TV Surf Report: Re-Boots & Pre-Sold Titles To Capture Fall & Midseason — Hope Ya Like Old Chestnuts

Posted on May 13, 2015 by Surfing Hollywood

DAVID & GILLIAN   muppets   TWIN PEAKS LARGER    THE SAINTUNCLE BUCK      FULLER HOUSE     COACH

Santa Monica, CA — Following the successful series re-boots of Hawaii Five-O (CBS), Arrested Development (Netflix), Girl Meets World (ABC/Disney Channel), and The Comeback (HBO), the networks and digital platforms are taking their chances on some familiar and much-loved series and bringing them back to Life (nod to upcoming competing Frankenstein projects on Fox and on ITV)…

THE RE-BOOTS:

  • The Muppets (ABC) Anchoring Tuesday nights, Kermit & Co. get a behind-the-scenes look at their talk show.  Trailer looks fun, contemporary, and smart.
  • Heroes: Reborn (NBC) Series creator Tim Kring resurrects Jack Coleman’s HRG and Masi Oka along with new heroes Zachary Levi and Robby Kay in this 13-episode Thursday night anchor.  Good scheduling, I think.
  • The X-Files (Fox) Midseason.  Premieres January 24th with run of six episodes.  Mulder, Scully, Skinner, and CSM return.  Kudos to Chris Carter and to Fox for turning this re-boot of such an iconic series into an Event.  Hopes are high.  Apparently, Mulder & Scully have a 14-year-son.
  • Uncle Buck (ABC) Midseason.  Most viewers won’t remember the first adaptation of the fondly remembered John Candy film, however, it came and went in the ’90s.  The newest incarnation is skewed African American and looks promising.
  • Twin Peaks (Showtime) Director David Lynch walked when Showtime wouldn’t cough up the cash necessary for Lynch to produce the re-boot, but Showtime caved and the Log Lady is back in business along with Kyle MacLachlan’s Agent Dale Cooper.
  • Coach (NBC) has a 13-episode order reuniting creator Barry Kemp with star Craig T. Nelson.  Midseason.
  • Law & Order (NBC) Mum’s the word thus far, but you can bet Dick Wolf will keep this project alive in time for either midseason or Sweeps 2016.
  • Sigmund & The Sea Monsters (Amazon) Sid & Marty Kroft revive their popular ’70s kids show for a new generation.
  • Fuller House (Netflix) finds original series star Candace Cameron-Bure a divorced mother with friends in San Francisco.  John Stamos and Jeff Franklin produce.  Dave Coulier set to return, as well.
  • The Saint (ITV)  Roger Moore’s stylish spy gets an update in this re-boot from writers Ed Whitmore and Chris Lunt.  Welcome back, Simon Templar.
  • Electra Woman & Dyna Girl (TBD)  This as yet-laid-off Sid & Mary Kroft production stars social media stars Grace Helbig and Hannah Hart in this ’70s series re-boot.
  • Roots (History Channel)  The historic ABC mini-series adaptation of Alex Haley’s novel gets re-made for a new generation.
  • Charmed (CBS)  This script order didn’t make it to pilot this year, but expect a rollover since the network owns the Aaron Spelling library.

THE PRE-SOLD TITLES...

Netflix scored with Daredevil which earned its renewal stripes.  Here’s the next batch of series that sell themselves based on their Title(s):

MINORITY REPORTLIMITLESS OMENSCREAM MTV   GALAXY QUEST

  • The Omen (A+E) was developed at Lifetime but has been handed off to sister network A+E under the new title, Damien.  Ten episodes have been ordered for this prequel directed by Shekhar Kapur and starring Bradley James as an adult Damien Thorn.
  • Super Girl (CBS)  Only CBS’ older-skewing audience will remember the Helen Slater film from what, the ’80s?  Super-producer Greg Berlanti brings back Superman’s cousin in this procedural hybrid that stars Glee’s Melissa Benoist, Laura Bernanti, and Ally McBeal herself, Calista Flockhart,  as newspaperwoman Cat Grant.  Not sure if she’ll fly, but let’s wait and see.
  • Limitless (CBS) Kurtzman & Orci and Bradley Cooper get into TV with a series adaptation of their successful film starring Cooper and Robert De Niro that itself is an adaptation from the Alan Glynn novel about a man with enhanced abilities.
  • Minority Report (Fox)  Steven Spielberg executive produces this update on the Tom Cruise-starrer that picks up 10 years later and finds the Pre-Cogs on the run from Future Crime.  Trailer revealed a bland cast and a tough sell.  The future looks uncertain.
  • X-Men (Fox) Manny Coto  & Evan Katz executive produce this small-screen, lower-budget look at Xavier’s School for the Gifted.  Marvel and Fox haven’t announced their deal yet, but it’s still on the radar.
  • Scream (MTV) Boys and girls-in-jeopardy plus lots of fake blood spells homerun in this adaptation of Wes Craven’s franchise hit films.
  • Galaxy Quest (TBD)  No network has been announced yet, but my money is on CBS since this property is owned by sister company Paramount.  Could be a great companion to Big Bang Theory, no?
  • Rocky Horror Picture Show (Fox) Former network chief Gail Berman and director/choreographer Kenny Ortega produce this 2-hour event for 2016.
  • Grease: Live (Fox) Julianne Hough and Vanessa Hudgins topline this old chestnut, another piece of event programming set for January 2016.
  • Emerald City (NBC) is a re-imagining of The Land of Oz, now with more Game of Thrones-esque political turmoil, intrigue, and Dorothy who may or may not be a Lannister.  David Schulner writes this 10-episode yellow brick risk.

