or


[05/16/03 - 12:00 AM]
Studios Keep the Talent Deals Coming
By Brian Ford Sullivan (TFC)

CHICAGO (thefutoncritic.com) - While many say that the era of the big studio deal is over, that hasn't stopped several actors and producers from landing hefty commitments in the past month. Here's a rundown of recent signings:

-- Writer-producers Jim O'Doherty and David M. Israel ("Grounded for Life") have signed a new two-year mid-seven-figure overall deal with Carsey-Werner-Mandabach. The duo is set to serve as executive producers/showrunners on the company's "The Tracy Morgan Show," which has been picked up for a midseason order by NBC. O'Doherty and Israel penned the script for the pilot and executive produced it with Lorne Michaels, Marcy Carsey, Caryn Mandabach, Tom Werner, David Miner and Dave Becky.

-- "Clone High U.S.A." creators Phil Lord and Chris Miller have inked a two-year, seven-figure overall deal with 20th Century Fox Television. The pair will develop and script original live-action and animated material for the company a well as work on the studio's existing comedy projects.

-- "24" co-creator and executive producer Robert Cochran has signed a new two-year overall deal with 20th Century Fox Television to remain as showrunner of the series while also developing new series projects for studio. Fellow co-creator and executive producer Joel Surnow signed a similar deal with 20th earlier this year. The duo, along with fellow writer/producer Howard Gordon, are all set to return to the drama next season.

-- Former "Frasier" writers/producers Christopher Lloyd and Joe Keenan are set to return to the series for its 11th and final season. The pair will share showrunning duties with current executive producer Dan O'Shannon. The news comes as the duo has inked a new, two-year, seven-figure overall production and development deal with Paramount Network Television. In addition to working on "Frasier," they'll create, develop and executive produce series projects for the studio once the comedy wraps next May. Lloyd was an executive producer on the series from its debut until May 2000 while Keenan joined "Frasier" in 1994 and was named co-executive producer in 1997. Keenan left shortly after Lloyd and the duo began developing new projects for Paramount as a team, landing a blind series commitment from CBS for the short-lived comedy "Bram and Alice."

-- Reality mogul Stuart Krasnow ("Weakest Link," "Dog Eat Dog," "America's Most Talented Kid") has signed a a new two-year, seven-figure overall development and production deal with NBC Studios. The pact calls for Krasnow to create, develop and executive produce unscripted projects for NBC while continuing his role as showrunner on "Dog." Krasnow also has several other projects in NBC's hopper: "Average Joe" (with fellow reality producer Andrew Glassman), "America's Most Talented Senior" and a hybrid reality/comedy pilot with Kathy Griffin ("Celebrity Mole") that's in contention for midseason.

-- "Saturday Night Live" head writer Tina Fey has sealed a new two-year deal to remain in that position (which she currently shares with co-head writer Dennis McNicholas) at least through the 2004-05 season. As part of the pact, Fey will develop her own primetime project for the Peacock with any production coming out of that deal would be produced by NBC Studios and "SNL" producer Lorne Michaels' Broadway Video.

-- "J.A.G." star David James Elliott has signed on for another two seasons of the military drama, earning himself a healthy raise in the process. Elliott will pull down about $300,000 per episode to remain with the series (or around $6.5 million per season), an increase of about $100,000 per episode from his previous deal. The pact was signed shortly before CBS' formal pickup this week of the series for its eighth season. CBS executives had expressed reservations about renewing the series before Elliott's deal was in place. Co-star Catherine Bell was previously inked through next season.

-- NBC Studios has signed the cast of "Will & Grace" through the 2004-05 season in keeping with the Peacock's renewal of the series through said season back in March of 2002. Leads Eric McCormack and Debra Messing are set to make $400,000 per episode for the next two seasons with supporting cast members Megan Mullally and Sean Hayes also receiving comparable raises.





