends."
"I'd been thinking about doing a sci-fi comedy for a while but was concerned about getting it through the American development process," said Chase, who grew up with genre-mixing British fare like Monty Python. " 'Clone' is extremely violent; people die every week. Audiences (in the U.K.) are very sophisticated, and they have no problem switching form genre to genre."
A couple of years ago, Chase met Ash Atalla, producer of the British version of "The Office," when they served as judges on a sitcom-writing competition on BBC3. Chase shared his idea for "Clone," and Atalla quickly came aboard.
After letting it percolate for a while, Chase set out in summer 2007 to write it as a spec. He rented a one-bedroom apartment in London and penned the script in 2 1/2 months.
He and Atalla sent it to several networks; a couple were interested, and BBC3 offered a series order.
"It was a dream come true," Chase said. "Then I saw the budget. Here you get amazing creative freedom and a tiny budget."
The BBC commissioned the series for what is said to be $500,000 an episode -- less than a third of what a similar show would cost in the U.S. The money is transferred upfront, and there no overages are tolerated.
Schiller said he initially was shocked by the budget constraints but adjusted and even found a silver lining.
"It's good as it makes us lean and mean, thinking twice about what we do," he said.
"Clone" has only one 12-hour day onstage per episode for blocking, rehearsal and taping -- something done in the U.S. over three to four days. Chase and Schiller found themselves extensively prepping -- writing and rewriting every scene and storyboarding every shot.
During production, the actors rehearse in a church, and the writers do rewrites in a room next to the soup kitchen.
"There's a sign outside the entrance of the kitchen that says, 'Please don't use the yard as a lavatory,' " Chase said. "I don't walk through the yard anymore."
One good piece of news is that in the U.K., most TV shows pay talent little money. And with short orders of six to seven episodes, feature stars are willing to do them. That's how Chase was able to land Pryce.
For "Clone," Chase employed the American writers room model. His team consisted of five scribes: two Yanks, including old "Friends" pal Alexa Junge, and three Brits. That number has dropped to two part-timers during production.
Chase follows in the footsteps of former "Seinfeld" executive producer Fred Barron, who created the long-running BBC sitcom "My Family," which also uses the writers room model. Additionally, veteran sitcom producer Caryn Mandabach opened shop in the U.K. several years ago and is producing projects for BBC and ITV.
The BBC, which has a 25% quota for indie producers, recently opened its doors to outsiders even further with the implementation of Window of Creative Competition, a program reserving another 25% of BBC's programming real estate for anybody with an idea.
U.S. writers might get attracted by the prospect of getting paid in British pounds. With the dollar sliding against the pound, "I've got a de facto raise," Chase quipped.
Chase is looking to one day do a U.S. version of "Clone."
With the heat surrounding British formats, that might come soon. In fact, Chase recalls some advice he got from a Hollywood agent when he was contemplating doing a U.K. show: "The shortest route to get to American television is to produce for British television."
The work on "Clone" has taught Chase a thing or two about the U.K. TV business, including, "People are really polite when they give you bad news," and "They really like to stop for tea at 4 p.m."
But most of all, "we take a lot of things for granted in an American production," Chase says. "Bottom line, I've leaned how to produce a show of equal quality for a lot less money."...
What's wrong with this picture? Well, "Clone" is a British show shot in London for BBC3.
With British scripted formats invading the U.S. marketplace in the wake of the success of "The Office," Chase went against the current, creating a show for the U.K.
"Clone" is a multicamera sci-fi comedy with single-camera and greenscreen elements. It stars Jonathan Pryce as a scientist who creates the first human clone. Intended to be a prototype supersoldier, the doctor quickly realizes his creation is more likely to hug someone than shoot them.
"Clone" is described as a fish-out-of-water tale, and that's exactly what Americans Chase and Schiller are in the British TV industry.
Chase's only British production experience was filming the two-part London episode of "Friends."
"I'd been thinking about doing a sci-fi comedy for a while but was concerned about getting it through the American development process," said Chase, who grew up with genre-mixing British fare like Monty Python. " 'Clone' is extremely violent; people die every week. Audiences (in the U.K.) are very sophisticated, and they have no problem switching form genre to genre."
