or


[04/25/03 - 12:00 AM]
Studios Keep Producers Happy
By Brian Ford Sullivan (TFC)

CHICAGO (thefutoncritic.com) -- The folks behind such series as "Smallville," "The Bachelor," "Popular," "American Dreams," "The Bernie Mac Show" and "Everwood" all had reason to smile in the past month as they've each signed seven-figure deals with various studios to create, develop and executive produce new projects as well as stick with their current endeavors. Here's a rundown of recent happenings:

-- Prolific producers Mike Tollin and Brian Robbins, the duo behind the WB's quartet of "Smallville," "Birds of Prey," "What I Like About You," and "Black Sash" this season, have signed a two-year deal with Touchstone Television to develop, executive produce and direct new projects for the Disney-owned company. The pair's Tollin/Robbins Prods. had been at Warner Bros. Television for the past four years. Financial terms of the deal (which includes an option for another two years) were not disclosed however insiders place it in the high seven figures. The duo said they made the switch in order to escape Warner Bros. multitude of deals with other producers in favor of Touchstone's less cluttered environment. In addition to their series for the WB, the duo are behind such Nickelodeon shows as "All That" and "Nick Cannon" as well as TNN's "Slamball," HBO's "Arli$$" and the features "Big Fat Liar" and "Varsity Blues." The deal doesn't include its two pilots in the works for next season at ABC - "Better Days" (a.k.a. "The Flannerys") and "I'm With Her" - both which were developed at Warner Bros. The company is also behind FOX's untitled Glouberman/Orenstein comedy project and the WB's drama pilot "Ravens."

-- Al Gough and Miles Millar, the creators and executive producers of the WB's "Smallville," have signed a two-year, seven-figure deal with Warner Bros. Television to remain as showrunners on the young Superman drama. The duo (who previously created the short-lived UPN drama "The Strip") hope to remain focused on "Smallville" while at the same time working on feature scripts. In addition to writing the upcoming "The Amazing Spider-Man," Millar and Gough's feature credits include "Shanghai Noon" and its sequel, "Shanghai Knights," as well as "Lethal Weapon 4."

-- Reality guru Mike Fleiss ("The Bachelor," "The Bachelorette," "High School Reunion") has found a second home for his Telepictures-based Next Entertainment: CBS. The Eye has signed a seven-figure, multiyear deal to gain access to the prolific producer and his roster of reality showrunners which includes Scott Einziger ("The Amazing Race") and Lisa Levenson ("Big Brother 2"). The deal allows CBS to bring projects to Fleiss to produce, either by himself or with other Next-based producers. While he has a first-look deal with ABC for any project he (or his company) creates, that deal does not prevent him from producing series brought to him by other networks. CBS then, also as part of the deal, gets a second-look option on any projects he brings to ABC and are rejected. The deal completes the reality trifecta so to speak for CBS as the network has deals with three of the biggest players in reality television: Fleiss, Mark Burnett ("Survivor") and Simon Cowell (the upcoming "Cupid").

-- "Popular" producers Greer Shephard and Michael Robin have signed a new two-year, seven-figure deal to stay with Warner Bros. Television. The pair's original deal for their Shephard-Robin Co. was set to expire in mid-July. The announcement comes just in time for the duo's launch of the FX drama "Nip/Tuck" this summer (with fellow former "Popular" producer Ryan Murphy). Shepard and Robin are also behind the ABC drama pilot "The D.A.," starring Steven Weber.

-- "American Dreams" creator Jonathan Prince has sealed a two-year, seven-figure deal with Warner Bros. Television to develop new projects for the company as well as bring in young talent to the studio. Prince, who was previously at Universal Network TV, will continue to executive produce "Dreams" as part of the pact. Prior to creating "Dreams," Prince had been involved with such short-lived comedies as FOX's "Ask Harriet" and UPN's "Grown Ups." Currently, he also produces ABC Family's "My Life is a Sitcom," which was just picked up for a second season.