ELECTRA WOMAN   CHARMED   ROCKY HORROR   XMEN EMERALD CITY   SUPERGIRL 2 PIC   LAW & ORDER

Up Next:  Live from Costa Rica and Forward Slash Story

 

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TV Surf Report: Heroic & Fantastical Television On The Horizon

Posted on May 2, 2015 by Surfing Hollywood

AVENGERS   SUPERGIRL 2 PIC

MAGICIANS BOOK COVER   HEROESDC LEGENDS OF TOMORROW

Santa Monica, CA — As Avengers: Age of Ultron pummels the domestic and international box office (“Hulk: Smash!”), Hollywood television executives are pondering which pilots to order to series.

Don’t think for a moment that they won’t be affected by Avengers’ global success, so expect Super Heroes & Fantasy to take over Television this next season, as well.  Super Heroes and Fantasy travel well, and studios want series they can sell across all territories.

ABC already has Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Agent Carter.  The CW has Arrow and The Flash.  Netflix has Daredevil.  NBC, CBS and Fox are getting into the Super Game, as well.

Here are the potential Fantastic Super Series flying your way:

  • Super Girl on CBS stars Melissa Benoist, Laura Bernanti, and Calista Flockhart in Greg Berlanti’s procedural hybrid series about Superman’s cousin. Series order.
  • Preacher on AMC.  Dominic Cooper (Howard Stark from Iron Man & Captain America!) stars in the Seth Rogen-produced adaptation of the Comic about a preacher who merges with an escapee from Heaven.
  • Atom is the next spinoff ordered to series on The CW again from Greg Berlanti (who also has a new series on NBC) starring Brandon Routh, Wentworth Miller and Victor Garber.  Arrow and The Flash have put The CW back on the demographic map.  Series has a new title, D.C.Legends of Tomorrow.  Ugh.
  • Guardians of the Galaxy: The Animated Series on Disney Channel is the latest adaptation of the hit film/comic.

MINORITY REPORTLUCIFER FULL SHOT  XMEN

  • Minority Report on Fox picks up 10 years later from the Tom Cruise-starring film, and those adorable Pre-Cogs are on the run.  Likely future for Future Crime.  Steven Spielberg executive produces.  Wilmer Valderrama and Meagan Good star.  Series Order.
  • X-Men on Fox presumably remains on track to bring Xavier’s School for the Gifted to the small screen pending a deal between Marvel & 20th.  Evan Katz & Manny Coto executive produce.
  • The Frankenstein Code on Fox finds a morally corrupt ex-cop brought back from the dead to, um, solve crimes and face cancellation.  Howard Gordon (whom I love!) executive produces this Rand Ravich project starring Robert Kazinsky and Tim DeKay.  Series Order.
  • Lucifer on Fox is an adaptation of the Neil Gaiman comic which follows the Arch Angel in Los Angeles as he punishes criminals (writer stifles yawn at dull logline!).  Uber-producer Jerry Bruckheimer produces and Len Wiseman directs.  Tom Ellis stars.  Joe Henderson executive produces.  Series Order.
  • Shannara on MTV has a 10-episode order with Smallville‘s Miles Millar & Al Gough writing and producing this adaptation of Terry Brooks’ books about a family that taps into ancient Magic.  More fantastical than super, I’ll grant you, but still mentionable.  Manu Bennett, John Rhys-Davis and James Remar star.
  • Heroes: Reborn on NBC has a 13-episode order.  Jack Coleman returns as HRG in Tim Kring’s re-boot that stars a bunch of new heroes featuring actors Zachary Levi, Robbie Kay, and Masi Oka.
  • Emerald City on NBC is a series order for a Game of Thrones-style rehash of The Land of Oz in political turmoil.
  • A.K.A. Jessica Jones on Netflix has a 13-episode order for this Marvel Comics adaptation starring Krysten Ritter, Carrie-Anne Moss from Twilight’s Melissa Rosenberg.
  • Luke Cage on Netflix stars Mike Colter and is the third of Marvel’s four-series deal that also includes Daredevil (renewed for season two) and upcoming Ironfist.

JASON RALPH AS QUENTIN   JULIA ACTRESS  The Magicians.

  • The Magicians on SyFy stars Jason Ralph, Sosie Bacon and Stella Maeve in John McNamara & Sera Gamble’s adaptation of Lev Grossman’s trilogy about YA’s discovering their powers at a secret school in upstate New York.  Ordered to Series.
  • Krypton on Syfy is David Goyer’s latest prequel series that focuses on Superman’s grandfather’s fight to bring equality to the planet.  Warner Horizon TV & DC Comics hover closely protecting this property as they cull the DC Universe.
  • Ash vs. Evil Dead on Starz has a 10-episode order for this half-hour sequel from Sam Raimi starring Bruce Campbell, Lucy Lawless.
  • Dreadstar (presumbably on USA) from UCP and Benderspink is an adapation of the comic featuring the sole survivor of the entire Milky Way galaxy.

ELECTRA WOMAN  EMERALD CITY

  • Electra Woman & Dyna Girl isn’t set up at a network yet, but that’s not stopping Sid & Marty Croft from re-booting this old chestnut that is to feature two stars of Social Media.  Fingers not crossed for a pickup.
  • Captain Cosmos at HBO from George R.R. Martin and Michael Cassutt tell the story of a young SF writer in 1949 at the dawn of the TV Age, writing stories no one else would dare to write…sounds promising even without direwolves!
  • MYST, the internationally popular fantasy game, is headed to Hulu with a script-to-series commitment.

Up Next:  Trans Media Storytelling from Costa Rica!

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Film Surf Report: Holy Franchise Overload! Thirty-Six Super (Hero) Movies (And Counting) To Hit Theatres In Next Five Years

Posted on April 14, 2015 by Surfing Hollywood

Surfing Hollywood's avatarSURFING Hollywood...

AVENGERS AGE OF ULTRON    HUNGER GAMES PART 2

Santa Monica, CA — Marvel Studios and Walt Disney Pictures, Warner Bros. and DC Comics, Sony, Paramount and Fox wish you to clear your calendars for their upcoming slate of films.  Please take no vacations, and if you really must, plan to do so near a multi-plex because if you are a boy, age 9-84, your attendance is mandatory, dammit!

