A Life in Men Studio: Universal Cable Productions Production Company: Denver & Delilah Films Executive Producer(s): Charlize Theron, Laverne McKinnon Logline: When Mary revisits Europe to find out what went wrong on an earlier trip with her friend, Nix, she experiences an awakening in her sexual, spiritual, and emotional life. SSN Insight: Based on the novel, "A Life in Men," written by Gina Frangello and published by Algonquin Books on February 4, 2014. Oscar winner Charlize Theron has inked an overall deal with Universal Cable Productions to include seven projects set up at broadcast, cable and streaming outlets. Denver & Delilah Films previously had an overall deal with ABC Studios in 2013. Former Epix VP, Laverne McKinnon will head the banner’s scripted TV division.
Untitled Dolly Parton Biopic Network: NBC Entertainment Studio: Warner Bros. Television Production Companies: Magnolia Hill Entertainment Executive Producer(s): Bob Greenblatt, Dolly Parton Logline: A series of two-hour films to be broadcast on NBC based on Dolly Parton’s life. The films will be infused with Parton’s authentic hopefulness and positive outlook on life. SSN Insight: Greenblatt and Parton previously teamed to exeutive produce 9 to 5: The Musical for Broadway. Sam Haskell, a producer at Magnolia Hill is also onboard.
Better Things Network: FX Production Companies: 3 Arts Entertainment, Pig Newton Productions Executive Producer(s): Louis C.K., Pamela Adlon, Blair Breard, Dave Becky Writer(s): Pamela Adlon, Louis C.K. Logline: A working actor trying to earn a living must balance that with being a mother of three daughters. SSN Insight: Louie’s Pamela Adlon will star in addition to producing and scripting the series. FXP has an overall deal with C.K. and his banner is also producing the Zach Galifianakis series Baskets along with a stand-up comedy special.
Donny! Network: USA Network Production Company: Left/Right Films Executive Producer(s): Banks Tarver, Ken Druckerman Logline: "Donny Deutsch" hosts his own daytime talk show, "Donny!" Off-camera, he’s a filterless rogue who lives in contrast to almost everything he espouses publicly. Each episode finds him holding court as an expert on various issues (Sexting, Cellulite) on his show, yet reveal his personal struggle with similar subjects, especially when it comes to his ever-changing romantic partners, or the drama of being a single dad. Despite a team of bitingly funny women who work tirelessly to cover his tracks while busting his chops along the way Donny finds a way to make bad decisions with good intentions. SSN Insight: USA Network has ordered six episodes as of January 15. Ordered to series. Network has ordered 6 episodes. Deutsch serves as chairman of ad agency Deutsch Inc. and is also an author. He hosted CNBC’s “The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch” from 2004 to 2008.
Diblings Network: NBC Entertainment Studio: Universal Cable Productions Production Company: Denver & Delilah Films Executive Producer(s): Charlize Theron, Laverne McKinnon Writer(s): Andrea Abbate Logline: A young, uptight businessman and a rebellious purple-haired tattoo artist will never be together but can't stand being apart. SSN Insight: Oscar winner Charlize Theron has inked an overall deal with Universal Cable Productions to include seven projects set up at broadcast, cable and streaming outlets. Denver & Delilah Films previously had an overall deal with ABC Studios in 2013. Former Epix VP, Laverne McKinnon will head the banner’s scripted TV division.
Freedom Run Network: NBC Entertainment Executive Producer(s): Stevie Wonder, B. Swibel, Adam Westbrook, Charles Randolph-Wright, Tara Smith Writer(s): B. Swibel, Adam Westbrook, Charles Randolph-Wright Logline: The story depicts one of the greatest mass escapes in recorded history the smuggling of slaves from the South into the North through a collection of gritty, largely untold true love stories about ordinary men and women, slave and free, black and white, who risked everything to be together, fighting for love in a time of hate. SSN Insight: Based on the book, "Forbidden Fruit: Love Stories from the Underground Railroad," written by Betty DeRamus and published by Atria Books on February 1, 2005. Planned an an 8-hour miniseries.