-- Larry Wilmore has found a new home at NBC after being kicked off FOX's "The Bernie Mac Show" due to creative differences. The Emmy and Peabody Award winning writer has signed a two-year, seven-figure deal with NBC Studios to create, develop and executive produce new series for the company as well as work on existing projects. In addition to creating "The Bernie Mac Show," Wilmore's credits include "The PJs," "In Living Color" and "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air."

-- "Everwood" creator and executive producer Greg Berlanti is set to stay at Warner Bros. Television as the producer has signed a three-year, seven figure deal with the studio. The pact calls for Berlanti to continue to stay with "Everwood" through next season while developing new projects for the company. The following season, he'll switch to being a non-exclusive consultant on the series instead of a showrunner. The deal also includes discretionary funds for Berlanti's production label Berlanti-Lidell Prods. with partner Mickey Lidell ("Go"), both of whom executive produce the WB drama. Previously to this season, Berlanti was a showrunner on another Frog drama, "Dawson's Creek," where he had a development deal with Sony Pictures TV.

-- While the kids may be graduating on "That '70s Show" this season, the executive producers/showrunners aren't. Husband-and-wife team Jeff and Jackie Filgo have signed a two-year, seven-figure deal to stick with Carsey-Werner-Mandabach where they'll remain in the current positions on the FOX comedy.

-- Former "Frasier" producer Saladin Patterson has inked a two-year overall deal with 20th Century Fox TV said to be valued in the low seven figures. The pact, which includes an option for a third year, calls for Patterson to co-executive produce one of 20th's existing comedy series as well as develop new projects for the studio.





  [april 2003]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· AMAZING RACE, THE (CBS)
· AMERICAN DREAMS (NBC)
· ARLI$$ (HBO)
· BACHELOR, THE (ABC)
· BACHELORETTE, THE (ABC)
· BERNIE MAC SHOW, THE (FOX)
· BETTER DAYS (ABC)
· BIG BROTHER (CBS)
· BIRDS OF PREY (WB)
· BLACK SASH, THE (WB)
· CUPID (CBS)
· DA, THE (ABC)
· DAWSON'S CREEK (WB)
· EVERWOOD (WB)
· FRASIER (NBC)
· GROWN UPS (UPN)
· HIGH SCHOOL REUNION (TV LAND)
· I'M WITH HER (ABC)
· MY LIFE IS A SITCOM (ABC FAMILY)
· NIP/TUCK (FX)
· ONE TREE HILL (CW)
· PJS, THE (WB)
· POPULAR (WB)
· SLAMBALL (SPIKE TV)
· SMALLVILLE (CW)
· STRIP, THE (UPN)
· SURVIVOR (CBS)
· THAT '70S SHOW (FOX)
· UNTITLED FRATERNAL TWINS PROJECT (FOX)
· WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU (WB)





[11/10/26 - 07:31 AM]
First Look at "The Age of Innocence" Coming to Netflix February 18, 2027
Starring Camila Morrone, Kristine Froseth and Ben Radcliffe, this contemporary reimagining of Edith Wharton's tale of forbidden love in 19th century New York is a heart-rending romance exploring freedom, duty, identity, and love in all its forms.

[11/10/26 - 07:10 AM]
TBS's "All I Watch for Christmas" and TNT's "Christmas Maximus" Programming Kicks Off the Holiday Season Beginning Friday, November 13
Continuing the annual tradition, TBS and TNT will ring in the holidays with 24-hour movie marathons of "Elf," "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," and "A Christmas Story."

[11/10/26 - 07:01 AM]
The CW Network and PBR Announce Multi-Year Extension to Broadcast PBR Teams Series Events
The new multi-year agreement extends The CW's relationship with PBR, which began during the 2025 season.

