or


[07/29/09 - 12:56 PM]
Starz Pacts with Eric Schaeffer and Jill Franklyn for New Dramedy Set in Unlikeliest Place for Laughs
The show, tentatively titled "Failure to Fly," is set to debut in early 2010.

[via press release from Starz]

STARZ PACTS WITH ERIC SCHAEFFER AND JILL FRANKLYN FOR NEW DRAMEDY SET IN UNLIKELIEST PLACE FOR LAUGHS

�Failure to Fly' SET TO DEBUT IN EARLY SPRING 2010, ONLY ON STARZ

Burbank, CA and Denver, CO � July 29, 2009 � Eric Schaeffer has demonstrated a wicked and offbeat sense of humor in his acclaimed independent features and forays into TV. Writer/producer Jill Franklyn showed there are Emmy�-worthy laughs in a simple phrase like "Yada, Yada, Yada." Starz, for its part, has proven itself a home for unconventional programming with original series that have helped set them apart from the typical TV fare. So it makes sense that Starz has joined forces joining with Schaeffer and Franklyn to create a new half-hour series that wrings big laughs out of some profoundly troubled people.

The show, tentatively titled "Failure to Fly," is set to debut, exclusively on Starz, in early 2010, Starz EVP, Programming Stephan Shelanski, and Starz Media EVP, Originals Production and Development Bill Hamm jointly announced today. The 10-episode series is a surprisingly affirming dramatic comedy that revolves around the funny, sometimes poignant members of a support group for people who once tried to commit suicide but who are now embracing a new chance at life.

Schaeffer, the actor/director/writer/producer quadruple threat behind such features as If Lucy Fell, as well as the TV series "Starved" and "I Can't Believe I'm Still Single," will costar in "Failure to Fly" as well. The new Starz Originals series will be shot in New York City, where Schaeffer is based.

He is partnered with Franklyn, who was nominated for an Emmy� Award for co-writing the "Yada, Yada" episode of "Seinfeld," and has written on numerous series and amongst her features is the screenplay for My First Mister.

Dan Pasternack ("Starved," "Beggars and Choosers") will be executive producer along with Schaeffer and Franklyn on "Failure to Fly." Daniel Hank ("Starved") is producer on the series.

"Eric and Jill have the ideal sensibility and the track record for creating smart, funny and original entertainment, which is why we're sure they'll create TV's next stand-out comedy series," Shelanski said. "At Starz, we are focused on giving our audience the kind of quality programming they can't find anywhere else, and this new series will continue that tradition of fresh, fearless comedy."

"There will be nothing morose or morbid about this show; instead, we're looking at people who have seized a second chance at life, but they're a decidedly unusual group of people," Schaeffer said. "Jill and I can't wait to bring them to life � and keep them alive!"

"The best comedy typically comes from placing unforgettable characters in the most unexpected situations, and the setting of this show certainly speaks to that," Franklyn added. "Eric and I are really excited to be part of the original series and great movies on Starz."

Starz has already enjoyed success and critical acclaim for its ground-breaking comedies "Party Down" and "Head Case." The channel is equally committed to barrier-smashing drama series, with "Crash" getting set for its second season debut this fall, and the utterly original "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" due to premiere in January, 2010.

About Starz Entertainment

Starz Entertainment, LLC, is a premium movie service provider operating in the United States. It offers 16 movie channels including the flagship Starz� and Encore� brands with approximately 18.1 million and 31.9 million subscribers respectively. Starz Entertainment airs more than 1,000 movies per month across its pay TV channels and offers advanced services including Starz HD, Encore HD, Starz On Demand, Encore On Demand, MoviePlex On Demand, Starz HD On Demand, Encore HD On Demand, MoviePlex HD On Demand, and Starz Play. Starz Entertainment (www.starz.com) is an operating unit of Starz, LLC, which is a controlled subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation, and is attributed to Liberty Entertainment Group, a tracking stock group of Liberty Media Corporation.

About Starz Media

Starz Media, LLC, is a programming production and distribution company operating worldwide. It includes the Film Roman, Anchor Bay Entertainment, and Manga Entertainment brands. Its units create animated and live-action programming � including theatrical films � and programming created under contract for other media companies. It distributes that programming, and programming acquired from outside producers, through home video retailers, theaters, broadcasters, ad supported and premium television channels, and Internet and wireless video distributors in the US and internationally. Starz Media (www.starzmedia.com) is a controlled subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation attributed to the Liberty Capital Group.





