Endemol USA Announces New Pilot Script Commitments and Talent Holding Deals in Scripted Division

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., May 8 -- Endemol USA announced today that in addition to producing reality and game shows, it has been building its scripted programming division. The scripted division is under the direction of Jeremy Gold, who joined Endemol USA in August as Senior Vice President of Scripted Programming. Gold and his team have already sold drama scripts to FX and The CW as well as comedy scripts to TBS and ABC Family. Additionally, they have closed two separate talent holding deals.

"After solely focusing on unscripted programming for the last several years, we are excited to be working on new scripted comedies and dramas," said David Goldberg, President and CEO of Endemol USA. "Jeremy has been a terrific addition to the company, and his impact is already evident in the number of projects he's set up as well as the talent holding deals that he was able to secure in the short time that he has been with Endemol. We couldn't have found a better person than Jeremy to build this division of the business."

Gold will also serve as Executive Producer on many of the scripted projects.

Projects in development include pilot script commitments on the following:

Untitled horseracing project for FX, written by Bruce Marshall Romans, loosely based on his family. The series is a family drama set against the backdrop of thoroughbred horse racing at the famed Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

"Nanny Dallas" written by Ann Hamilton and created by Joe Livecchi and Ann Hamilton is a comedic drama that centers on 4 nannies and the 4 families they service. Set in a gated community in Dallas, Texas, this project is set up at the CW.

TBS has ordered an untitled pilot script from Brian Hargrove, a multi-camera family comedy that centers on a no-nonsense southern judge who uniquely balances her demanding profession with her hectic family life.

ABC Family has given a pilot script commitment to "Larry Godmother," a comedy by Mark Palmer. This young ensemble comedy centers on an unemployed 21 year-old who discovers one day that he is in fact a "fairy godmother."

Talent holding deals include:

"Chubby Skinny Kids" (Dan Gregor, Doug Mand, Adam Pally) are three young writer-performers who are veterans of The Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in New York. Endemol USA has signed them to a 1-year talent holding deal, as well as a blind script deal, through which they will create a series which will utilize all of their talents. "Chubby Skinny Kids" are represented by CAA and DiDi Rea and Danielle Allman-Del of Allman/Rea Management.

Mike Pace is a seasoned stand-up comedian originally from the Mid-West who has worked extensively performing in clubs across the country, and has appeared on television series including "Curb Your Enthusiasm." Gold will work closely with Pace and a writer (to be named) to create a series based on Pace's family life. ROAR is attached to Executive Produce.

"I am a big fan of all that David and the remarkable team at Endemol have accomplished in the unscripted world, and I am thrilled to be working with Endemol along with my talented team Jordan Feiner (Manager of Scripted Programming) and Sean Loughlin (Coordinator of Scripted Programming). We look forward to further building the scripted division and continuing to expand the Endemol brand," states Jeremy Gold, Sr. Vice President Scripted Programming.

This comes on the heels of the appointment of A. Ron Milkes to serve as Senior Vice President of Corporate Development for the company.

About Endemol USA

Endemol USA is a leading producer of television programming specializing in reality and non-scripted genres for network and cable television. The company produces the break-out hits, Deal or No Deal, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Fear Factor and Big Brother. Endemol USA is a division of Endemol Holding, a prominent international content developer, producer and distributor of television and online programming. The company, headquartered in the Netherlands, has subsidiaries and joint ventures in twenty-one countries, including the major European markets, the U.S., South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Australia. Endemol Entertainment is a fully owned subsidiary of telecommunications giant Telefonica, one of the largest companies in Spain.

SOURCE Endemol USA