Exclusive: Peacock’s new comedy series Laid is rounding out its cast with 8 guest stars: Andre Hyland (Barry), Olivia Holt (Totally Killer), David Denman (The Office), Finneas O’Connell (Academy Award and Grammy Winning Singer/Songwriter), Chloe Fineman (SNL), Indya Moore (Pose), Ettore “Big E” Ewen (WWE Superstar) and John Early (Would it Kill You to Laugh).
Laid is executive produced by Stephanie Hsu, who also stars alongside Zosia Mamet, Michael Angarano and Tommy Martinez.
Laid follows a woman who finds out her former lovers are dying in unusual ways and must go back through her sex timeline to confront her past to move forward. It’s described as a f*cked-up rom-com where the answer to “Why can’t I find love, is there something wrong with me?” is a resounding: “Yes, there is. The problem is definitely you.”
The series is written and executive produced by Nahnatchka Khan and Sally Bradford McKenna (Son of Zorn). Also executive producing are John Davis and John Fox for Davis Entertainment; Jennifer Carreras for Fierce Baby; Marieke Hardy, Kirsty Fisher, and Liz Watts for Porchlight Films; and All3Media International.
Laid hails from Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, and is based on the Australian series of the same name created by Marieke Hardy and Kirsty Fisher and produced by Liz Watts.
Denman is represented by UTA and Berwick & Kovacik management; Early is represented by UTA and Rise management; Ewen is represented by Buchwald and Bad Toro management; Fineman is represented by CAA and Nicole Garcia Management; Holt is represented by WME and Entertainment 360; Hyland is represented by Mosaic management and Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer; Moore is represented by CAA, Stride Management, and Del Shaw; O’Connell is represented by WME.
Laid is executive produced by Stephanie Hsu, who also stars alongside Zosia Mamet, Michael Angarano and Tommy Martinez.
Laid follows a woman who finds out her former lovers are dying in unusual ways and must go back through her sex timeline to confront her past to move forward. It’s described as a f*cked-up rom-com where the answer to “Why can’t I find love, is there something wrong with me?” is a resounding: “Yes, there is. The problem is definitely you.”
The series is written and executive produced by Nahnatchka Khan and Sally Bradford McKenna (Son of Zorn). Also executive producing are John Davis and John Fox for Davis Entertainment; Jennifer Carreras for Fierce Baby; Marieke Hardy, Kirsty Fisher, and Liz Watts for Porchlight Films; and All3Media International.
Laid hails from Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, and is based on the Australian series of the same name created by Marieke Hardy and Kirsty Fisher and produced by Liz Watts.
Denman is represented by UTA and Berwick & Kovacik management; Early is represented by UTA and Rise management; Ewen is represented by Buchwald and Bad Toro management; Fineman is represented by CAA and Nicole Garcia Management; Holt is represented by WME and Entertainment 360; Hyland is represented by Mosaic management and Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer; Moore is represented by CAA, Stride Management, and Del Shaw; O’Connell is represented by WME.
- 5/22/2024
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
Peacock announced the straight to series order of comedy Laid, starring and executive produced by Academy Award nominee Stephanie Hsu. The series is written and executive produced by Nahnatchka Khan (Totally Killer, Young Rock, Fresh Off the Boat, Always Be My Maybe) and Sally Bradford McKenna (Son of Zorn). Also executive producing are John Davis and John Fox for Davis Entertainment; Jennifer Carreras for Fierce Baby; Marieke Hardy, Kirsty Fisher, and Liz Watts for Porchlight Films; and All3Media International. The series comes from Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, and is based on the Australian series ‘Laid’ created by Marieke Hardy and Kirsty Fisher, produced by Liz ... Read more...
- 1/12/2024
- by Thomas Miller
- Seat42F
Peacock has given a straight-to-series order to the comedy “Laid” with Stephanie Hsu attached to star, Variety has learned.
The series was first reported as being in development in June 2022. It hails from Nahnatchka Khan and Sally Bradford McKenna. Based on the Australian series of the same name, the official logline for “Laid” states, “A woman finds out her former lovers are dying in unusual ways and must go back through her sex timeline to confront her past in order to move forward.”
Khan and Bradford McKenna serve as writers and executive producers, with Hsu also executive producing. Khan executive produces along with Jennifer Carreras under their Fierce Baby Productions banner. John Davis and John Fox of Davis Entertainment also executive produce, as do Marieke Hardy, Kirsty Fisher, and Liz Watts for Porchlight Films. All3Media International is also an executive producer. Universal Television is the studio behind the series.
Hsu...
