ABC/Untitled Dan Fogelman NBA Comedy Project Network: ABC Entertainment Group Studio: ABC Studios Production Companies: Kapital Entertainment, Mandalay Sports Media, Rhode Island Ave. Productions Executive Producer(s): David E. Windsor, Casey Johnson, Dan Fogelman, Peter Guber, Michael Tollin Writer(s): David E. Windsor, Casey Johnson Logline: Set in the world of the NBA, the story is about a rookie who doesn’t speak English and a translator who doesn’t speak basketball. SSN Insight: ABC has given an initial put pilot commitment to the untitled half hour comedy series.Previous to this project Fogelman created ABC’s The Neighbors and Galavant.
All About Sex Network: TLC Writer(s): Margaret Cho, Heather McDonald, Marissa Jaret Winokur, Dr. Tiffanie Davis Henry Logline: Half hour show with segments to include the week’s craziest sex-related news, open discussions about love and relationships, viewer questions regarding relationship challenges, and answers to questions people may be too embarrassed to ask otherwise. SSN Insight: The network has given a six-episode order of the half-hour weekly show, set to air Saturdays at 11pm starting January 10 to be co-hosted by Margaret Cho, Heather McDonald, Marissa Jaret Winokur and Dr. Tiffanie Davis Henry.
Atlanta Network: FX Networks Studio: FX Productions Production Company: Schiff Company Executive Producer(s): Donald Glover, Paul Simms, Dianne McGunigle Writer(s): Donald Glover Logline: Revolves around two cousins on their way up through the Atlanta rap scene whose opposing views on art versus commerce, success and race will make their quest anything but easy. Earnest ‘Earn’ Marks, a college drop-out who reconnects with his long buried ambition and sets out to seize the life he imagined for himself when his estranged cousin becomes a sudden star. SSN Insight: The comedy was originally developed at FX in 2013, and FX has now ordered a pilot. In addition to starring in NBC’s Community, Glover has also written on 30 Rock. Black Gold Network: Starz Production Company: FremantleMedia North America Executive Producer(s): Benjamin Percy Writer(s): Benjamin Percy Logline: A war-haunted mercenary and an idealistic rookie cop battle industrial and criminal forces to reclaim the North Dakota town that has been transformed overnight by the oil boom into a new Wild West of fast fortunes and shallow graves. SSN Insight: James Ponsoldt, whose past credits include The Spectacular Now and Smash will direct the pilot. Percy’s book Red Moon is currently being developed as a Fox TV series with Akiva Goldsman. His other book, The Wilding is being adapted for filmmaker Tanya Wexler.
Beowulf Network: ITV Studio: ITV Executive Producer(s): James Dormer, Tim Haines, Katie Newman Writer(s): James Dormer Logline: Scandinavian warrior Beowulf returns to his home to pay respects to his recently deceased father, but when the palace is attacked by the monster Grendel, he must hunt it down. Details: Based on the famous eighth century poem "Beowulf" which was written in Old English. SSN Insight: ITV has ordered the 13 part epic drama. ITV has gotten into the game this year with other ambitious period dramas by ordering The Frankenstein Chronicles and Jekyll & Hyde. Shooting is to take place in County Durham and Northumberland for Beowulf and scheduled for April.
The Cuckoo's Calling Network: BBC One Studio: BBC Worldwide Production Companies: Bronte Film and Television, The Blair Partnership Executive Producer(s): J.K. Rowling, Neil Blair Logline: War veteran Cormoran Strike turns private investigator after losing a leg in Afghanistan. Details: Based on the novels, "The Cuckoo's Calling" and its sequel "The Silkworm" written by J.K. Rowling (under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith) and published by Mulholland. Rowling chose to write under a pseudonym after facing scrutiny for her novel The Casual Vacancy, written after her Harry Potter series. SSN Insight: Rowling previously collaborated with BBC and HBO for a three-hour miniseries adaptation of her novel The Casual Vacancy, which will air on BBC One in February.