A couple of years ago, Chase met Ash Atalla, producer of the British version of "The Office," when they served as judges on a sitcom-writing competition on BBC3. Chase shared his idea for "Clone," and Atalla quickly came aboard.
After letting it percolate for a while, Chase set out in summer 2007 to write it as a spec. He rented a one-bedroom apartment in London and penned the script in 2 1/2 months.
He and Atalla sent it to several networks; a couple were interested, and BBC3 offered a series order.
"It was a dream come true," Chase said. "Then I saw the budget. Here you get amazing creative freedom and a tiny budget."
The BBC commissioned the series for what is said to be $500,000 an episode -- less than a third of what a similar show would cost in the U.S. The money is transferred upfront, and there no overages are tolerated.
Schiller said he initially was shocked by the budget constraints but adjusted and even found a silver lining.
"It's good as it makes us lean and mean, thinking twice about what we do," he said.
"Clone" has only one 12-hour day onstage per episode for blocking, rehearsal and taping -- something done in the U.S. over three to four days. Chase and Schiller found themselves extensively prepping -- writing and rewriting every scene and storyboarding every shot.
During production, the actors rehearse in a church, and the writers do rewrites in a room next to the soup kitchen.
"There's a sign outside the entrance of the kitchen that says, 'Please don't use the yard as a lavatory,' " Chase said. "I don't walk through the yard anymore."
One good piece of news is that in the U.K., most TV shows pay talent little money. And with short orders of six to seven episodes, feature stars are willing to do them. That's how Chase was able to land Pryce.
For "Clone," Chase employed the American writers room model. His team consisted of five scribes: two Yanks, including old "Friends" pal Alexa Junge, and three Brits. That number has dropped to two part-timers during production.
Chase follows in the footsteps of former "Seinfeld" executive producer Fred Barron, who created the long-running BBC sitcom "My Family," which also uses the writers room model. Additionally, veteran sitcom producer Caryn Mandabach opened shop in the U.K. several years ago and is producing projects for BBC and ITV.
The BBC, which has a 25% quota for indie producers, recently opened its doors to outsiders even further with the implementation of Window of Creative Competition, a program reserving another 25% of BBC's programming real estate for anybody with an idea.
U.S. writers might get attracted by the prospect of getting paid in British pounds. With the dollar sliding against the pound, "I've got a de facto raise," Chase quipped.
Chase is looking to one day do a U.S. version of "Clone."
With the heat surrounding British formats, that might come soon. In fact, Chase recalls some advice he got from a Hollywood agent when he was contemplating doing a U.K. show: "The shortest route to get to American television is to produce for British television."
The work on "Clone" has taught Chase a thing or two about the U.K. TV business, including, "People are really polite when they give you bad news," and "They really like to stop for tea at 4 p.m."
But most of all, "we take a lot of things for granted in an American production," Chase says. "Bottom line, I've leaned how to produce a show of equal quality for a lot less money."...
- 7/11/2008
- by By Nellie Andreeva
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Showtime has given a series pickup to "The United States of Tara".
The pay cable channel has greenlighted 12 half-hour episodes (including the pilot) of the single-camera comedy from DreamWorks TV and Steven Spielberg. It's expected to enter production in Los Angeles in the summer.
"Tara", written by Oscar-winning "Juno" screenwriter Diablo Cody, stars Toni Collette as a wife and mother with dissociative identity disorder. John Corbett co-stars as her husband.
Story lines will examine how a dysfunctional family copes with the various identities that might appear on any given day and range in age, temperament and even gender.
Cody will continue to serve as a writer; she also will exec produce with Spielberg, Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank of DreamWorks TV and Alexa Junge. Craig Gillespie ("Lars and the Real Girl") directed the pilot.
"The combination of Diablo Coby's vision and Toni Collette's brilliance at playing her characters(cq) is irresistible," Showtime president of entertainment Robert Greenblatt said. "It's a very provocative idea, and there's a combination of humor and real drama."...
