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)





[09/03/25 - 09:31 AM]
"Jake Makes It Easy" Returns with All-New Episodes 9/29 at 10pm ET/PT on FYI Network
With his impressive culinary background and love of hosting and bringing people together through food, each half-hour episode showcases how Jake pulls from Jewish and Middle Eastern influences, family, and friends to create stress-free delicious dishes that always feel like a celebration.

[09/03/25 - 09:30 AM]
HBO Max to Stream Live All Elite Wrestling Pay-Per-View Events, Starting with "AEW All Out" on Saturday, September 20 at 3 P.M. ET
Also, earlier in the week on Wednesday, September 17, TBS and HBO Max will be live from London, Ontario for a special three-hour show - September to Remember - starting at 8 p.m. ET, featuring AEW's biggest names in non-stop high-flying action as they set the stage for the signature pay-per-view event that weekend.

[09/03/25 - 09:04 AM]
Video: Prime Video Releases a Killer Official Trailer for Seasons One and Two of "Helluva Boss"
The trailer celebrates the greatest moments from the first two seasons and teases new footage from the original episode.

[09/03/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "The Happy Mess Method" - Official Trailer - The Roku Channel
Organizational expert Sabrina Soto and New York Times bestselling author Jennifer McCartney help celebrity and non-celebrity clients find realistic and sustainable methods for keeping their homes tidy.

[09/03/25 - 09:01 AM]
Winter Is Here! The History Channel's "Ice Road Truckers" Returns for Season 12 on October 1
From its original series premiere in 2007 to a several years long hiatus, the fearless truckers return like never before to the treacherous terrain of icy roads and frozen lakes in Northern Canada delivering crucial supplies and necessities to isolated communities.

[09/03/25 - 09:00 AM]
HBO Original Comedy Special "Caleb Hearon: Model Comedian" Debuts September 19
In his debut stand-up special, filmed in front of a sold-out crowd at Constellation in Chicago, the presentation showcases Hearon's ability to unpack life's most absurd contradictions with his signature charm and razor-sharp wit.

[09/03/25 - 07:35 AM]
Food Network's "Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking" Kicks Off the Holidays with a New Chapter of Magical Dessert Artistry
Chapter Two will feature even more spellbinding creations, enchanted elements and baking wizardry as a new field of competitors embark on the experience of a lifetime.

[09/03/25 - 07:31 AM]
Video: "Rebel Royals: An Unlikely Love Story" - Official Trailer - Netflix
The film offers viewers an intimate look at the controversial love story between Norwegian king's eldest child, Märtha Louise, and Hollywood's self-proclaimed spiritual guru, Durek Verrett.

[09/03/25 - 07:16 AM]
Andscape Announces Powerful New Three-Part Documentary Series "Memphis to the Mountain"
The series will premiere on Hulu and Disney+ on September 5.

[09/03/25 - 06:17 AM]
Peacock Orders a Second Season of Its Highly Anticipated New Comedy Series "The Paper"
The series will premiere on Peacock this Thursday, September 4.

[09/03/25 - 06:16 AM]
Video: "A House of Dynamite" - Official Teaser - Netflix
When a single, unattributed missile is launched at the United States, a race begins to determine who is responsible and how to respond.

[09/03/25 - 06:06 AM]
Video: Apple TV+ Debuts Gripping Trailer for Season Five of "Slow Horses"
Adapted from "London Rules," the next novel in the CWA Gold Dagger Award-winning Mick Herron "Slough House" book series, the six-episode fifth season of "Slow Horses" premieres September 24 with the first episode, followed by one episode weekly until October 29.

[09/03/25 - 06:01 AM]
Streaming on Roku Surpasses Broadcast Viewership in the U.S. for Third Consecutive Month
According to Nielsen data, streaming on Roku-powered devices accounted for 21.4% of all TV viewing time in the U.S. during July, surpassing broadcast TV's 18.4% share.

[09/03/25 - 06:00 AM]
Prime Video Announces October 9 Premiere Date for "Saquon"
The premiere date coincides with the highly anticipated "Thursday Night Football" matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants.

[09/03/25 - 05:46 AM]
Video: Peacock Debuts Trailer for "Epic Ride: The Story of Universal Theme Parks" Premiering Monday, September 29
The docuseries pulls back the curtain on Universal Orlando Resort's groundbreaking new theme park, Universal Epic Universe, taking viewers on a behind-the-scenes ride as engineers, costume and production designers, choreographers, performers and an array of creative executives race to the finish line to deliver the theme park of the future.