Fall of Giants Network: ABC Entertainment Group Studio: Sony Pictures Television Production Companies: No Production Company Available. Executive Producer(s): Ann Peacock, Michael De Luca, Stephanie Germain Writer(s): Ann Peacock Logline: A tale of love and war told through the lives of five families that become entangled by the first World War. An earl falls for a coal miner's daughter, a British heiress for a German spy and a young American on the fast track to the White House falls for a Russian bootleggers's daughter. Set against the backdrop of a catastrophic war, the characters rise to the challenge of new realities of social class, gender equality and economic collapse and every one of them is irrevocably changed by it. Details: Based on the first book in the Century Trilogy, "Fall of Giants," written by Ken Follett and published by Dutton in 2010. SSN Insight: Planned as a 10-episode limited series.
Freezing Hot Network: Netflix Studio: Netflix Writer(s): Iliza Shlesinger Logline: Comedy special based on Iliza Shlesinger’s life. SSN Insight: Shlesinger was not only the woman to win NBC’s Last Comic Standing but also the youngest in its history to be named champ. She has since been hosting VH1’s Excused and taped a special for Netflix called War Paint before Freezing Hot. She is also writing ABC’s called Forever 31 in which she will star. The special will be released on Friday, January 23, 2015.
My Transparent Life Network: ABC Family Studio: ABC Studios Production Company: Ryan Seacrest Media Executive Producer(s): Ryan Seacrest, Eugene Young, Rabih Gholam, George Moll, Paul Barrosse Writer(s): none, unscripted documentary Logline: A teenager named Ben learns his parents are not only getting a divorce but also that his dad is becoming a woman. The series will follow Ben, his family and his friends as they support one another through this unexpected journey and watch Charlie slowly become Carly, as she experiences the many stages of her transition from male to female. SSN Insight: Ordered straight to series by ABC. “Trans visibility on TV is at an all-time high,” noted the Washington Blade, especially given Amazon’s Golden Globe nominated Transparent, Netflix’s Orange is the New Black starring Laverne Cox, and the following upcoming shows: documentary Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word for MTV and Logo, VH1’s TransAmerica produced by Tyra Banks, Lena Dunham’s documentary for HBO, and Univision and Pivot’s Crossing Over: Stories of Immigration and Identity.
Professionals Network: Showtime Executive Producer(s): David J. Rosen, Marc Webb Writer(s): David J. Rosen Logline: Comedy about two partially-broken mid-level employees become ensnared in a dangerous game of corporate espionage. SSN Insight: Showtime has given aninitial commitment of three scripts. Professionals is Webb's second comedy developed for Showtime, as also exec producing and directing Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Showtime will have room on the schedule as Nurse Jackie wraps up.
The Real Women Of Telenovelas Network: WE TV Production Companies: Matador Writer(s): none, unscripted Logline: Set in Miami, the series will center on the lives of up-and-coming actresses and actors in the uber-competitive world of telenovelas. SSN Insight: Telenovelas were largely produced in Mexico and Latin America but recently South Florida has become the genre’s new headquarters with Miami nicknamed “Telenovela Tinseltown”. Untitled Entertainment teamed with TV production company Matador to form Untitled/Matador. The joint venture enables both companies to develop, package and produce material for TV and digital outlets. The Terrestrial Network: USA Studio: Fox 21 Television Studios Production Company: Fabrik Entertainment Executive Producer(s): Gary Dauberman, Mikkel Bondesen, Henrik Bastin, Kristen Campo Writer(s): Gary Dauberman Logline: After his estranged teenage daughter goes missing, a schizophrenic man is forced to confront his troubled past as he begins to believe his daughter’s kidnappers are the same as the ones that abducted him 10 years prior: aliens. SSN Insight: Following its initial success with The 4400,USA has recently revived its push to develop alien dramas and is also filming the Carlton Cuse-produced pilot Colony, about an alien occupation. Dauberman’s past feature credits include Annabelle and Crawlspace for New Line.