The pay cable channel has greenlighted 12 half-hour episodes (including the pilot) of the single-camera comedy from DreamWorks TV and Steven Spielberg. It's expected to enter production in Los Angeles in the summer.
"Tara", written by Oscar-winning "Juno" screenwriter Diablo Cody, stars Toni Collette as a wife and mother with dissociative identity disorder. John Corbett co-stars as her husband.
Story lines will examine how a dysfunctional family copes with the various identities that might appear on any given day and range in age, temperament and even gender.
Cody will continue to serve as a writer; she also will exec produce with Spielberg, Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank of DreamWorks TV and Alexa Junge. Craig Gillespie ("Lars and the Real Girl") directed the pilot.
"The combination of Diablo Coby's vision and Toni Collette's brilliance at playing her characters(cq) is irresistible," Showtime president of entertainment Robert Greenblatt said. "It's a very provocative idea, and there's a combination of humor and real drama."...
UPDATED 7:14 p.m. PT March 31, 2008
Diablo Cody's comedy pilot "The United States of Tara" is moving closer to a series order at Showtime with the hire of writer-producer Alexa Junge.
Additionally, Portia Doubleday and Keir Gilchrist have joined the cast of the DreamWorks TV-produced pilot, which stars Toni Collette as Tara, a wife and mother with multiple-personality syndrome.
Junge has been tapped to serve as executive producer should the single-camera project get a series pickup. She would exec produce alongside Cody, Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank.
Junge was a supervising producer on NBC's "The West Wing" and co-exec producer on "Friends". She is repped by WMA, manager Ann Blanchard at Mosaic Media Group and attorney Michael Gendler.
Production on the pilot for "Tara", which Craig Gillespie is directing, will begin in April in Los Angeles.
Newcomer Doubleday and Gilchrist (Fox's "The Winner") will play Tara's teens. John Corbett recently was cast as her husband.
Gilchrist is repped by ICM, Thruline and Amanda Rosenthal in Canada. Doubleday is repped by IFA Talent Agency.
Diablo Cody's comedy pilot "The United States of Tara" is moving closer to a series order at Showtime with the hire of writer-producer Alexa Junge.
Additionally, Portia Doubleday and Keir Gilchrist have joined the cast of the DreamWorks TV-produced pilot, which stars Toni Collette as Tara, a wife and mother with multiple-personality syndrome.
Junge has been tapped to serve as executive producer should the single-camera project get a series pickup. She would exec produce alongside Cody, Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank.
Junge was a supervising producer on NBC's "The West Wing" and co-exec producer on "Friends". She is repped by WMA, manager Ann Blanchard at Mosaic Media Group and attorney Michael Gendler.
Production on the pilot for "Tara", which Craig Gillespie is directing, will begin in April in Los Angeles.
Newcomer Doubleday and Gilchrist (Fox's "The Winner") will play Tara's teens. John Corbett recently was cast as her husband.
Gilchrist is repped by ICM, Thruline and Amanda Rosenthal in Canada. Doubleday is repped by IFA Talent Agency.
- 3/30/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Fox's The Simpsons and NBC's Law & Order franchise scored three nominations apiece Monday among television and radio categories of the 56th annual WGA Awards, while Malcolm in the Middle had a strong showing in episodic comedy with two nominations. Matt Groening's long-running series helped Fox secure five of the six nominations for animation writing, while two Law & Order series helped NBC dominate episodic drama with four of the six nominations. PBS programs dominated the list of documentary noms. Winners will be announced Feb. 21 as the WGA West holds its ceremonies at the Century Plaza Hotel in Century City and the WGA East hosts its honors at the Pierre Hotel in New York. In the TV drama category, NBC's Law & Order: SVU was nominated for two episodes, "Abomination" and "Loss," both by Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters. Michael Chernuchin was nominated for the "Bounty" episode of NBC's Law & Order. Alexa Junge and Lauren Schmidt were nominated for the "Disaster Relief" episode of NBC's The West Wing. Josh Schwartz was nominated for the pilot episode of Fox's The O.C. Evan Katz was nominated for the "7:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m." episode of Fox's 24.
- 1/19/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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