Thirty-six Super Films are heading your way between now and 2020.  Most have release dates.  I actually want to see 19 of them!

Billions of dollars (in profits!) are at stake (seriously!) and the fate of movie theatre chains (really!) depends on the success of these tentpole films.

No word yet on The 3rd Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, though.

Meanwhile, mark your calendars…

MISSION IMP 5   SPECTRE

2015:

  • May 1st           Avengers: Age of Ultron
  • July 1st           Terminator: Genysis
  • July 17th         Ant-Man
  • July 31st         Mission Impossible 5: Rogue Nation
  • Nov. 6th         SPECTRE
  • Nov. 20th       The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part…

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Theatre Surf Report: Humana Festival of New American Plays in Louisville

Posted on April 13, 2015 by Surfing Hollywood

humanafest39_the-glory-of-the-world               DOT              humanafest39_that-high-lonesome-sound

Louisville, KY — Ten Minute Plays, Thomas Merton’s 100th Birthday, Bluegrass Music, Family Dysfunction, and Secrets of a Small Town highlighted this year’s Humana Festival of New American Plays.

Actors Theatre knows how to throw out the Welcome Mat for out-of-town guests, and this year was no exception.  The Kentucky Bourbon was ‘aflowin’, and at Milkwood, the Edward Lee eatery beneath Actors, they believe in delivering a generous pour.

“I think I finally have a true understanding of Southern Hospitality.  What a blast!” says playwright Patricia Cotter of San Francisco, whose well-received play, Rules of Comedy, highlighted The Ten-Minute Plays at this year’s festival.

RULES OF COMEDY    humanafest_i-promised-myself-to-live-faster2

Of the six offerings at Humana, Dot, by Colman Domingo, an African-American family drama set around Christmas-time, stood out among the rest as the most-realized play.  Expect to see productions of it across the country in the years ahead.

However, seeing Artistic Director Les Waters onstage in the production of Charles Mee’s The Glory of The World, a chaotic sendup of a Men’s Encounter Group celebrating the 100th birthday of mystic Thomas Merton, was a special treat.

The audience paid special attention because it was Waters who sort of stood in for the playwright in the opening and closing of the piece which, in its best moments, reminded the audience the need for Silence and Introspection in one’s life.

Finally, one of the great strengths of Actors Theatre is its supremely talented production department as evidenced by the dynamic launches of new plays by Erin Courtney (I Will Be Gone) and Pig Iron Theatre Company (I Promised Myself to Live Faster).

HUMANA FEST LOGO

I attended my first Humana Festival in 1989 (yikes!), and I find Louisville to be transformed in a wonderful way, bursting with creativity, and at its heart is Actors Theatre, a place where, over the course of a 3-day weekend, one can mingle and debate Storytelling with writers, directors, sound designers, actors, and other theatre folk from across the country.  Simply put, it’s a wonderful experience worth having year after year.

Until next year, Louisville….

on-the-big-four-bridge

Up Next: Familiar Faces Return To Television Whether Welcome Or Not…

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Film Surf Report: Holy Franchise Overload! Sixty-Four Super-ish Movies (And Counting) To Hit Theatres In Next Five Years

Posted on March 25, 2015 by Surfing Hollywood

 

AVENGERS AGE OF ULTRON    HUNGER GAMES PART 2

Santa Monica, CA — (Updated 04 April 2016)

Marvel Studios and Walt Disney Pictures, Warner Bros. and DC Comics, Sony, Paramount, Universal and Fox wish you to clear your calendars for their upcoming slate of films.

Please take no vacations, and if you really must, plan to do so near a multi-plex because if you are a boy, age 9-84, your attendance is mandatory, dammit!

Sixty-four Super Films/Sequels/Continuations of Franchises are heading your way between now and 2020.  Most have release dates.  I actually want to see 19 of them!

Billions of dollars (in profits!) are at stake (seriously!) and the fate of movie theatre chains (really!) depends on the success of these tentpole films.

No word yet on The 3rd Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, though.

Meanwhile, mark your calendars…

MISSION IMP 5   SPECTRE

2015:

  • May 1st           Avengers: Age of Ultron
  • July 1st           Terminator: Genysis
  • July 17th         Ant-Man
  • July 31st         Mission Impossible 5: Rogue Nation
  • Aug. 7th          Fantastic Four: Forget The First Two Films!
  • Nov. 6th         SPECTRE
  • Nov. 20th       The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2
  • Dec. 18th        Star Wars, Episode VII:  The Force Awakens

 

BATMAN VS SUPERMAN   DR STRANGE

2016:

  • Feb. 12th         Deadpool
  • March 18th      Divergent:  Allegiant
  • March 25th     Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice
  • April 22nd      The Huntsman: Winter’s War
  • May 3rd           Captain America:  Civil War
  • May 27th         X-Men: Apocalypse
  • June 17th        Finding Dory
  • July 22nd       Star Trek 3: Beyond
  • July 22nd      (Lady)Ghostbusters
  • July 29th         Jason Bourne
  • TBD                 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2
  • Aug. 5th           Suicide Squad
  • Oct. 7th            TBD
  • Nov.  4th         Doctor Strange
  • Nov. 18th        Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them
  • Dec. 16th         Star Wars: Rogue One
  • Dec 25th

BEAUTY & THE BEAST  WONDER WOMAN

2017:

  • March 3rd       X-Men: Wolverine 3
  • March 17th      Beauty & The Beast  (For The Ladies!)
  • March 17th      King Kong: Skull Island
  • March 24th
  • May 5th            Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2
  • TBD                  Fantastic Four 2:  Hope You Don’t Recall The First One or Two
  • May 26th         Pirates of the Caribbean 5:  Here’s Johnny!
  • TBD                  Wonder Woman: Looks A Lot Like Xena!
  • June 9th          The Mummy (Re-Boot Stars Tom Cruise, Sofia Boutella)
  • June 16th         Cars 3
  • June 16th         Kingsman 2
  • July 7th            Spider-Man Re-boot
  • July 21st          Pitch Perfect 3
  • July 28th         Jumanji Re-boot
  • Aug. TBD         Mission Impossible 6: Ethan Hunt’s Final Mission
  • Nov. 3rd           Thor:  Ragnarok
  • Nov. 17th        Justice League, Part One
  • Nov. 22nd       Coco (Pixar)
  • Dec. 15th         Star Wars Ep. VIII: What’s New Luke?
  • Dec. 22nd        Untitled Disney Live-Action Fairytale
  • Dec. 25th

AQUAMAN   THOR

2018:

  • Jan. 12th          Fox-Marvel Movie TBD
  • Jan. 12th         Blade Runner 2
  • Feb. 16th        Black Panther
  • March 2nd      Predator Sequel
  • March 19th    Gigantic (Animation)
  • March 30th    Ready Player One
  • May 4th          Avengers: Infinity War, Part I
  • May 25th        Star Wars: Young Han Solo Adventure
  • June 8th         Godzilla 2
  • June 15th       Toy Story 4
  • June 22nd      Jurassic World 2
  • TBD                 The Flash
  • TBD                 AquaMan
  • July 6th           Ant-Man & Wasp
  • Nov. 2nd         Untitled Disney Live-Action Fairytale
  • Dec. 25th        Avatar 2 (tent.)

captain-marvel  FLASH

2019:

  • March 8th      Captain Marvel
  • March 29th    Untitled Disney Live-Action Fairy Tale
  • April 14th       Fast & Furious 9
  • May 3rd          Avengers: Infinity War, Part 2
  • June 21st        The Incredibles 2
  • July                  Indiana Jones: I’m Too Old For This Shit
  • July 12th         Inhumans
  • TBD                 Shazam
  • TBD                 Justice League, Part 2 (Green Lantern Intro’d)
  • Nov. 8th         Untitled Disney Live-Action Fairy Tale
  • Dec. 25th      Avatar 3 (tent.)

INHUMANS   GREEN LANTERN LOGO

2020:

  • TBD                 Green Lantern Re-boot
  • TBD                 Cyborg
  • TBD                Godzilla vs King Kong
  • March 13th    Untitled Pixar
  • May 1st            Marvel Phase 3 TBA
  • June 19th       Untitled Pixar
  • July 10th         Marvel Phase 3 TBA
  • Nov. 6th         Marvel Phase 3 TBA
  • Nov. 25th       Untitled Disney Animated Film
  • Dec.  25th      Avatar 4 (tent.)

ANT MAN & YELLOW JACKET    BLACK PANTHER

2021:

  • April 12th      Fast & Furious 10

 

Up Next:  TV Surf Report/Familiar Faces Return This Fall (Or Won’t Go Away)

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TV Surf Report: Television Far Friendlier To Women Than Film

Posted on March 23, 2015 by Surfing Hollywood

Santa Monica, CA — Between Film and Television, one medium is, by far, more friendly to women than the other:  Television.

As Studios like Disney employ men to write and to direct even the most female-centric stories like Cinderella and Beauty & The Beast, Television affords women writers and directors far more varied opportunities.

Furthermore, established Showrunners like Shonda Rhimes know how to Lean In when it comes to employing/empowering/featuring other women as exhibited by her latest all-female-led ABC pilot, The Catch.

SHONDA RHIMES  TINA FEY  JILL SOLOWAY  WINNIE HOLZMAN  Top Left: Shonda Rhimes; Tina Fey; Bottom Left:  Jill Soloway;  JJ Abrams & Winnie Holzman & Cameron Crowe.

So, what’s a Showrunner, you may ask.  The Showrunner is the Creator/Head Writer who runs the show, oversees casting, post-production, all with the help of other producers.

There are many women Non-Writing Executive Producers, but for the purposes of this writing-centric examination, they belong to another important, credit-worthy List.

(Sorry, Gale Anne Hurd.  Same goes to Ellen DeGeneres, who is quietly making great use of her production deal with NBC.  You too, Gail Berman.)

This list, which will be updated regularly, comprises those pilots/series created, written and executive produced by women.  Current Series on the air that began last Fall are not included with the exception of Kimmy Schmidt on Netflix as that just premiered.

Here’s the interesting and somewhat enlightening breakdown by Content Delivery System (why even bother using the outdated term, “Network,” anymore!). 

Clearly, some Buyers are friendlier than Others (ahem, CBS).  ABC leads the Pack by a wide margin.

  • 8 – ABC                      ABC LOGO
  • 5 – NBC
  • 3 – Showtime
  • 2 – ABC Family
  • 2 – Fox
  • 2 – HBO
  • 2 – Lifetime
  • 2 – Netflix
  • 1 – Amazon
  • 1- CBS
  • 1 – MTV
  • 1 – OWN
  • 1 – SyFy
  • 1 – TBS
  • 1 – Up

Here’s the breakdown of femme-led Pilots in production this season, by Title, with a bit more info:

  • Broad Squad at ABC is written and produced by Bess Wohl and stars Lauren Ambrose as a cop in 1970s Boston.
  • Mix at ABC.  Rashida Jones (along with Will MacCormick) produces. Jennifer Cecil writes this ensemble dramedy set in a family restaurant.
  • The Catch at ABC.  Shonda Rhimes (HTGAWM, Scandal, Grey’s Anatomy), Jennifer Schuur, Betsy Beers, and Julie Anne Robinson produce with Robinson to direct this adaptation of the Kate Atkinson marriage thriller between two Cons.
  • Family Fortune at ABC.  Tina Fey (along with Robert Carlock and Matt Hubbard) and comedienne Fortune Feimster produce this half-hour comedy starring Feimster and Annie Potts.
  • The 46 Percenters at ABC.  Sherry Bilsing-Graham & Ellen Kreamer write and produce this half-hour Anti-Rom-Com told from the POV of three couples.
  • The Brainy Bunch at ABC.  Wendy & Lizzie Molyneux write and produce this comedy starring Melanie Griffith about parenting kids with genius IQs but no Life Skills.
  • Untitled Resurrection-like Drama at ABC.  Jenna Bans writes and produces this drama about the dead son of a prominent politician who returns from the dead.
  • The Kingmakers at ABC.  Sallie Patrick writes and produces this YA crime thriller set at an Ivy League school starring Adrian Pasdar.
  • Recovery Road at ABC Family.  Beth Miller and Danielle Von Zerneck produce this teenage ensemble set in a rehab facility that’s written by Karen DiConcetto & Bert V. Royal.
  • Tough Cookie at ABC Family.  Lauren Lungerich writes and directs this show about a young mother who’s not ready to parent her daughter.
  • Down Dog at Amazon.  Robin Schiff (Super Fun Night) wrote and produced this pilot which didn’t make the initial cut but could always end up elsewhere should Amazon pass.
  • Criminal Minds Spin-Off at CBS.  Erica Messer writes and produces this version of the popular drama set in the Division of the FBI that helps Americans in trouble abroad.  Anna Gunn and Gary Sinise star.
  • Studio City at Fox.  Krista Vernoff writes and produces this ensemble family drama about drug dealing to the stars.  Eric McCormick and Heather Graham star.
  • The Bad Stanleys at Fox.  Dana Klein created this comedy starring Jenna Elfman as a working mom who competes with her stay-at-home sister-in-law.
  • The Devil You Know at HBO.  Jenji Kohan (OITNB) writes and produces.  Gus Van Zandt directs this period drama set during the Salem Witch Trials.
  • Elisabeth at HBO.  Ruba Nadda (Cairo Time) writes and directs this drama starring Patricia Clarkson set in the world of international politics.

carol-mendelsohn-felicity-huffman1  melissa-rosenberg-kate-schumaecker

Top Left:  Carol Mendolshohn; Felicity Huffman; Melissa Rosenberg and Katie Schumaecker.

  • Unreal at Lifetime.  Marti Noxon (Buffy) satirizes a Bachelor-esque reality show with a behind-the-scenes drama starring Shiri Appleby.
  • Clan of the Cave Bear at Lifetime.  Linda Woolverton (Maleficent) adapts Jean Auel’s novel about pre-history with Neanderthals.  Millie Brady stars.
  • Untitled Comedy at MTV.  Jill Soloway (Transparent) supervises Ashley Skidmore & Lyle Friedman’s female buddy comedy.
  • Love Is A Four-Letter Word at NBC.  Diana Son (Law & Order: CI) creates this diverse ensemble drama about married couples.
  • Game of Silence at NBC.  Carol Mendelsohn  (CSI) re-imagines Turkish drama Suskunlar which chronicles an attorney’s rise despite a secret past.
  • Heart Matters at NBC.  Jill Gordon (Wonder Years) adapts Dr. Kathy Magliato’s memoir about her life as a heart-transplant surgeon.  Amy Brennaman stars.
  • Untitled Monica Potter Comedy at NBC.  Sherry Bilsing-Graham & Ellen Kreamer’s 2nd pilot of the year stars Parenthood’s Monica Potter in a comedy loosely based on her life and her three ex-husbands.  Ellen DeGeneres exec produces.
  • Untitled Suzanne Martin Proj at NBC.  Suzanne Martin (Hot In Cleveland) has created a comedy about empty nesters starring Miranda Cosgrove and Patrick Warburton.  James Burrows, the pilot guru, directs.
  • Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt at Netflix.  Tina Fey (with Robert Carlock)  Series starring Ellie Kemper as a woman starting over after leaving a cult is available for streaming now and getting pretty good reviews.
  • AKA Jessica Jones at Netflix.  Melissa Rosenberg (Dexter; Twilight) runs the show on this Marvel adaptation that has a 13-episode order and stars Krysten Ritter and Carrie-Anne Moss.
  • Queen Sugar at OWN.  Ava DuVernay (Selma) adapts and directs Natalie Baszile’s novel about an LA woman who returns to rural Louisiana to claim an 800-acre farm she inherits.  Oprah exec produces, natch.
  • Roadies at Showtime.  Winnie Holzman (Once And Again) writes and produces this 1-hour comedy about daily life of a successful rock tour.  J.J. Abrams and Cameron Crowe god-father and presumably, direct.  Luke Wilson and Christina Hendricks star.
  • Lonely Hearts Killers at Showtime  Liz W. Garcia (with Josh Harto) re-tell the story of the infamous 1940s murders.
  • You at Showtime. Sera Gamble (with Greg Berlanti) adapts Caroline Kepnes’s novel about 20something love in the Digital Age.
  • The Magicians at SyFy.  Sera Gamble (with John McNamara) adapts Lev Grossman’s novel about teens who live and learn at a secret magic school in upstate New York.
  • Wrecked at TBS.  Samantha Bee (with Jason Jones) runs the show (as well as her own upcoming fake news series) based on her real-life, disastrous family vacations.
  • Ties That Bind at UP.  Sheryl J. Anderson (Charmed) has a 10-episode order for this hybrid police procedural/family drama.

 

Next Up:  Networks Cast Familiar Faces Hoping Audiences Welcome Them Back

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Film Surf Report: It’s Still A Man’s World Even When It Comes To Girls – Tale As Old As Time

Posted on March 16, 2015 by Surfing Hollywood

Update: This piece was published two weeks ago.  Today, March 31st, Disney announced a live-action version of Mulan, and guess what!  It’s being written by two women: Elizabeth Martin & Lauren Hynek.  Fantastic!  Meanwhile, a sequel to 2010’s Alice in Wonderland is in the works for 2016.

