or


[06/19/13 - 03:27 PM]
FX Acquires New Untitled Sitcom Starring Kelsey Grammer and Martin Lawrence
Lawrence and Grammer will play two Chicago lawyers from vastly different backgrounds who unexpectedly meet in court on the worst day of their lives.

[via press release from FX]

FX ACQUIRES NEW UNTITLED SITCOM STARRING KELSEY GRAMMER AND MARTIN LAWRENCE

Closes 10/90 Deal with Lionsgate TV and Debmar-Mercury

Los Angeles, June 19, 2013 - FX has closed a 10/90 deal with Lionsgate Television and Lionsgate's Debmar-Mercury for the new untitled sitcom starring comedy legends Martin Lawrence and Kelsey Grammer, it was announced today by Chuck Saftler, President of Program Strategy and COO, FX Networks.

Prolific comedy veterans Bob Boyett and Robert Horn, whose half-hour credits collectively include Family Matters, Perfect Strangers, Full House, Living Single and Designing Women, will executive produce and write the Lionsgate Television-produced show. Executive producers also include Kelsey Grammer, Martin Lawrence, Brian Sher, Stella Bulochnikov, Michael Green and Sam Maydew.

The new sitcom marks the much-anticipated return to television of both Lawrence and Grammer, who play two Chicago lawyers from vastly different backgrounds who unexpectedly meet in court on the worst day of their lives. Brought together by fate and greed, they develop a partnership and friendship, forcing each other to find the balance between the ethical and the unscrupulous in both their professional and personal lives.

"With the merging of two comedic geniuses, as well as two legendary showrunners, we couldn't have a stronger team on board for this show and can't wait to get to work," said Saftler. "We're also thrilled to be continuing our relationship with the pros at Lionsgate and Debmar-Mercury."

"I am excited to be returning to TV and to be working with Kelsey," said Lawrence. "We have a great time together so I am looking forward to making a good show with a lot of laughs."

Grammer said, "Martin is arguably one of the funniest men alive and after some success in drama I thought it might be time to try my hand at comedy. I am thrilled to have this extraordinary team show me the ropes. All kidding aside, I don't think a better bunch of talent exists; I am honored and blessed."

The series will be produced by Lionsgate Television in association with Grammnet NH Productions and You Go Boy Productions.

"Pair two great actors and comedy legends with the executive producing team behind some of the most memorable sitcoms ever, mix in the outstanding team at FX and you have all of the ingredients for another TV classic," commented Debmar-Mercury Co-Presidents Mort Marcus and Ira Bernstein. "Our 10/90 model is all about delivering brand names and concepts that will grab viewers instantly, having incredible creative auspices and a very supportive network. This sitcom surpasses our criteria on virtually every level."

FX has ordered 10 episodes of the sitcom and, as is standard with the 10/90 model, if the series meets designated ratings thresholds over its first 10-episode run, the network will trigger an additional 90-episode order.

Lionsgate Television Group President Kevin Beggs added, "There was an immediate rapport between Kelsey and Martin from their very first meeting, and when Bob and Robert joined as showrunners, all the stars aligned in a very exciting way. We're delighted that FX recognized the tremendous potential for this series and look forward to another great collaboration."

The 10/90 model is a unique syndication model crafted by Debmar-Mercury for multiple sitcoms, including FX's Anger Management and the upcoming George Lopez series Saint George, Tyler Perry's House of Payne and Meet The Browns, and Revolution's and Ice Cube's Are We There Yet? The Martin-Grammer sitcom will air exclusively on FX until the off-network episodes start airing in broadcast syndication in fall 2017.

Five-time Emmy(R) Award winner Kelsey Grammer's celebrated career as a stage, film and television actor includes five Emmys, two Golden Globes(R), a SAG Award and dozens of nominations for his two-decade portrayal of psychiatrist "Dr. Frasier Crane" in the hit comedies Cheers and Frasier. He earned his third Golden Globe for Best Actor for his starring role in Lionsgate's acclaimed drama series Boss, for which he also served as executive producer. He is currently filming Transformers 4, starring Mark Wahlberg and directed by Michael Bay. Other film credits include X-Men: The Last Stand and Swing Vote. Under his Grammnet banner, he has enjoyed great success as a television producer, executive producer and director, with credits including such hit television series as the Emmy-winning Medium, The Game and Girlfriends.

Actor-comedian-producer Martin Lawrence, most famous for his starring roles in Bad Boys and Bad Boys II and the hugely successful Big Momma's House trilogy, has had starring roles in numerous other films including Blue Streak, National Security, Do the Right Thing, Talkin' Dirty After Dark, House Party and House Party 2, Boomerang, A Thin Line Between Love and Hate (which he also co-wrote and directed), Nothing to Lose, Life, What's the Worst That Could Happen?, and Black Knight. He also co-created, executive produced and starred in the hit sitcom Martin, which ran from 1992 to 1997, earned three NAACP Image Awards and was an enormous success for the FOX network.

About FX

FX is the flagship general entertainment basic cable network from Fox. Launched in June of 1994, FX is carried in 98 million homes. The diverse schedule features a growing roster of critically acclaimed and award-winning hit dramas series, including Sons of Anarchy, Justified, The Americans, and the upcoming drama series The Bridge (July 2013); the miniseries American Horror Story: Coven; and the acclaimed hit comedy series Louie, Archer and Wilfred. The network's library of acquired box-office hit movies is unmatched by any ad-supported television network. FX's roster of acquired hit series includes Two and a Half Men, Anger Management and, coming in 2014, Mike & Molly.