  [july 2009]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· BEGGARS & CHOOSERS (SHOWTIME)
· CRASH (STARZ)
· GRAVITY (STARZ)
· HEAD CASE (STARZ)
· I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M STILL SINGLE: FROM PORTLAND TO PORTLAND (SHOWTIME)
· PARTY DOWN (STARZ)
· SPARTACUS (STARZ)
· STARVED (FX)





[08/21/26 - 10:46 AM]
HBO Max Orders New Comedy Series "The People v. Gorilla Grodd"
The series stars Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Jimmy Tatro as Gorilla Grodd, and "Superman" actors Beck Bennett as Steve Lombard, Mikaela Hoover as Cat Grant, and Wendell Pierce as Perry White.

[08/21/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: HBO Max Releases Official Season 3 Teaser and First Look Images for the Max Original Drama Series "The Pitt"
The critically acclaimed series, which earned 26 Emmy Award nominations for season 2, will return for its third season in January 2027.

[08/21/26 - 08:01 AM]
BritBox Reveals First Look of Edward Bluemel as Hercule Poirot in "Hercule," Now in Production
The series, which has commenced filming in Liverpool, is an intimate study of Hercule Poirot, the man and an epic portrait of Britain between the wars.

[08/21/26 - 06:33 AM]
Video: "Masterpiece" Fall 2026 Preview
New seasons of "The Marlow Murder Club," "Maigret," and "The Gold," plus the premiere of "Marble Hall Murders" are all coming this fall.

[08/20/26 - 10:31 PM]
A Mother's Fight Against All Odds: Netflix's Gripping Thriller "Gandhari" Premieres September 3, 2026
The emotionally charged action-thriller led by Taapsee Pannu explores the extraordinary lengths one woman will go to when everything she loves is at stake.

[08/20/26 - 07:15 PM]
ESPN Schedule Update: Little League Baseball World Series Coverage Revised for Friday, Aug. 21
The changes are a result of weather-related postponements.

[08/20/26 - 05:01 PM]
Netflix Levels Up Anime-Inspired Slate
"Bass X Machina," "Blue Eye Samurai," "Cyberpunk: Edgerunners," "Fool Night," "Lego One Piece," "Sakamoto Days," and "The One Piece" are among the featured titles.

[08/20/26 - 02:11 PM]
"Lanterns" Debuts Among HBO Max's Biggest Series Premieres with 9.3M Global Viewers
The light shines bright.

[08/20/26 - 02:01 PM]
Prime Video to Exclusively Stream Live-Action Drama Adaptation of "Please Save My Earth" in Autumn 2027
The series is a live-action adaptation of Saki Hiwatari's acclaimed reincarnation-themed sci-fi romance manga, which has sold over 16 million copies since its 1986 debut.

[08/20/26 - 12:31 PM]
Netflix and AMC Global Media Announce New Gritty Drama Series, "Bannerman"
The series will premiere on AMC in the US and Canada and will also be available on Netflix in the US and Canada 90 days after the premiere of the season finale on AMC.

[08/20/26 - 11:24 AM]
"Agatha Christie's Tommy & Tuppence": Modernized Crime-Solving Duo Leads BritBox's Fall 2026 Slate
BritBox heads into fall with the highly anticipated return of some of its most acclaimed crime and mystery favorites.

[08/20/26 - 11:00 AM]
CBS to Mark 25 Years Since the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks with Extensive Live Coverage and Two Primetime Specials
At 8:00 PM, Tony Dokoupil will anchor a CBS News special from Ground Zero, "9/11: We Remember," featuring three stories of survival, loss and hope.

[08/20/26 - 10:01 AM]
Headed Back to Muskoka: Prime Video Renews "Sterling Point" for a Second Season
The eight-episode series debuted on August 5 and quickly became a top series on Prime Video.

[08/20/26 - 09:45 AM]
Academy Award Nominee and Emmy Winner Steven Yeun to Lead Netflix Series "Pagans"
Yeun will play Gus: A single father struggling to raise two kids alone following his wife's death.

[08/20/26 - 09:37 AM]
AMC Global Media's September Highlights Include "The Walking Dead: Dead City," "Blue Murder Motel," "Age Inappropriate," "Hell Mode," the Return of "Season of Screams" and More!
Other offerings include Sundance Now's "Murderer Behind the Mask"; Acorn TV's "The Sommerdahl Murders"; and We TV's "Love After Lockup: The Road to Rehab."