MULAN   ALICE

CINDERELLA   BEAUTY & THE BEAST

Santa Monica, CA — So, the live-action version of Cinderella is a big hit both in the US and internationally.  Yet, I wonder why a modern re-telling of this classic fairy tale about a young girl who wishes to go to the ball and find her prince isn’t written or directed by a woman.

This version perhaps, is not as modern as I would like.

Kenneth Branagh, who did a bang-up job directing Thor for Disney/Marvel, directed the studio’s latest hit.  Chris Weitz (About A Boy) wrote the screenplay adaptation.

Next up is Beauty & The Beast starring Emma Watson as “Belle,” in a live-action version of the extremely popular Disney animated film.  Bill Condon, who also did a bang-up job directing Twilight: Breaking Dawn, is in charge of this massive production set to commence filming in May in London.

Stephen Chbosky (The Perks of Being A Wallflower) wrote the screenplay adaptation that tells the story of a book-smart girl who leaves her town only to become imprisoned to save her father.  Oh, and there’s a Beast.

Nothing against Bill Condon or Kenneth Branagh.  They are terrific directors.  Real auteurs.  Yet, these stories are about young girls.

I, for one, would be really interested to see a woman’s take on the subject matter.  Paging Catherine Hardwicke! Barbra Streisand! Angelina Jolie!

The other day, I had this exact conversation with a woman friend who is also a writer.  I stated categorically that Men can write Women really well, and she had the audacity (!) to correct me, saying, “but not from a woman’s point-of-view.”

Lightbulbs immediately went on in my male-gendered brain illuminating my own chauvinism.

Would a woman tell Cinderella or Belle’s story differently?  I certainly hope so.  Yet, I don’t know, however, I would like to see those versions.

MALEFICENT       SNOW WHITE & THE HUNTSMAN

Disney’s Maleficent was directed by Robert Stromberg but written by Linda Woolverton (Lifetime’s upcoming Clan of the Cave Bear miniseries) and re-written by Charles Perrault.  At least, there’s one woman in the mix.

Snow White And The Huntsman, starring Kristen Stewart, was directed by Rupert Sanders and written by Evan Daugherty and John Lee Hancock.  I would like to see Kathryn Bigelow’s take on the sequel, The Huntsman.  Instead, visual effects specialist Cedric Nicolas-Troyan makes his directorial debut replacing Frank Darabont, who dropped out.  Darabont wrote the screenplay.

These female-centric stories, classics(!), are still being re-told, re-imagined by Men.  Film needs to wake up a bit, I think.

Let’s keep this conversation going.  Please chime in with some comments and opinions.  I’m just raising the notion.

Next Up:  TV Surf Report on Women Showrunners  & Why Television is Much Friendlier to Women Than Film

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TV Surf Report: Mini-Series Make A Welcome Return

Posted on March 2, 2015 by Surfing Hollywood

GLORIA STEINEMCASUAL VACANCYTHE NIGHT MANAGER BOOK COVERELEVEN TWENTY THREE SIXTY THREE

Santa Monica, CA  — Welcome Back, Mini-Series. You have been missed. Same goes for you, Limited Series. Television needs to mix it up, and Longform Programming brings back viewers whose attention is, um, elsewhere.

Across the Content Delivery System (CDS) spectrum (why even use the word Network anymore?), The Mini-Series is back in development and production.  Anyone besides me remember The Winds of War or Roots or Thorn Birds?  How about North & South?  Pretty successful stuff in their day.

Fox tried unsuccessfully this past season with limited series Gracepoint, a US remake of the UK hit Broadchurch.  The audience never found it, though.

Predictably, HBO leads the charge, however, networks like ABC & NBC have their properties as does AMC, SyFy, and most surprisingly, Hulu.  Nearly all of these projects are literary adaptations.

Here’s what’s in the Development Pipeline:

  • Bernie Madoff on ABC stars Richard Dreyfuss in a 4-hour miniseries adaptation of ABC News reporter Brian Ross’ book, “The Madoff Chronicles: Inside the Secret World of Bernie & Ruth.”
  • Making of the Mob: New York on AMC is an 8-part Docu-Drama spanning 50 years and covering the five crime families that made up the American Mafia.
  • The Night Manager on AMC is a co-production with The BBC that stars Hugh Laurie and Tom Hiddleston (Loki!) in the adaptation of John Le Carre’s novel about a soldier-turned-weapons dealer.
  • War And Peace on The BBC is a 6-parter produced by The Weinstein Co. starring Paul Dano, Lily James, Gillian Anderson, and Jim Broadbent in this adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s infamous novel that cursed every high schooler in Honors English.
  • The Dovekeepers on CBS is a 2-parter from Hollywood’s favorite faith-based producing couple, Roma Downey & Mark Burnett, who’ve adapted Alice Hoffman’s novel.  Ann Peacock did the actual writing, though.  Airs late March/early April.
  • Madame X on HBO stars Anna Paquin in a period miniseries based on Kate Manning’s novel, My Notorious Life.  Paquin executive produces along with Stephen Moyer and Jack Black.
  • Lewis & Clark on HBO stars Casey Affleck in this 6-hour miniseries adaptation of Stephen Ambrose’s novel, Undaunted Courage, produced by Tom Hanks, Edward Norton, and Brad Pitt.
  • MS. on HBO explores the life of national treasure Gloria Steinem and stars Marisa Tomei and Kathy Najimy. Feminist George Clooney and Steinem produce.
  • The Casual Vacancy on HBO is a 2-parter starring Michael Gambon in J.K. Rowling’s novel adaptation about, gasp, older people. Airs in late-April in the US after garnering terrific response in the UK.
  • 11/22/63 on Hulu. Yes, Hulu. James Franco stars in this 9-hour miniseries produced by J.J. Abrams and Warner Bros. Playwright Bridget Carpenter adapts Stephen King’s novel about an English teacher who travels back in Time to prevent JFK’s assassination.