About Debmar-Mercury

Debmar-Mercury, a leading media company specializing in syndication, network, cable and ancillary markets, produces and distributes for daytime television The Wendy Williams Show and has U.S. distribution rights to Fremantle Media North America's Family Feud; distributes Tyler Perry sitcoms House of Payne and spinoff Meet the Browns, Lionsgate Television's Anger Management (starring Charlie Sheen and entering off-network syndication in September 2014) and Saint George (starring and co-created by George Lopez, debuting in fall 2014 and in off-network syndication in September 2016), both for FX; Revolution/CubeVision's Are We There Yet? (starring Ice Cube); and has U.S. TV distribution rights to South Park, Hell's Kitchen and a movie library featuring titles from Revolution Studios. Debmar-Mercury is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), a leading global entertainment company.

About Lionsgate

Lionsgate is a leading global entertainment company with a strong and diversified presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home entertainment, family entertainment, digital distribution, new channel platforms and international distribution and sales. The Company has built a strong television presence in production of primetime cable and broadcast network series, distribution and syndication of programming and an array of channel assets. Lionsgate currently has 26 shows on 19 networks spanning its primetime production, distribution and syndication businesses, including such critically-acclaimed hits as the multiple Emmy Award-winning Mad Men, Weeds and Nurse Jackie, the new comedy Anger Management, the network series Nashville, the syndication successes Tyler Perry's House of Payne, its spinoff Meet the Browns, For Better Or Worse, The Wendy Williams Show, Are We There Yet? and the upcoming Orange Is The New Black, an original series for Netflix. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 15,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate brand remains synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world.





  [june 2013]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
      


· PARTNERS (FX)





[08/25/26 - 10:00 AM]
USA Network Greenlights New Scripted Original Series "Diplomatic Immunity"
The series centers on a young American doctor who is suddenly assigned to the medical office at the U.S. Embassy in Rome.

[08/25/26 - 09:58 AM]
Sarah Levy Joins Tubi Original YA Film "Sidelined 3: End Game"
Levy will join Noah Beck, Siena Agudong, and Charlie Gillespie who are all returning to reprise their roles.

[08/25/26 - 09:35 AM]
CNN & Variety Kick Off Expanded Partnership with Live Coverage of the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards Red Carpet
Coverage will stream live on Monday, September 14, beginning at 5pm ET at CNN.com/Watch and on the CNN app for CNN's streaming subscribers.

[08/25/26 - 09:11 AM]
Dan Stevens Is Slated to Star as Alex Murphy/RoboCop in the New Prime Video Series
Blumhouse Atomic Monster is behind the project.

[08/25/26 - 09:04 AM]
ESPN Expands Sports Content on Disney+ with College Football Saturdays This Fall
Each week throughout the season, Disney+ subscribers in the U.S. can stream two ESPN/ABC college football games in addition to the Emmy Award-winning "College GameDay Built by the Home Depot" pregame show, which debuted on Disney+ last season.

[08/25/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: Paramount+ Shares Trailer for "The Varnell Hill Show," Premiering September 1
"The Varnell Hill Show" reunites Martin Lawrence and Bentley Kyle Evans nearly three decades after Tommy Davidson's Varnell made his unforgettable debut on the iconic sitcom.

[08/25/26 - 09:01 AM]
Season Four of the Emmy Nominated HBO Original Drama Series "The Gilded Age" Debuts November 1
Bertha Russell changed Society at a cost. Now, her family must reckon with the consequences as Agnes van Rhijn seizes an opportunity to regain her position.

[08/25/26 - 08:39 AM]
AMC Global Media Announces New Shocking Docu-Series, "Archive X: Unexplained Phenomena"
The six-part series is set to premiere on Thursday, October 1 at 10pm ET/PT on SundanceTV, AMC+ and All Reality, with new episodes premiering weekly on all platforms.

[08/25/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "The Gold" Season 2 - Teaser
With stakes like this, difficult choices must be made...

[08/25/26 - 08:01 AM]
Hannah Berner to Host New Paramount+ Reality Dating Series "Making Love"
"Making Love" is a bold new relationship experiment which gives singles a completely original and unique opportunity to take destiny into their own hands.

[08/25/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Stranger Things: Tales from '85" - Season 2 Official Trailer - Netflix
With Valentine's Day on the way, the gang must uncover the truth behind ghostly apparitions and a swarm of strange creatures causing chaos around town.

[08/25/26 - 08:01 AM]
First Look: Hulu's "Only Murders in the Building" Season Six (Premieres December 8)
For the first time ever, the beloved crime-solving trio are leaving New York City.

[08/25/26 - 08:01 AM]
HGTV Greenlights "Let's Go Back to Your Place," A New Series Hosted by Tyler Cameron
In each episode, Tyler will guide one hopeful romantic on three house tours looking for design clues that reveal more about the people that live there.

[08/25/26 - 07:31 AM]
Netflix Announces Kevin Hart's "Cold as Balls" Will Premiere Globally on September 20
The new installment of episodes were shot live at Fanatics Fest in New York in August.

[08/25/26 - 07:05 AM]
Daniel Diemer and Shaheen Jafargholi Join the Cast of "Heated Rivalry" Season 2
Do you like it tough?