Get Well Soon Studio: Universal Cable Productions Production Company: Denver & Delilah Films Executive Producer(s): Charlize Theron, Laverne McKinnon Writer(s): Erika Cervantes Logline: Anna Bloom is depressed, so depressed that her parents have committed her to a mental hospital with a bunch of other messed-up teens. Here she meets a roommate with a secret (and a plastic baby), a doctor who focuses way too much on her weight, and a cute, shy boy who just might like her. But wait! Being trapped in a loony bin isn’t supposed to be about making friends, losing weight, and having a crush, is it? Based on the novel. SSN Insight: Based on the novel, "Get Well Soon," written by Julie Halpern and published by Feiwel & Friends in 2007. Oscar winner Charlize Theron has inked an overall deal with Universal Cable Productions to include seven projects set up at broadcast, cable and streaming outlets. Denver & Delilah Films previously had an overall deal with ABC Studios in 2013. Former Epix VP, Laverne McKinnon will head the banner’s scripted TV division.
How We Live Network: NBC Entertainment Studio: Universal Television Production Company: David Janollari Entertainment Executive Producer(s): Steven Cragg, Brian Bradley, David Janollari Writer(s): Steven Cragg, Brian Bradley Logline: Centers on a pop science blogger and his wife who move from Manhattan and single life to New Jersey and married/family life. There, he begins writing about his suburban friends and neighbors on the cul-de-sac in the style of an anthropologist who stumbled on an undiscovered tribe. SSN Insight: Inspired by Cragg and Bradley’s personal observations of their own family lives. NBC has ordered the series to pilot. NBC has so far picked up four comedy series for pilots including Superstore, How We Live, an untitled Suzanne Martin series and Go Jerrod Go.
Love Is a Four Letter Word Network: NBC Entertainment Studio: 20th Century Fox Television Production Company: Fabrik Entertainment Executive Producer(s): Diana Son, Mikkel Bondesen, Kristen Campo Writer(s): Diana Son Logline: Chronicles the collision of race, sexuality and gender roles when three diverse couples put modern marriage to the test. SSN Insight: NBC has ordered a pilot.
Mr. Mercedes Production Companies: Sonar Entertainment, Temple Hill Entertainment Executive Producer(s): David E. Kelley, Jack Bender, Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey, Gene Stein Writer(s): David E. Kelley Logline: When a psychopathic killer commits mass murder by driving his Mercedes into a crowd, a recently retired cop makes it his mission to bring him down. SSN Insight: Based on the novel, "Mr. Mercedes," written by Stephen King and published by Scribner on June 3, 2014. Planned as a limited series.
Mythos Studio: Universal Cable Productions Production Company: Denver & Delilah Films Executive Producer(s): Charlize Theron, Laverne McKinnon Writer(s): Spenser Cohen Logline: All we believed to be myth, from the Fountain of Youth to Atlantis, is closely guarded truth, protected by two opposing orders, each with differing agendas for humanity. SSN Insight: Oscar winner Charlize Theron has inked an overall deal with Universal Cable Productions to include seven projects set up at broadcast, cable and streaming outlets. Denver & Delilah Films previously had an overall deal with ABC Studios in 2013. Former Epix VP, Laverne McKinnon will head the banner’s scripted TV division.
Flaked Network: Netflix Production Companies: Electric Avenue, Electus Executive Producer(s): Will Arnett, Mark Chappell, Ben Silverman, Peter Principato, Mitch Hurwitz Writer(s): Will Arnett, Mark Chappell Logline: Set in Venice, CA, the comedy follows self-appointed "guru" Chip, who falls for the object of his best friend's captivation. Soon the tangled web of half-truths and semi-bullshit that underpins his all-important image and sobriety begins to unravel. SSN Insight: Netflix has ordered eight episodes to premiere in 2016.
NBC/ Untitled Martin Comedy Project Network: NBC Entertainment Studio: Universal Television Production Company: Hazy Mills Productions Executive Producer(s): Suzanne Martin, Sean Hayes, Todd Milliner Writer(s): Suzanne Martin Logline: The show chronicles how things backfire for recent empty-nesters when their children and their parents move back home. SSN Insight: NBC has given an initial pilot commitment. NBC has so far picked up four comedy series for pilots including Superstore, How We Live, an untitled Suzanne Martin series and Go Jerrod Go.
