Ascension Network: ABC Entertainment Group Studio: ABC Studios Production Companies: Brillstein Entertainment Partners, Underground Executive Producer(s): Kevin O'Hare, Trevor Engelson Writer(s): Kevin O'Hare Logline: Centers on brilliant but impulsive FBI agent Alexa Reyes who discovers that a staggering amount of the country's most brutal and violent offenders can be traced back to Ascension, Fla. When she tries to uncover the origin of the evil in the resort town she's confronted by her own haunted past, and forces far greater than she ever expected. SSN Insight: ABC has given an initial script commitment
Big Little Lies Production Companies: Pacific Standard, Blossom Films Production Executive Producer(s): David E. Kelley, Bruna Papandrea, Per Saari Writer(s): David E. Kelley Logline: The tale of three mothers of kindergartners whose apparently perfect lives unravel to the point of murder. Details: Based on the novel "Big Little Lies," written by Liane Moriarty and published by Putnam Adult on July 29, 2014. SSN Insight: Project is planned as a limited series. Witherspoon and Kidman’s shingles optioned the film and TV rights to Big Little Lies earlier this year. The series will be shopped to buyers soon per Deadline.
Comments Section Network: E! Studio: E! Production Company: Free Period Productions, Pygmy Wolf Productions Executive Producer(s): Joel McHale, Jason Burns, KP Anderson Logline: Will focus on deconstructing the often snarky comments on popular websites starring comedian Michael Kosta. SSN Insight: This marks the first project under McHale’s new producing deal with E! In addition to hosting The Soup he will also be seen in Community on Yahoo!
Conviction Network: ABC Entertainment Group Studio: ABC Studios Production Companies: Martin Chase Productions, JuVee Executive Producer(s): Viola Davis, Julius Tennon, Jeff Melvoin, Debra Martin Chase, Kim Swann Writer(s): Jason Wilborn Logline: A legal drama inspired by the life of Kym Worthy, the chief prosecutor of Wayne County, MI, known as the toughest woman in Detroit. Details: Inspired by the life of Kym Worthy, the chief prosecutor of Wayne County, MI.
Deep State Studio: 20th Century Fox Television Production Companies: Teakwood Lane Productions, Boom! Studios Executive Producer(s): Howard Gordon, Hugh Fitzpatrick, Ross Richie, Stephen Christy Writer(s): Anna Fricke Logline: Centers on a curious and driven FBI agent Katherine Branch, who was recruited by a shadowy branch of the government known as Control where she discovers its role in promoting popular conspiracy theories to distract from fantastical happenings and unexplained events. Partnered with mysterious Control agent John Harrow, Branch finds out how far Control goes to cover up the truth and how much their own lives are at stake. Details: Based on the comic book series "Deep State," created and written by Justin Jordan and drawn by Ariela Kristantina. SSN Insight: This is one of two drama projects under comic book publisher BOOM! Studios’ first-look deal with 20th Century Fox TV. Their acquisition of indie publisher Archaia increased their new original series to 29, will increase to 35 next year making BOOM! the biggest library of controlled original comic series outside of Marvel and DC. BOOM! also has a first-look deal with Fox on the feature side, which has yielded Malignant Man, with James Wan directing and The Foundation which Evan Daugherty is adapting.
The Indris Elba Project Network: Discovery Channel Studio: Discovery Networks International Production Companies: Shine North, Green Door Pictures Executive Producer(s): Idris Elba, Elizabeth McIntyre, Victoria Noble, Rick Murray Logline: Six part reality show about extreme racing. Elba will push is body, mind and engineering skills to the edge by racing on land, water and in the air. SSN Insight: This is Elba’s first project from of his co-production deal with Shine North, they previously worked together on Elba’s racing documentary, King of Speed. Discovery will air the docu-series in mid-2015 in upwards of 220 countries including the U.S.
Jeff & Some Aliens Network: Comedy Central Studio: Viacom Production Company: ShadowMachine Executive Producer(s): Sean Donnelly, Alessandro Minoli, Alexander Bulkley, Corey Campodonico Writer(s): Sean Donnelly, Alessandro Minoli Logline: Follows Jeff and three extraterrestrials who are sent to Earth to study the world's most average guy to evaluate whether humanity and the planet should be destroyed. Details: Spinoff of "TripTank" currently airing on Comedy Central. SSN Insight: Donnelly and Minoli are also developing an animated/live-action comedy called The Amazing Danny which has reaped a script commitment. Kate on Later Network: NBC Studio: Warner Bros. TV Production Companies: A Very Good Production Executive Producer(s): Ellen DeGeneres, Liz Tuccillo, Jeff Kleeman, Lauren Graham Logline: It centers on Kate (Graham) who thought her day job was all her life would amount to when an opportunity arises that’s bigger than she ever dreamed possible. But that opportunity means she’s going to have to break one of the last remaining glass ceilings — the world of late-night network television talk shows. SSN Insight: In addition to being a lead in the single-camera half hour comedy with a script commitment, Lauren Graham will co-write along with EP Tuccillo. This project is Graham’s second collaboration with A Very Good Production. Last season, they developed Someday, Someday, Maybe, that sold to the CW, a drama based on Graham’s debut novel.
The Bazillion Dollar Club Network: SyFy Studio: NBCUniversal Production Company: Zero Point Zero Productions, Inc. Executive Producer(s): Lydia Tenaglia, Christopher Collins, Craig H. Shepherd Logline: Follows two of the world’s most aggressive accelerator programs: the software concentrated 500 Startups, led by the relentless drill sergeant Dave McClure; and the hardware focused Highway 1, headed by quirky genius Brady Forrest. SSN Insight: SyFy has ordered six episodes. The one-hour series will shoot later this year and will air in 2015. McClure was an early employee of PayPal and in five years has raised over $2 billion for tech entrepreneurs through his venture capital firm. Meanwhile, Forrest has developed mobile medical testing kits, baking assistant and iPhone HUD for cars and has funded over 35 consumer product companies through PCH & Highway1.
The Rinse Studio: 20th Century Fox Television Production Company: Boom! Studios Executive Producer(s): Mick Betancourt, Ross Richie, Stephen Christy Writer(s): Mick Betancourt Logline: Follows Jeff Sinclair, an underworld money laundering figure, who is unwillingly pulled into a dangerous gig laundering $25 million in stolen casino skim money. Details: Based on the comic book series "The Rinse," created and written by Gary Phillips and drawn by Marc Laming. SSN Insight: This is one of two drama projects under comic book publisher BOOM! Studios’ first-look deal with 20th Century Fox TV. Their acquisition of indie publisher Archaia increased their new original series to 29, will increase to 35 next year making BOOM! the biggest library of controlled original comic series outside of Marvel and DC. BOOM! also has a first-look deal with Fox on the feature side, which has yielded Malignant Man, with James Wan directing and The Foundation which Evan Daugherty is adapting.
Suze Orman’s Money Wars Studio: Warner Bros TV Group’s Telepictures Executive Producer(s): Suze Orman Logline: Centering on families, friends and couples whose arguments over money are affecting their lives. Orman will assist the opposing parties resolve their conflicts while starting them on the road to financial responsibility. SSN Insight: The two time Emmy winner and New York Times best seller, Orman is ending her 14 year run on CNBC of The Suze Orman Show. Money Wars will air five days a week.In addition, she has co-produced and hosted eight PBS specials based on her books and is presently an editor for O: The Oprah Magazine.