1001 Studio: Gaumont Production Company(s): Matador Films, Eyeworks Sweden Executive Producer(s): Lars Lundström Writer(s): Lars Lundström Logline: Set in Sweden, the story follows a policewoman as she receives a message from someone claiming to have committed the murder she is investigating. The person demands 1001 million transferred to various bank accounts, or more people will die. But the amount of the ransom is a thinly veiled message to a group of government officials: The blackmailer has insight into a secret from the past involving a 1980s medical research project that had good intentions, but went horribly wrong. SSN Insight: Gaumont has given a series order of 12 episodes, the second order for the studio after announcing William Boyd’s 10-episode Spy City last year. Previously Lundstrom’s Swedish series Real Humans was adapted as Humans for AMC and his Tusenbröder series was remade as Brothers In Crime by Valhalla and Universal Cable.
Almost There Network: Audience Network (DirecTV) Studio: DirecTV Production Company(s): Out of Time Productions Executive Producer(s): Steven Pasquale, Jace Alexander, Kim Cella, Debbie Baldwin, Jonathan Burkhart Writer(s): Kim Cella, Debbie Baldwin, Courtney Baron Logline: Jackson Cooper is a handsome, eternally single psychiatrist living in New York City. Serial dating and workaholic behavior have successfully helped him avoid long-term commitments, until he meets the girl of his dreams. Unfortunately he fails to get her name, number or any other information. The series follows Jackson on his quest to find her and to finally go about the task of finding himself along the way. SSN Insight: DirecTV ordered 10 episodes of the single-camera series with a premiere scheduled for fall 2015. DirecTV’s other comedy series include Peter Ackerman’s Things You Shouldn’t Say Past Midnight, and Neil LaBute’s Billy and Blilie.
Alone Network: History Channel Production Company(s): Leftfield Pictures Logline: 10 survivalists are left in the Vancouver Island wilderness and have to survive using what they’ve been able to stuff into a backpack. At stake is $500,000 awarded to the person who lasts the longest. The competitors are separated from one another in harsh terrain to hunt, build shelters and fend off predators. They will face extreme isolation and psychological distress as they plunge into the unknown, and will self-document their experience. SSN Insight: Alone will air in a synchronized event in upwards of 200 territories worldwide on History and other channels from A+E Networks.
Our Planet Network: Netflix Production Company(s): Silverback Productions, WWF Executive Producer(s): Alastair Fothergill, Keith Scholey Logline: A natural history series and four-year project that takes viewers into never before filmed wilderness areas from the ice caps and deep ocean to deserts and remote forests. Using 4K camera technology, the series brings viewers into intimate contact with some of the world’s rarest animals and most precious natural habitats. Details: A spin-off of the series Planet Earth. SSN Insight: Netflix has given a series order of eight episodes. Series producers were previously behind Planet Earth. The series will be show in Ultra HD 4K format. The show will be produced over four years with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) which will provide Silverback Productions access to protected areas around the world and will collaborate on multimedia content across numerous platforms. Scheduled to premiere in 2019.
Emerald City Network: NBC Entertainment Studio: Universal Television Executive Producer(s): David Schulner Writer(s): David Schulner Logline: In the blink of a tornado’s eye, 20-year-old Dorothy Gale and her K9 police dog are transported to another world, one far removed from our own, a mystical land of competing kingdoms, lethal warriors, dark magic and a bloody battle for supremacy. This is the fabled Land of Oz in a way you’ve never seen before, where wicked witches don’t stay dead for long and a young girl becomes a headstrong warrior who holds the fate of kingdoms in her hands. Details: Based on the novels of L. Frank Baum, including "The Wizard of Oz." SSN Insight: After deciding not to go ahead with the series 8 months ago, NBC has instead decided to give it a go and ordered 10 episodes. Matthew Arnold was previously attached to EP and write.