Spin Network: SyFy Studio: Universal Cable Productions Production Companies: Bits & Pieces Picture Company, Olympus Pictures Executive Producer(s): Rob Morrow, Leslie Urdang Writer(s): Jim Uhls Logline: Follows three childhood friends who witness the stars in the sky as they mysteriously vanish. NASA probes reveal a black energy barrier has surrounded the Earth and time is traveling a billion times faster outside of the barrier. Civilization learns that it has five years left before the sun expands and consumes the planet. As the children grow, they go their separate ways trying to save the world from annihilation, but with time running out, will their friendship and mankind survive? Based on the novel, "Spin," written by Robert Charles Wilson. SSN Insight: Based on the novel, "Spin" written by Robert Charles Wilson and published by Tor Books on March 10, 2005. SyFy has ordered six-hour long episodes for this limited miniseries event.
The Curse of the Fuentes Women Network: NBC Entertainment Studio: Warner Bros. Television Production Company: Silent H Productions Executive Producer(s): Silvio Horta, Andrew Maher Writer(s): Silvio Horta Logline: When a young man washes up on Miami Beach claiming to be a long lost family member from Cuba, he breathes new energy into the lives of grandmother Esperanza Fuentes, daughter Lola and granddaughter Soledad. SSN Insight: NBC has given an initial script commitment plus penalty and ordered to pilot.
The One Studio: Universal Cable Productions Production Company: Denver & Delilah Films Executive Producer(s): Charlize Theron, Laverne McKinnon Writer(s): Roger Wolfson Logline: Explores what it takes to succeed in the cutthroat world of billionaires and CEOs through the eyes of those who are often overlooked: the assistants. A young struggling street artist is hired to be the assistant to a visionary but enigmatic tech genius. The surprising relationship that forms between them begins to threaten everything the company has built SSN Insight: Oscar winner Charlize Theron has inked an overall deal with Universal Cable Productions to include seven projects set up at broadcast, cable and streaming outlets. Denver & Delilah Films previously had an overall deal with ABC Studios in 2013. Former Epix VP, Laverne McKinnon will head the banner’s scripted TV division.
UCP/ Untitled Greg Rucka Project Studio: Universal Cable Productions Production Company: Denver & Delilah Films Executive Producer(s): Charlize Theron, Laverne McKinnon Writer(s): Greg Rucka Logline: Storyline under wraps. SSN Insight: Universal Cable has given an initial blind script deal commitment as of January 15. Oscar winner Charlize Theron has inked an overall deal with Universal Cable Productions to include seven projects set up at broadcast, cable and streaming outlets. Denver & Delilah Films previously had an overall deal with ABC Studios in 2013. Former Epix VP, Laverne McKinnon will head the banner’s scripted TV division.
Repeat After Me Network: ABC Studio: Warner Bros. Television Production Company: A Very Good Production Executive Producer(s): Ellen DeGeneres, Mary Connelly, Ed Glavin, Andy Lassner, Kevin A. Leman II, Jason Goldberg, James Breen andJeff Kleeman Logline: Unscripted reality series where host Wendi McLendon-Covey will direct celebrities via an earpiece, what to do with everyday people on the street. At the end the live studio audience will pick the best moment. The first episode will feature Ellen Pompeo, Taye Diggs and Harry Connick Jr. SSN Insight: Based on a bit from The Ellen Show, the series will premiere Tuesday, Feb. 17 hosted by Goldberg’s star Wendi McLendon-Covey. This is latest spinoff of a bit on a talk show as Jimmy Fallon’s Lip Sync Battle is also slated for a series.
Superstore Network: NBC Entertainment Studio: Universal Television Production Company: The District Executive Producer(s): Justin Spitzer, Ruben Fleischer, David Bernad Writer(s): Justin Spitzer Logline: The story centers on a disparate group of employees working at a big box store in middle America, and the love stories that will ultimately unfold among them. SSN Insight: NBC has ordered a pilot as of January 14. NBC has so far picked up four comedy series for pilots including Superstore, How We Live, an untitled Suzanne Martin series and Go Jerrod Go.
Untitled Civil War Drama Network: PBS Production Companies: Saw Bone Films, Scott Free Productions Executive Producer(s): Lisa. Q. Wolfringer, David Zabel Logline: Follows the real-life nurses Mary Phinney and Emma Green during the Civil War. One is an abolitionist and the other a Confederate belle, the nurses find themselves working in the same hospital. SSN Insight: PBS has ordered six episodes.The Anne Ray Charitable Trust and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation will provide financial support along with the Virginia Film Board.