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)





[09/30/26 - 10:00 AM]
Bravo Unveils Full Lineup for Bravo Fan Fest Charleston on Saturday, Oct. 24
The fun doesn't stop there as "Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen" will tape four star-studded shows from Charleston to air on Bravo and stream next day on Peacock.

[09/30/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Katseye: Wild Hearts" Trailer & Key Art Debut
The documentary film premieres on Hulu and Disney+ October 16.

[09/30/26 - 09:01 AM]
Prime Video Unveils Cast for Chilean Original Series "La Senora"
Amparo Noguera, Daniel Alcaíno, Carmen Gloria Bresky and Nicolás Brown star in the legal crime thriller that explores bitterness, revenge and wickedness.

[09/30/26 - 09:00 AM]
CBS Announces Three Unscripted Series Orders
The offerings include an updated edition of "Undercover Boss" hosted by Drew Carey and two new series: "Stacks of Cash," hosted by Mike O'Malley, and "24 Hour Millionaire" (wt) from the executive producers of "Big Brother."

[09/30/26 - 08:31 AM]
Video: Peacock Releases Premiere Date & First Look for Seth MacFarlane's "Ted: The Animated Series"
MacFarlane joins stars Mark Wahlberg, Amanda Seyfried, and Jessica Barth in the series, due on December 17.

[09/30/26 - 08:10 AM]
HBO Max Announces New Drama Series in Development in Spain, Created by Goya Award Winners Fran Araujo and Eduard Sola
The project is inspired by the story of Tor, a remote mountain community where tragic events took place that remain unsolved to this day.

[09/30/26 - 08:02 AM]
Video: "Love Is Blind" Season 11: Boston - Official Trailer - Netflix
Hosts Nick and Vanessa Lachey are headed to Boston with a new group of singles ready to fall for someone sight unseen and pour their hearts out in the pods. Is love enough to take them all the way?

[09/30/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Surviving Hurricane Otis" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Wirpul and his half-brother fight to survive Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, where their brotherhood and courage turns adversity into hope.

[09/30/26 - 07:31 AM]
It's Time for a Fresh Cut: Prime Video Unveils Premiere Date and Glimpse at "Barbershop"
The comedy series inspired by the beloved film franchise will premiere all eight episodes on February 10, 2027, exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

[09/30/26 - 07:01 AM]
The Coffin Is Closed: "Wednesday" Season 3 Has Wrapped Production
The series is a sleuthing, supernaturally infused mystery charting Wednesday Addams' years as a student at Nevermore Academy.

[09/30/26 - 06:02 AM]
Video: Netflix Unveils Main Trailer and Release Date for "The Gift of Deceit," New Melodrama Starring Marieta Severo, Alice Wegmann, and Nanda Costta
The 10-episode series set in Rio de Janeiro premieres October 28.

[09/30/26 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Collision Course" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Spain, 2013. After robbing a bank, a getaway crash reveals the hidden side of each thief, exposing betrayals and lies that began long before the heist.

[09/30/26 - 06:01 AM]
Video: Apple TV Unveils Trailer for "Small Prophets," The Captivating Comedy Created by Mackenzie Crook
The series will premiere on Apple TV with the first two episodes on October 7, 2026, excluding the U.K., where it will be available to Apple TV subscribers in 2027.

[09/30/26 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "The Man with the Bag" - Official Teaser - Prime Video
He'll be back... hopefully with presents. Arnold Schwarzenegger is Santa in "The Man with the Bag." Coming to Prime Video December 2.

[09/30/26 - 06:00 AM]
The CW Network and National Hot Rod Association Reach Multi-Year Broadcast Agreement for NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Events
Beginning in Fall 2027, The CW will be the exclusive multiplatform home for the final seven races of the season, including the world's biggest drag race at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, as well as the full six-race Countdown to the Championship playoffs.