Geeks Who Drink Network: SyFy Production Company(s): Conde Nast Publications, Inc., Kinetic Content, The Nerd Machine Executive Producer(s): Chris Coelen, Dawn Ostroff, Joe LaBracio, Emma Conway, Zachary Levi Logline: Two teams of self-proclaimed "trivia geeks" will battle it out each week in rapid-fire quizzes that cover topics ranging from pop culture to science fiction. Each team consists of three players - a celebrity team captain and two trivia pros. After three rounds, the winning team will earn prizes and a spot on the Geeks Who Drink leaderboard. SSN Insight: SyFy ordered the Zachary Levi hosted gameshow to series on April 15 and slated it’s premiere for July 16. In addition Levi founded Nerd HQ, a convention celebrating all things Geek that takes place in July in San Diego.
The People Under the Stairs Network: SyFy Studio: Universal Cable Productions Production Company(s): Industry Entertainment, Alive Productions Executive Producer(s): Wes Craven, Michael Reisz, Shep Gordon, Tracey Murray, Sara Bottfeld Writer(s): Michael Reisz Logline: When a young woman goes missing at the grand Robeson Family Manor, her search unveils the centuries-old horrors that lie deep within the estate. Details: Based on the film, "The People Under the Stairs" (1991), written and directed by Wes Craven. SSN Insight: Series springs from legendary horror filmmaker Craven’s new first-look deal with Universal Cable Productions to develop scripted programming for NBCUniversal and outside networks.
We Are All Completely Fine Network: SyFy Studio: Universal Cable Productions Production Company(s): Industry Entertainment, Captivate Entertainment Executive Producer(s): Wes Craven, Ben Smith, Jeffrey Weiner, Sara Bottfeld Writer(s): Wes Craven Logline: Dr. Jan Sayer is an enigmatic psychologist who gathers survivors of five horror-movie scenarios in a support group - and unwittingly unlocks the evils of her patients’ pasts. As their traumas are brought back to the surface, they uncover which monsters they face are within — and which are lurking in plain sight. Based on the novel. Details: Based on the novel, "We Are All Completely Fine," written by Daryl Gregory and published by Tachyon Publications on August 12, 2014. SSN Insight: Series springs from legendary horror filmmaker Craven’s new first-look deal with Universal Cable Productions to develop scripted programming for NBCUniversal and outside networks.
Harvest Network: Spike TV Studio: Warner Horizon Television Production Company(s): Jerry Bruckheimer Television Executive Producer(s): Jerry Bruckheimer, Jonathan Littman Writer(s): Matt Morgan, Ian Sobel Logline: Centers on a mild-mannered cemetery caretaker who finds his small-town life in jeopardy when his estranged criminal father forces him into the body-trade business. SSN Insight: Project was originally set up at A&E in 2013.
Sex With Brody Network: E! Production Company(s): Wilshire Studios Executive Producer(s): Brody Jenner, Matt Osborn, David Friedman, Eric Podwall Logline: The relationship round table talk show has Brody Jenner taking on hot topics and hitting the phones and the streets to encourage strangers to strip down’ and reveal their burning thoughts around sex and relationships. Details: Based on the podcast, "The Brody Jenner Podcast With Dr. Mike Dow." SSN Insight: E! has ordered 4 episodes of the Jenner hosted roundtable talk show. He will be joined by therapist Mike Dow and comedian Stevie Ryan.
Heads Up! Network: HLN Production Company(s): A Very Good Production, Telepictures Executive Producer(s): Ellen DeGeneres, Ed Glavin, Mary Connelly, Andy Lassner and Jeff Kleeman Logline: Based on the game which pairs a celebrity with a contestant who take turns guessing the content of a card based on clues from their partner. Details: Originally the game was played on The Ellen Show and then became a top-selling mobile app downloaded upwards of 16 million times. SSN Insight: Slated to premiere early next year with 65 episodes to air on weekdays. Loni Love will host the show.
SMILF Network: Showtime Studio: ABC Signature Production Company(s): Quantity Entertainment Executive Producer(s): Frankie Shaw, Lee Eisenberg, Gene Stupnitsky, Michael London Writer(s): Frankie Shaw Logline: Examines the travails of a young woman who comes to LA as both a struggling actress and a struggling single mom. Details: Based on Frankie Shaw’s semi-autobiographical short "SMILF," which won the Sundance Short Film Jury Award in 2015. Shaw is onboard to write, direct, star and executive produce.