dovekeepersNOTORIOUS LIFEBIBLE MINISERIESMAIGRET

  • Jules Maigret Mysteries on ITV showcases Rowan Atkinson in two 2-hour dramas portraying Georges Simeon’s iconic French detective in 1950s Paris.
  • The Reaper on NBC is a 6-hour from The Weinstein Co. based on the book, “The Reaper: Autobiography of One of The Deadliest Special Ops Snipers” by Nicholas Irving, the U.S. Army 3rd Ranger Battalion’s deadliest sniper.  Thanks a lot, Bradley Cooper!
  • A.D. on NBC is a 12-part follow-up to The Bible from Roma Downey and Mark Burnett.  Airs Easter Sunday.
  • The Songs of Dolly Parton on NBC are to be a series of telefilms based on/inspired by, you guessed it, the songs of Dolly Parton, who is a terrific writer of such iconic hits as “I Will Always Love You,” “Jolene,” and “9 to 5.”   Assuming the first one works, this could be a cool series of telefilms aimed directly at women. Smart move, Bob Greenblatt who has a relationship with the country star after producing the stage version of 9 to 5. Hope it works!
  • The Conquest of The Sun on Nextflix is a 6-hour miniseries from Alfonso Arau that tells the story of how Spanish Conquistador Hernan Cortez defeated the Aztec Empire.
  • Tulsa on OWN stars Octavia Spencer in a 4-hour mini chronicle of the largest race riot in US history.
  • Childhood’s End on SyFy is a 6-hour miniseries adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke’s tome that follows the peaceful invasion of Earth (is there any other kind?). Julian McMahon, Charles Dance, and Colm Meaney star.

Next Up:  Female Showrunners of This Year’s Pilots!

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TV Pilot Season 2015: Networks Re-Boot Old Series As Audiences Give This Season’s New Series The Boot

Posted on February 25, 2015 by Surfing Hollywood

X FILES    TWIN PEAKS  HEROESLAW & ORDER      TALES FROM THE DARKSIDETHE SAINT

Santa Monica, CA —  I both love and hate the idea of re-booting an old series.  It’s a worthy strategy, though, and one the studios and networks pursue annually with a high failure rate.  There are lots of reasons for the failures, of course.  I’ll get to those in a bit.

Meanwhile, Re-boots seem to me to be the Bottom of The Idea Barrel:  The Nadir of Creativity.

I am reminded of the funny joke Tina Fey landed at the 2015 Golden Globe Awards when she glibly announced that Tyler Perry has been signed to write and direct the completely unnecessary but financially motivated sequel to Gone Girl which will be titled, Girl I Thought You Were Gone!

While not technically a re-boot, the point is, “Really?  Do We Need This?  Is This Really All Ya Got, Studios?”

Yes, it is.  It really is.

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA   CHARMED  COMEBACK

HAWAII FIVE0BRADY BUNCHIRONSIDE

And yet, a very successful re-boot Hawaii Five-O is now in its fifth season on CBS.

Also, let’s us not forget a SyFy Channel re-boot of Battlestar Galactica  that succeeded overwhelmingly and left the original ABC version in the dust thanks to the creativity of writer Ron Moore who is now entertaining audiences with Outlander on Starz.

Why do most Re-boots fail, though?  NBC tried last year to bring back Ironside starring Blair Underwood in the role Raymond Burr made famous, but no one cared to watch.

HBO brought back The Comeback after a 10-year hiatus.  Creatively, Lisa Kudrow and Michael Patrick King absolutely hit a home run, however, the audience wasn’t as big as the network hoped.

NBC wisely scrapped a re-boot of Murder She Wrote when star/producer Angela Lansbury objected.  Cast as the new Jessica Fletcher, Oscar-winner Octavia Spencer dodged a career-threatening bullet there.

This season, CBS announced they were re-developing Charmed, a successful series that still runs daily in syndication.  (CBS owns the Aaron Spelling library.)  Original stars Alyssa Milano and Rose McGowan immediately chimed in publicly, “Too Soon!”

And, of course, we have The Brady Bunch.  The audience and the actors, and sometimes, the characters themselves have simply moved on.  Some original series belong to their time, and they just can’t thrive in the Present.

Here are the Re-Boots the networks are trying on for size:

  • Uncle Buck at ABC.  Black-ish take on a series that’s been re-booted from a failed attempt years ago following the successful feature starring John Candy.
  • Sigmund & The Sea Monsters at Amazon is a re-imagined version of the ’70s childrens live-action series.  No one younger than Baby Boomers remembers this title, which could be a good thing creatively, but not what Amazon is hoping for.
  • Tales From The Darkside at The CW brings half-hour anthology back to primetime.
  • The X-Files at Fox was recently announced at the TCA in January. I wonder if it was just that:  An Announcement.  They needed something to Say.  Empire had not yet premiered so there was little to crow about.  Fox sister-company, 20th Century Fox Television, owns The X-Files.  They don’t need creator Chris Carter or stars David Duchovny or Gillian Anderson to revive this show that has influenced a generation of television (Supernatural) since it premiered in the ’90s.  Or, do they?  My sense is that Mulder & Scully belong to the Past.  They are an X-File.  The announcement got Social Media abuzzing, though, so there is an audience out there (along with The Truth).
  • 24 at Fox without Kiefer Sutherland.  We shall see.
  • Prison Break at Fox.  All smoke and mirrors, thus far.
  • The Saint at ITV brings back Simon Templar, the impeccably dressed British crime fighter.
  • Heroes: Reborn at NBC stars Jack Coleman, Zachary Levi and presumably, some new Heroes.  Creator Tim Kring returns to re-boot a series that lost its way after Season One.
  • Law & Order at NBC.  Dun. Dun!
  • Twin Peaks at Showtime really really interests me as Creators David Lynch and Mark Frost have signed on to write and to direct all nine episodes.  Kyle MacLachlan, Sheryl Lee, Sherilyn Fenn return.  Can’t wait.  I want to return to the Pacific Northwest.  I want to see The Log Lady again.  This re-boot picks up 20 years later.
  • Electra Woman & DynaGirl has not landed at a network yet, but that’s not stopping Sid & Marty Kroft Prods. from announcing they are redeveloping it with two stars of social media.  This quite possibly could be the bottom of the barrel. ELECTRA WOMAN

Here’s my pitch for a Re-Boot:

IN LIVING COLORName recognition.  Fond memories. Diversity.  Comedy.  Variety.