  [may 2003]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
    


· 24 (FOX)
· 30 ROCK (NBC)
· AMERICA'S MOST TALENTED KIDS (PAX)
· AVERAGE JOE (NBC)
· BRAM & ALICE (CBS)
· CLONE HIGH USA (MTV)
· DOG EAT DOG (NBC)
· FRASIER (NBC)
· GROUNDED FOR LIFE (WB)
· JAG (CBS)
· MOLE, THE (ABC)
· SEARCH FOR AMERICA'S MOST TALENTED SENIOR, THE (NBC)
· TRACY MORGAN SHOW, THE (NBC)
· WEAKEST LINK, THE (NBC)
· WILL & GRACE (NBC)





[03/04/25 - 08:03 AM]
HGTV's "Rock the Block" Pits Veterans Against Rookies in a New Season of the Blockbuster Competition Series
The fresh seven episodes will raise the stakes like never before when two seasoned veteran teams come back to the block to challenge two rookie teams hungry for a win.

[03/04/25 - 08:00 AM]
Acorn TV Shares First-Look at Stephen Moyer in Exhilarating Art World Crime Drama, "Art Detectives"
Set to premiere on Monday, June 9 in the US and Cananda, the six-episode series is centered around the Heritage Crime Unit, a police department consisting of art loving DI Mick Palmer (Moyer) and straight-talking DC Shazia Malik (Nina Singh).

[03/04/25 - 07:30 AM]
Video: Paramount+ Unveils New Trailer for "MobLand"
The series stars Tom Hardy, Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan as the head of an organized crime family, fighting for power within a global crime syndicate.

[03/04/25 - 04:43 AM]
Max Launches in Turkey on April 15
Turkey becomes the 77th Max territory and marks a significant moment in the globalization of WBD's streaming service that now has 116.9 million subscribers after adding 6.4 million in Q4 2024.

[03/03/25 - 05:49 PM]
"The Oscars" Tops Last Year in Key Adult Demographic, Ranking as No. 1 Primetime Telecast of the Season
"The Oscars" stands as the No. 1 primetime entertainment telecast in both Total Viewers (18.07 million) and Adults 18-49 (3.92 rating) for the 2024-2025 season.

[03/03/25 - 04:01 PM]
Witness the Unbreakable Cycle of Retribution in Crime Thriller Series "Karma", Premiering April 4
A fateful accident intertwines six lives in a thrilling tale of karma and crime, where each must face their own dark truths and connections.

[03/03/25 - 01:15 PM]
Prime Video Orders Two-Part Documentary Special "Octopus!" Executive Produced and Narrated by Phoebe Waller-Bridge
The documentary transports viewers into the otherworldly depths of one of the most intelligent and mysterious life forms on Earth as it follows the Giant Pacific Octopus from birth to death.

[03/03/25 - 12:00 PM]
Krysten Ritter to Guest Star in Showtime Original Series "Dexter: Resurrection"
Production kicked off in January in New York and the series is set to launch in summer of 2025 on Paramount+ with Showtime.

[03/03/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: FX's "Alien: Earth," "Dying For Sex," "Adults," "The Bear," & More Coming Soon to Hulu - FX
The award-winning collection awaits.

[03/03/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Iliza Shlesinger: A Different Animal" - Official Trailer - Prime Video
Comedian, mother, Millennial ambassador. "Iliza Shlesinger: A Different Animal" premieres March 11.

[03/03/25 - 09:00 AM]
Video: Max Unveils March 6 Premiere Date, Key Art, and Trailer for New Original Preschool Series "Dylan's Playtime Adventures"
Based on the beloved Scholastic book series by bestselling author/illustrator Guy Parker-Rees, the show premieres Thursday, March 6.

[03/03/25 - 08:48 AM]
Video: "Miss Austen" Trailer
Don't miss this fascinating, witty, and heartbreaking story of sisterly love starring Keeley Hawes, premiering on Sunday, May 4.

[03/03/25 - 08:01 AM]
Nickelodeon and Spin Master Entertainment Pick Up "PAW Patrol" and "Rubble & Crew" for New Episode Orders
Both series have been picked up for an additional 26 episodes each, marking seasons 12 and 13 for the award-winning animated series "PAW Patrol," and the third and fourth seasons of "Rubble & Crew."

[03/03/25 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When the village druid forgets how to prepare their magic potion, Asterix, Obelix and the Gauls must find new ways to keep the Roman conquerors at bay.

[03/03/25 - 07:30 AM]
Paramount+ Announces All New Episodes of MTV's "Family Legacy" to Premiere Tuesday, March 25
10 half-hour episodes will premiere exclusively on the service and feature brand-new interviews with the children of the most influential and iconic musicians and bands.