The Alienist Studio: Paramount Television Production Company(s): Anonymous Content Executive Producer(s): Steve Golin, Rosalie Swedlin, Eric Roth, Cary Fukunaga, Hossein Amini Writer(s): Hossein Amini Logline: Set in New York City in 1896, the story of a journalist trying to solve a series of murders, and the investigative team assembled by police commissioner Teddy Roosevelt. Based on the novel by Caleb Carr. Details: Based on the novel "The Alienist" written by Caleb Carr and published by Random House April 1994. SSN Insight: The series springs from the 3 year, first-look production deal between Anonymous and Paramount TV that gives Paramount a first look to produce and distribute Anonymous’ TV programming on multiple platforms. This is planned as an event series.
ABC Family
I Am Maker Network: ABC Family Production Company(s): World of Wonder Productions, Maker Studios Executive Producer(s): Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato Logline: The series follows a group of up-and-coming You Tube sensations who will live together and be mentored by the biggest talent from Maker Studios - endeavoring to connect their authentic voices with a huge audience. SSN Insight: The production company, World of Wonder, is behind the currently airing series Friends to Lovers, Good Work, Million Dollar Lising, Life with LaToya, Girlfriend Intervention and #CandidlyNicole.
Sold Out Network: ABC Family Studio: ABC Signature Studios Executive Producer(s): Irving Azoff Writer(s): Andrea Abbate Logline: A young band hits the road for their first-ever tour. SSN Insight: Abbate is credited as a writer and consulting producer on ABC Family’s series Young & Hungry. She’s currently set as a writer on the TV series Random Acts, in development at AMC and as an EP/writer on Diblings for NBC (also in development).
We Heart Disney Network: ABC Family Production Company(s): Big Red 2 Enertainment Executive Producer(s): David Foster, Nigel Lythgoe Logline: The music spectacular features some of today’s biggest pop stars singing classic Disney songs. SSN Insight: Foster’s been nominated three times for Academy Awards and won 16 Grammys along with serving as the current chairman of Verve Music Group.
You've Got To Work It Network: ABC Family Studio: ITV Studios Production Company(s): UnbeliEVAale Enertainment Executive Producer(s): Eva Longoria Logline: The show follows eight unemployed girls from diverse backgrounds who get a crash course in the working world - vying for seven job opportunities in seven very different industries. The girls will also have complete head-to-toe and emotional makeovers with the hope they change their ways, step up to the plate, and land a coveted job to kick start their career. Details: Based on the UK format. SSN Insight: Longoria currently serves as the EP on upcoming series Telenovela for NBC and Versus for ESPN.
HBO
Confirmation Network: HBO Studio: ABC Studios Production Company(s): HBO Films, Groundswell Productions Executive Producer(s): Kerry Washington, Susannah Grant, Michael London, Janice Williams Writer(s): Susannah Grant Logline: The film chronicles Clarence Thomas’ 1991 Supreme Court confirmation hearings, which became top news when Anita Hill, a lawyer who had worked as an adviser to the judge at the Department of Education and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, was called upon to testify about reports he had sexually harassed her. SSN Insight: HBO has nabbed Sundance break out director Rick Ramuyiwa (Dope) to direct the HBO movie that stars Kerry Washington. The movie is slated to begin production this summer.
Divorce Network: HBO Production Company(s): Pretty Matches Productions, Merman Films, Kapital International Executive Producer(s): Sharon Horgan, Sarah Jessica Parker, Alison Benson, Paul Simms, Aaron Kaplan Writer(s): Sharon Horgan Logline: Centers on Frances, a woman who suddenly begins to reassess her life and her marriage, and finds that making a clean break and a fresh start is harder than she thought. SSN Insight: HBO has given a series order. The series will star Sarah Jessica Parker and co-star Thomas Haden Church, Molly Shannon and Talia Balsam with the pilot directed by Jesse Peretz. High Maintenance Network: HBO Executive Producer(s): Russell Gregory, Benjamin Sinclair, Katja Blichfeld Writer(s): Benjamin Sinclair, Katja Blichfeld Logline: The series centers around a cannabis dealer known simply as "The Guy" who slips in and out of the lives of his clients - an eclectic array of New Yorkers with neuroses as diverse as the city they live in. SSN Insight: The show originally streamed on Vimeo. HBO has given a six episode order that will air on its channel. HBO will also distribute the past 19 episodes through its platforms.