[11/10/26 - 07:00 AM]
Acorn TV's Hit Crime Drama "Art Detectives," Starring Stephen Moyer, Returns with a Two-Part Special This December
"Art Detectives," which debuted in 2025 as Acorn TV's most-watched new series premiere ever, will premiere a six-episode second season in 2027.

[11/10/26 - 06:32 AM]
Video: "Ink" - Official Trailer - Netflix
London, 1969: Two ink-stained mavericks turn a failing newspaper into a brash tabloid sensation, hell-bent on toppling Britain's powerful press elite.

[11/10/26 - 06:31 AM]
"The Later Daters" Returns - Executive Produced by Michelle Obama - Premieres December 30 - Only on Netflix
Five icons are ready to find love again - and this time, they're bringing their famous friends and family along for the ride.

[11/10/26 - 06:22 AM]
Filming Begins on Tony McNamara's "Mosquito" for Disney+ and Hulu, with a New Ensemble Joining Nicholas Hoult and Daisy Edgar-Jones
Kyle Soller, Phoebe Fox, John Macmillan, Belinda Bromilow, Liv Hill, Francis Magee, Phoebe Campbell, Akshay Khanna, Bamshad Abedi Amin, and Den Rasaq join the ensemble cast of the six-part dramedy about a marriage, secrets, and one very annoying insect.

[11/10/26 - 06:19 AM]
Disney+ to Globally Premiere ESPN Films' Award-Winning "Give Me the Ball!" Alongside ESPN in the U.S., Bringing Billie Jean King's Story to Audiences Worldwide
The film explores how King repeatedly put her career, relationships and public standing on the line, taking on battles that extended far beyond the tennis court to become one of the most influential athletes and advocates of the modern era.

[11/10/26 - 06:01 AM]
CMA Announces Additional Performers for "The 60th Annual CMA Awards"
Luke Combs, Vince Gill, Megan Moroney, Mumford & Sons, Chris Stapleton, Lainey Wilson and Stephen Wilson Jr. join the lineup.

[11/10/26 - 04:23 AM]
Netflix Releases "Welcome to El Bulli" on November 20
Produced by Fishcorb and Minoría Absoluta and created and directed by David Pujol, "Welcome to El Bullil" focuses on the decisive years of Ferran Adrià, Juli Soler and Albert Adrià.

[11/09/26 - 03:36 PM]
Two Championship Eras. One Team. Executive Producers Tom Brady and Jim Harbaugh Unite for "The Team: Michigan Football"
The two-part documentary executive produced by Tom Brady and Jim Harbaugh explores two defining championship eras of one of college football's most storied programs.

[11/09/26 - 12:18 PM]
The Cold Never Bothered Nature Anyway: National Geographic Greenlights "The Real Frozen" (w/t) - A Magical Look at the Real World and Creatures That Inspired the Beloved Animated Films
Using the very best of Walt Disney Animation Studios' craft and the award-winning cinematography of Silverback Films, the stories will take audiences on a journey of wonder like never before.

[11/09/26 - 12:00 PM]
Prime Video Releases Premiere Date and First-Look Images for Season Two of Benito Skinner's Breakout Comedy Series "Overcompensating"
The eight-episode season, produced by A24, Strong Baby and Amazon MGM Studios, will premiere on February 17, exclusively on Prime Video.

[11/09/26 - 10:58 AM]
76ers-Pistons November 4 Matchup Delivered 2M Viewers on ESPN, Up 47 Percent from Last Year
The audience peaked with 2.6M viewers during the 9:45 p.m. ET quarter hour.

[11/09/26 - 10:30 AM]
FOX Entertainment Docuseries "The Well" Is Now Streaming Exclusively on Hulu
Produced by FOX Entertainment Studios, Mountain Top Pictures, Haven Entertainment and Fairvale Entertainment, "The Well" investigates more than 200 unsolved murders that continue to haunt California's San Joaquin County, including those linked to the infamous Speed Freak Killers.