The series was first reported as being in development in June 2022. It hails from Nahnatchka Khan and Sally Bradford McKenna. Based on the Australian series of the same name, the official logline for “Laid” states, “A woman finds out her former lovers are dying in unusual ways and must go back through her sex timeline to confront her past in order to move forward.”
Khan and Bradford McKenna serve as writers and executive producers, with Hsu also executive producing. Khan executive produces along with Jennifer Carreras under their Fierce Baby Productions banner. John Davis and John Fox of Davis Entertainment also executive produce, as do Marieke Hardy, Kirsty Fisher, and Liz Watts for Porchlight Films. All3Media International is also an executive producer. Universal Television is the studio behind the series.
Hsu...
- 1/11/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Peacock is ready to get Laid.
The NBCUniversal-backed streamer has handed out a straight-to-series order for Laid, a comedy starring Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All at Once) and from writers Nahnatchka Khan and Sally Bradford McKenna.
Khan (Young Rock, Always Be My Maybe) and McKenna (Son of Zorn) are writing and exec producing the series for Universal Television, where the former’s Fierce Baby is based with an overall deal.
Laid revolves around a woman who finds out that her former lovers are dying in unusual ways and must go back through her “sex timeline” to confront her past in order to move forward. Peacock says Laid is a “f—ked up rom-com where the answer to ‘Why can’t I find love, is there something wrong with me?’ is a resounding ‘Yes. There is. The problem is definitely you.’”
Laid is based on the Australian series of the...
The NBCUniversal-backed streamer has handed out a straight-to-series order for Laid, a comedy starring Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All at Once) and from writers Nahnatchka Khan and Sally Bradford McKenna.
Khan (Young Rock, Always Be My Maybe) and McKenna (Son of Zorn) are writing and exec producing the series for Universal Television, where the former’s Fierce Baby is based with an overall deal.
Laid revolves around a woman who finds out that her former lovers are dying in unusual ways and must go back through her “sex timeline” to confront her past in order to move forward. Peacock says Laid is a “f—ked up rom-com where the answer to ‘Why can’t I find love, is there something wrong with me?’ is a resounding ‘Yes. There is. The problem is definitely you.’”
Laid is based on the Australian series of the...
- 1/11/2024
- by Lesley Goldberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Updated: In another sign that shows — even famous ones — can no longer “live forever” on streaming in the new era of media companies re-prioritizing profits, a slew of titles will be leaving Disney-controlled Hulu in the coming days as their license deals expire. For now, there are no plans to renew any of the pacts but that is always a possibility in the future.
‘Arrested Development’ and ‘Bob Newhart Show’
The list of departing series includes 18 series from Disney’s 20th Television, including the David E. Kelley Emmy-winning legal shows Ally McBeal, which the studio had been looking to remake, and The Practice, as well as fellow award-winners The Bob Newhart Show, Hill Street Blues and Arrested Development.
A slew of catalog titles from Fox and Paramount also are impacted, as well as a couple of properties each from Nat Geo and NBC News. Update: The license agreements for several...
‘Arrested Development’ and ‘Bob Newhart Show’
The list of departing series includes 18 series from Disney’s 20th Television, including the David E. Kelley Emmy-winning legal shows Ally McBeal, which the studio had been looking to remake, and The Practice, as well as fellow award-winners The Bob Newhart Show, Hill Street Blues and Arrested Development.
A slew of catalog titles from Fox and Paramount also are impacted, as well as a couple of properties each from Nat Geo and NBC News. Update: The license agreements for several...
- 9/23/2023
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Hulu is developing Girlshow, from Sally Bradford McKenna (Son Of Zorn) and Ro Donnelly and Dakota Johnson’s TeaTime Pictures, with Search Party alumna Meredith Hagner attached to star. Boat Rocker, which has a stake in TeaTime, produces through its first-look deal with the production company.
Plot details are being kept under wraps for the project, described as a dark comedy, which will be written and executive produced by McKenna.
Donnelly and Johnson executive produce for TeaTime, along with Oly Obst for 3 Arts.
Hagner is known for her role as Portia Davenport on all five seasons of Search Party. She most recently voiced Mora in Disenchantment and will next be seen starring in Apple TV+’s Bad Monkey. Hagner is repped by UTA, Suskin/Karshan Management and Felker Toczek Suddleson Abramson McGinnis Ryan.
McKenna began her writing career on Will and Grace and went on to serve as co-executive...
Plot details are being kept under wraps for the project, described as a dark comedy, which will be written and executive produced by McKenna.
Donnelly and Johnson executive produce for TeaTime, along with Oly Obst for 3 Arts.
