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)





[09/15/26 - 11:01 AM]
First Look at Melissa McCarthy and Clive Owen in "The Murder of JonBenet Ramsey"
The limited series premieres globally December 10 on Netflix.

[09/15/26 - 10:23 AM]
Video: "NCIS: New York" Full Series Premiere Trailer - CBS
The series premieres Tuesday, October 6 on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.

[09/15/26 - 10:01 AM]
Emmy Award-Winning Journalist Mariana Van Zeller Goes Undercover to Expose the $1 Billion Romance Scam Industry in National Geographic's "Super Scam Me"
Produced by Muck Media and directed by Jeff Plunkett, the one-hour special airs October 17 at 9:00 p.m. EDT on National Geographic and streams on Disney+ and Hulu.

[09/15/26 - 10:01 AM]
Netflix's "Pride and Prejudice" - Official First Look & Date Announcement
The new adaptation of the classic novel premieres December 3, only on Netflix.

[09/15/26 - 08:21 AM]
ESPN Original Series "Setting the Tempo" to Premiere September 20, Chronicling the Launch of the Toronto Tempo
The series will premiere Sunday, September 20, with all episodes available to stream on the ESPN App and Disney+.

[09/15/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Maigret" Season 2 - Official Trailer - "Masterpiece" on PBS
Two brutal murders. Growing public outrage. A department eager to take him down a peg. Chief Inspector Jules Maigret is back, and the stakes have never been higher.

[09/15/26 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "The Diplomat" Season 4 - Official Trailer - Netflix
The award-winning series returns October 15, only on Netflix.

[09/15/26 - 07:01 AM]
Apple TV Announces Eighth Season for Emmy- and BAFTA Award-Winning Spy Drama "Slow Horses"
The complete first five seasons of "Slow Horses" are now streaming on Apple TV, with the premiere of season six slated for September 16, 2026, and season seven announced last year.

[09/15/26 - 06:01 AM]
Roku Reunites with Kristin Cavallari for New Scripted Romantic Comedy "Cowboy Hearts"
When a no-nonsense reality TV producer (Kristin Cavallari) is sent to Georgia to oversee the reboot of the hit dating show "Cowboy Hearts," she expects chaos behind the scenes, not romantic sparks with the cowboy himself (Tanner Novlan).

[09/15/26 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Hollywood Arts" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Class is in session at Hollywood Arts! Self-proclaimed icon Trina Vega returns to steer gifted teens toward stardom, status and hilarious havoc.

[09/15/26 - 06:01 AM]
FOX Sports, Wilmer Valderrama's WV Alternative & NASCAR Studios Announce "Suarez" Premiere Set for September 17 on FS1
The new documentary chronicles star Daniel Suárez's emotional homecoming during the 2025 Mexico City race weekend.

[09/15/26 - 05:01 AM]
Video: "Animals" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When their son is kidnapped, an LA mayoral candidate and his wife scramble to raise the ransom while making choices that could tear their world apart.

[09/15/26 - 01:01 AM]
Video: "The Trap" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Author Lisa Konrad hasn't left her house for 10 years since her sister's murder. When she believes she sees the killer on TV, she devises a risky plan.

[09/15/26 - 12:01 AM]
HBO and HBO Max Receive 21 Emmy Awards
Highlights include seven wins for "DTF St. Louis" and six wins for "The Pitt."

[09/14/26 - 05:01 PM]
Slow Burns, New Housemates and Happy Endings: Netflix's Romance Anime Lineup Heats Up This October
This October, Netflix is giving anime fans plenty to fall for.