The Wright Brothers Network: HBO Production Company(s): Playtone Executive Producer(s): Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman Logline: The story of Wilbur and Orville Wright, who sold and repaired bicycles out of an Ohio shop to pay for their passion: the invention of flying machines that ushered in the aeronautical age right after the turn of the 20th Century. In 1903 on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, the brothers changed history by successfully flying the first heavier-than-air-powered machine that carried a pilot. Details: Based on the book, "The Wright Brothers," written by David McCullough and to be published by Simon & Schuster on May 5, 2015. SSN Insight: Playtone has previously executive produced Band Of Brothers, The Pacific, John Adams and From The Earth To The Moon for HBO, and is going into production on the miniseries Lewis And Clark and then Masters Of The Air.
NATGEO
50 States of Survival Network: NatGeo Studio: National Geographic Channel Logline: Is it better to have dozens of tools or just one you can use dozens of ways? A survival savant, an alternative engineer and a gadget guru show us how to make a lot out of a little as they compete against each other in location-based challenges across the U.S. Each task showcases self-reliance and modern ingenuity at their best. SSN Insight: NatGeo announced they’d given a series order for the show during their 2015-2016 Upfront presentation on April 15.
Breakthrough Network: NatGeo Studio: National Geographic Production Company(s): Imagine Entertainment, Asylum Entertainment Executive Producer(s): Kip Konwiser, Kern Konwiser Logline: Introduces us to adventurers and the cutting edge technology that enables them to break through to unprecedented heights and "change the game," whether in space, under the ocean, inside the human body, or within our own homes. SSN Insight: NatGeo announced they’d given a series order of 13 episodes for the show during their 2015-2016 Upfront presentation on April 15.
Primal Survival Network: NatGeo Studio: National Geographic Production Company(s): Icon Films Logline: Hazen Audel is completing a series of solo survival missions in some of the world’s most remote places by using only the tribal training passed down to him through the elders he meets along the way. Harnessing the skills these tribal ancestors perfected, Hazen shows what it really means to fight for your life in the most extreme conditions. SSN Insight: NatGeo announced they’d given a series order for the show during their 2015-2016 Upfront presentation on April 15.
Saints and Strangers Network: NatGeo Studio: Sony Pictures Television Production Company(s): Little Engine Executive Producer(s): Eric Overmyer, Teri Weinberg, Grant Scharbo, Gina Matthews Writer(s): Eric Overmyer, Seth Fisher, Chip Johannessen, Walon Green Logline: The untold story behind the founding of America, chronicling the trials and tribulations of the 101 men, women and children who boarded the Mayflower for a one-way trip to the New World. Half of these "pilgrims" were religious separatists who had abandoned their prior lives for religious freedom. The other half, "adventurers," were mostly single males seeking financial opportunity or trying to escape their old identities or criminal pasts. SSN Insight: NatGeo has ordered the four-hour miniseries.
The Great Human Race Network: NatGeo Studio: National Geographic Channel Logline: Two adventurers, Bill Schindler and Cat Bigney, travel for 35,000 miles from the cradle of civilization to the New World as they complete challenges. While retracing the migratory route of our ancestors, our competitors must overcome some of the same oppressive deserts, frozen tundra and intimidating jungles. Along the way, they face the same challenges early humans did: building weapons out of stone, starting fires, hunting for food, communicating with local tribes and more. SSN Insight: NatGeo announced they’d given a series order for the show during their 2015-2016 Upfront presentation on April 15.
The Yard Network: NatGeo Studio: National Geographic Production Company(s): Original Productions Logline: The engineers, mechanics and carpenters at some of our country’s largest shipbuilding operations rush to complete repairs and hustle to get as many boats in the water as possible by deadline. From struggling to fill an order of 40 ferry boats to dealing with the unique challenges of a remote Alaskan location, they show what it takes to get seaworthy ships deconstructed, reconstructed and ready for launch. SSN Insight: NatGeo announced they’d given a series order for the show during their 2015-2016 Upfront presentation on April 15.