Hagner is known for her role as Portia Davenport on all five seasons of Search Party. She most recently voiced Mora in Disenchantment and will next be seen starring in Apple TV+’s Bad Monkey. Hagner is repped by UTA, Suskin/Karshan Management and Felker Toczek Suddleson Abramson McGinnis Ryan.
McKenna began her writing career on Will and Grace and went on to serve as co-executive...
- 2/24/2023
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
The American Film Institute announced the recipients of its Writers’ Room Ready Awards on Thursday.
The annual awards program honors the best pilot scripts written by the AFI Conservatory’s screenwriting fellows. This year’s awards honor the 2021 and 2022 classes, after the prizes were delayed last year due to Covid-19.
“Congratulations to the 2021 and 2022 recipients of the Writers’ Room Ready Award,” AFI Conservatory dean and AFI executive vice president Susan Ruskin said in a statement. “We are incredibly proud of the dedication these writers have shown to their craft, exemplifying the highest standard of excellence and creativity. Together with the mentors, we are committed to supporting this next generation of talented writers as they share their stories with the world.”
Suhana Chander, Gianmarco Maximilian Giacomelli, Christina Kelly Holmes, Lia Wang and Yancey Wang were announced as the winners of the 2021 class. Max Hersh, Adam Rottler, Marley Schneier, Anna Vecellio and...
The annual awards program honors the best pilot scripts written by the AFI Conservatory’s screenwriting fellows. This year’s awards honor the 2021 and 2022 classes, after the prizes were delayed last year due to Covid-19.
“Congratulations to the 2021 and 2022 recipients of the Writers’ Room Ready Award,” AFI Conservatory dean and AFI executive vice president Susan Ruskin said in a statement. “We are incredibly proud of the dedication these writers have shown to their craft, exemplifying the highest standard of excellence and creativity. Together with the mentors, we are committed to supporting this next generation of talented writers as they share their stories with the world.”
Suhana Chander, Gianmarco Maximilian Giacomelli, Christina Kelly Holmes, Lia Wang and Yancey Wang were announced as the winners of the 2021 class. Max Hersh, Adam Rottler, Marley Schneier, Anna Vecellio and...
- 4/7/2022
- by Wilson Chapman
- Variety Film + TV
Daniel Radcliffe has been tapped to play musician “Weird Al” Yankovic in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, a Roku Original biopic from Funny or Die and Tango that will be available for streaming exclusively on The Roku Channel.
Yankovic and Eric Appel penned the feature, with the latter Funny or Die alum set to direct, after helming a short film of the same name for the production company back in 2010. Production will kick off in Los Angeles early next month.
Known for pastiching and parodying the works of his musical contemporaries, Yankovic is the biggest-selling comedy recording artist of all time. A five-time Grammy winner, his 2014 release Mandatory Fun was the first comedy album in history to debut at #1 on Billboard’s Top 200. He is one of only three artists to land top 40 hits in each of the last four decades—the others being Michael Jackson and Madonna.
Yankovic and Eric Appel penned the feature, with the latter Funny or Die alum set to direct, after helming a short film of the same name for the production company back in 2010. Production will kick off in Los Angeles early next month.
Known for pastiching and parodying the works of his musical contemporaries, Yankovic is the biggest-selling comedy recording artist of all time. A five-time Grammy winner, his 2014 release Mandatory Fun was the first comedy album in history to debut at #1 on Billboard’s Top 200. He is one of only three artists to land top 40 hits in each of the last four decades—the others being Michael Jackson and Madonna.
- 1/18/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Krapopolis has found its leader.
Jordan Young, who previously worked on The Simpsons and animated series including BoJack Horseman and Son of Zorn, has been tapped as showrunner and executive producer of Dan Harmon’s Fox animated comedy series.
Young will work under Harmon’s supervision and handle the series’ day-to-day activities. It is set to premiere in 2022.
Created and executive produced by Emmy-winning Rick and Morty co-creator and Community creator Harmon, Krapopolis is set in mythical ancient Greece and centered on a flawed family of humans, gods and monsters that tries to run one of the world’s first cities without killing each other.
2021 Fox Pilots & Series Orders
It marks the first wholly owned and financed series from Fox Entertainment and will be produced by Fox’s animation studio Bento Box Entertainment. It is also the first series to move forward under Fox’s broadcast direct model and is...
Jordan Young, who previously worked on The Simpsons and animated series including BoJack Horseman and Son of Zorn, has been tapped as showrunner and executive producer of Dan Harmon’s Fox animated comedy series.
Young will work under Harmon’s supervision and handle the series’ day-to-day activities. It is set to premiere in 2022.
