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[09/15/11 - 03:43 PM]
Paul Telegdy Named to Newly Created Position of President, Unscripted and Late Night Programming, NBC
Telegdy is the chief program executive who ushered in NBC's recent hit series "The Voice," as well as reinvigorated "America's Got Talent" and "Sing-Off," to name a few.

[08/14/07 - 11:37 PM]
The Futon's First Look: "Thick of It, The" (ABC)

[06/08/07 - 05:39 PM]
Development Update: Week of June 4-8
Updates include: ABC's "Wanna Bet?" and CBS's "The Captain" set for midseason duty, A&E renews "Gene Simmons' Family Jewels" and Sam Waterston's Jack McCoy earns a promotion on NBC's "Law & Order."

[03/28/07 - 02:16 AM]
Development Update: Wednesday, March 28
Updates include: Oprah names showrunners of "The Big Give," overall deals snare Simon Mirren, Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen while Jason Alexander and Tia Carrere book pilot roles.

[03/26/07 - 02:04 AM]
Development Update: Monday, March 26
Updates include: "What About Brian's" Amanda Detmer lands pilot work, as do Rosa Blasi, Kim Coles, Mark Moses and John Michael Higgins.

[03/23/07 - 06:47 PM]
2007 ABC Program Development Guide - Comedy Series
ABC details its 16 comedy pilots under consideration for next season.

[03/23/07 - 03:39 AM]
Development Update: Friday, March 23
Updates include: HBO sets its summer schedule, "Drawn Together" creators set up at 20th and NBC orders a new dating show pilot.

[03/15/07 - 01:53 AM]
Development Update: Thursday, March 15
Updates include: Pilots lure Chris Klein, Jason Biggs, Ricki Lake and Michael McKean.

[03/09/07 - 12:13 AM]
Development Update: Friday, March 9
Updates include: New deals for "Grey's" co-stars, Bernero to stick with "Criminal Minds" and the usual pilot casting round-up.

[03/01/07 - 12:27 AM]
Development Update: Thursday, March 1
Updates include: Lots of casting news, including pilots for Horatio Sanz, Faith Ford, Paul Reubens and Donald Sutherland.

[02/26/07 - 12:52 AM]
Development Update: Monday, February 26
Updates include: Christopher Guest to direct ABC's "The Thick of It," new roles for Eddie Cibrian, Jim Rash, Kristin Chenoweth, Anna Paquin and more!

[02/08/07 - 12:44 AM]
Development Update: Thursday, February 8
Updates include: Loads of casting news as leads are set for NBC's "Business Class," "Chuck" and "Journeyman" plus three new comedies get pilot orders from ABC.

[11/17/06 - 07:03 PM]
Development Update: November 13-17 (Weekly Round-Up)
Over 15 updates on projects in development and tidbits about shows currently on the air!







THICK OF IT, THE (ABC)
DEVELOPMENT HISTORY:
11/17/06 - 9/15/11
STATUS:
previously in development (2007-2008 season)
DEVELOPMENT STAGE:
ordered to pilot
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
cast options extended by studio
DESCRIPTION:
(from ABC's press release) An adaptation of the award-winning BBC series of the same name, "The Thick of It" is an amusing and caustic behind-the-scenes look at Washington - the foolishness as well as the poignancy. The single camera pilot takes a comedic approach to the absurd world of politics, where connections and (all too often) dumb-luck can make you an overnight star. The series revolves around Albert Alger, an ambitious yet barely-elected, blundering Congressman, who stays afloat despite his staff's advice and inept dealings with the media. Keeping a watchful eye over Alger and his team is Malcolm Tucker, a high-ranking official, whose unpredictable and domineering ways are effective in enforcing the party's policy. An intimidating, skilled and smug politician, Malcolm's knack is projecting his own agenda onto the staff. The antics of Alger's bumbling office staff are led by Glen Glahm, his scattered Chief of Staff who, mortifyingly enough, makes Alger appear valiant by comparison; staff speechwriter, Ollie Tadzio, a 28-year-old whose unbridled zest might just give her a chance at being the youngest President ever, if she can survive this job unscathed; and Hope Mueller, the press secretary Alger inherited from his predecessor, who has desexualized herself to fit into the "boy's club." As insiders will attest, in politics if someone calls you a "friend," you can be damn sure they have a way to bring you down. And, after this group of friends moves in, the halls of power will never be the same. Emmy Award-winning Writer/Producer Mitch Hurwitz, the creative force behind "Arrested Development," wrote the pilot for this adaptation of the BBC series and serves as Executive Producer on the project. Acclaimed director Christopher Guest (Best in Show, Waiting for Guffman) is set to direct the pilot. Serving as executive producers with Hurwitz are Paul Telegdy ("You're The One That I Want") and, creator of the original BBC series, Armando Iannucci ("I'm Alan Partridge").
PRINCIPAL CAST INFORMATION:
· Alex Borstein as Hope Mueller
· John Michael Higgins as Albert Alger
· Michael McKean as Glen Glahm
· Oliver Platt as Malcolm Tucker
· Rhea Seehorn as Ollie Tadzio
· Wayne Wilderson as Taylor
CREW INFORMATION:
· Armando Iannucci as EP/CRTR (U.K. Series)
· Christopher Guest as DIR (Pilot)
· Mitchell Hurwitz as CRTR/EP
· Paul Telegdy as EP
· Richard Day as CRTR/EP
GENRE(S):
· comedy (all)
· comedy (single-camera)
STUDIO INFORMATION:
· BBC Worldwide Productions
· Sony Pictures Television