 

Next Up:  Mini-series and Longform make a big Return to Television!

 

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TV Pilot Season 2015: Networks Hedge Bets With Pre-Sold Titles Hoping Audiences Remember Them Fondly And Tune In

Posted on February 22, 2015 by Surfing Hollywood

MINORITY REPORTOMENPROBLEM CHILDDAREDEVIL

Santa Monica, CA — Network and Studio executives in Hollywood regularly peruse their own corporate-owned libraries for Titles to old movies and series that can be re-jiggered for a new audience.

I have sat at desk scouring through a thick binder of Library Titles both at 20th Century Fox and at NBC/Universal for ideas.  This is one reason why Studios value their Libraries so much.  Content never dies or loses its value.  Some properties remain Evergreen.

This pilot season, Pre-Sold Titles are being developed across the board.  NBC and Fox dominate, however, since they have studio libraries to raid at will.

Networks consider these titles with built-in name recognition to be safer bets in today’s risky marketplace.  Patience is no longer a virtue.  New shows don’t have time to find an audience, so it’s no surprise to see series developed around Titles that already have had an audience.  Hopefully, they are remembered fondly.

AGENT CARTER    AVENGERS AGE OF ULTRON

Sometimes, it works.  Sometimes, it doesn’t.  ABC is struggling to keep the Avengers-inspired Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. afloat, but hey, Marvel is a huge Disney investment. Disney owns ABC so, don’t expect this improving series to go anywhere until 65 episodes are reached.  Low-rated seat-filler but critically praised Agent Carter has helped reach that number faster.  One more season will be S.H.I.E.L.D.’s  last, I predict.

Last year, NBC revived (pun intended!) that evergreen Universal title, Dracula, starring Jonathan Rhys-Meyers.  Predictably, it failed, however, NBC didn’t have to spend millions explaining what the show was about. Dracula pre-sells, er, him/it-self.

As VP/Development at SyFy, I plucked Battlestar Galactica from NBC/Universal’s catalogue, and we all know what resulted:  Hit.  For BSG, there was audience that couldn’t wait to see it, and those fans drove the series to Cult Favorite Status.

AGENTS OF SHIELDDRACULABATTLESTAR GALACTICA

LIMITLESSUNCLE BUCKXMEN

Meanwhile, these are the Pre-Sold Titles being developed, re-made, and re-jiggered this pilot season:

  • Uncle Buck at ABC could be very interesting as the network is re-freshing this property by going Black-ish in casting.  Another win for Diversity this pilot Season.  Smart move.
  • Rush Hour at CBS is being re-invented for the small screen by veteran writer Bill Lawrence (Scrubs, Cougar Town).
  • Limitless at CBS has power-hitters Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci (Star Trek re-boots) at the helm.  Marc Webb directs.
  • Big at Fox seems to be on the back burner for now.  That’s a title the network will pursue at some point, though.
  • Hitch at Fox is on the burner in the back next to Big.
  • Minority Report at Fox takes place 10 years later and those darn Pre-Cogs are having a difficult time fitting into Society.  Amblin (i.e., Spielberg) produces.
  • Frankenstein at Fox is a re-working wherein a morally corrupt ex-cop is brought back from the dead.  Homeland cool dude Howard Gordon produces.
  • Beowulf at ITV has a 13-episode commitment for that eternal story about a warrior and his BFF, Grendel.
  • Jekyll & Hyde at ITV has a 10-episode order for a new version featuring the grandson of Dr. Jekyll (Tom Bateman from Da Vinci’s Demons) in 1930s London.
  • X-Men at Fox won’t happen this season as the network has still to hammer out a deal with Marvel to bring Xavier’s School for the Gifted to the small screen, but it’s on the books and in the mix.  Evan Katz and Manny Coto are signed to produce the small screen version of Fox’s lone Marvel property.
  • Jekyll & Hyde at ITV is high on my list of Pilots-To-See as it stars up-and-coming actor Tom Bateman who’s been on my radar since Season One of Da Vinci’s Demons and more recently, on stage in London in the adaptation of Shakespeare in Love.  Ten episodes have been ordered for this story set in 1930s London.
  • The Omen at Lifetime is a prequel that the network is calling Damien.  Story follows Damien Thorn as an adult coming to grips that he’s the Anti-Christ.
  • Marley & Me at NBC is a total yawn.  Seems to be back-burner for now.
  • Problem Child at NBC is a half-hour single camera comedy version of the 1999 John Ritter feature about parenting a you-know-what.
  • Daredevil at Netflix has a 13-episode order and is the first of Marvel’s output deal with Netflix for four series which also includes AKA Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist.  Charlie Cox takes over for Ben Affleck in this re-make that also stars Vincent D’Onofrio and Rosario Dawson.  Premieres April 10th.  Can’t wait!  Prediction:  Hit.
  • Ash vs Evil Dead at Starz already has a 10-episode order for a half-hour series with franchise star Bruce Campbell reuniting with creator Sam Raimi.

Coming up soon:  The Re-Boots!

(Heads Up, fans of The X-Files!)  X FILES

 

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