Created and executive produced by Emmy-winning Rick and Morty co-creator and Community creator Harmon, Krapopolis is set in mythical ancient Greece and centered on a flawed family of humans, gods and monsters that tries to run one of the world’s first cities without killing each other.
2021 Fox Pilots & Series Orders
It marks the first wholly owned and financed series from Fox Entertainment and will be produced by Fox’s animation studio Bento Box Entertainment. It is also the first series to move forward under Fox’s broadcast direct model and is...
- 6/23/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Jordan Young has been named executive producer and showrunner on the Dan Harmon animated Fox comedy “Krapopolis.”
The show was ordered at Fox back in January and is slated to debut in 2022. Young will work under Harmon’s supervision in handling the day-to-day aspects of the production.
Young started out as an animator on “The Simpsons” before going on to co-develop the Comedy Central animated series “Drawn Together.” His other credits include “Son of Zorn,” “BoJack Horseman,” “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” “Life in Pieces,” and “Raising Hope.” He is repped by UTA and Lev Ginsburg.
Set in mythical ancient Greece, “Krapopolis” is centered on a flawed family of humans, gods and monsters that tries to run one of the world’s first cities without killing each other.
The series falls under Harmon’s broadcast network-only exclusive direct animation deal with Fox Entertainment. Harmon created the series and serves as executive producer alongside Young.
The show was ordered at Fox back in January and is slated to debut in 2022. Young will work under Harmon’s supervision in handling the day-to-day aspects of the production.
Young started out as an animator on “The Simpsons” before going on to co-develop the Comedy Central animated series “Drawn Together.” His other credits include “Son of Zorn,” “BoJack Horseman,” “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” “Life in Pieces,” and “Raising Hope.” He is repped by UTA and Lev Ginsburg.
Set in mythical ancient Greece, “Krapopolis” is centered on a flawed family of humans, gods and monsters that tries to run one of the world’s first cities without killing each other.
The series falls under Harmon’s broadcast network-only exclusive direct animation deal with Fox Entertainment. Harmon created the series and serves as executive producer alongside Young.
- 6/23/2021
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Suzanna Makkos has been named executive vice president of original comedy and adult animation for Adult Swim and HBO Max’s adult animation development teams, which WarnerMedia Studios and Networks Group is merging under her newly expanded leadership. The move will not result in any personnel cuts or changes.
“The adult animation boom is just starting, and by aligning our strengths and organizing as one, unified, best in class development team we are creating an unmatched, multiplatform destination for both creators and fans,” said Sarah Aubrey, head of original content for HBO Max. “Adult Swim has created an iconoclastic adult animation brand, and that identity will not only be preserved, it will now be further fueled by HBO Max and Suzanna’s talented development leadership.”
Makkos, who joined WarnerMedia in 2019, will continue to report to Aubrey and will now additionally report to Michael Ouweleen, the president of Adult Swim for...
“The adult animation boom is just starting, and by aligning our strengths and organizing as one, unified, best in class development team we are creating an unmatched, multiplatform destination for both creators and fans,” said Sarah Aubrey, head of original content for HBO Max. “Adult Swim has created an iconoclastic adult animation brand, and that identity will not only be preserved, it will now be further fueled by HBO Max and Suzanna’s talented development leadership.”
Makkos, who joined WarnerMedia in 2019, will continue to report to Aubrey and will now additionally report to Michael Ouweleen, the president of Adult Swim for...
- 4/23/2021
- by Elaine Low
- Variety Film + TV
In the latest consolidation move within WarnerMedia’s TV operations, Adult Swim and HBO Max’s adult animation development teams are being combined into one, led by Suzanna Makkos. Previously EVP Original Comedy and Animation for HBO Max, Makkos is taking an expanded role as EVP Original Comedy and Animation for HBO Max and Adult Swim.
She will continue to report to Sarah Aubrey, HBO Max’s head of original content, and will now also report to Adult Swim president Michael Ouweleen on all content developed for Adult Swim on all platforms. Adult Swim’s development team, led by VP Walter Newman, will now report into Makkos.
“The adult animation boom is just starting, and by aligning our strengths and organizing as one, unified, best-in-class development team we are creating an unmatched, multiplatform destination for both creators and fans,” said Aubrey. “Adult Swim has created an iconoclastic adult animation brand,...
She will continue to report to Sarah Aubrey, HBO Max’s head of original content, and will now also report to Adult Swim president Michael Ouweleen on all content developed for Adult Swim on all platforms. Adult Swim’s development team, led by VP Walter Newman, will now report into Makkos.
“The adult animation boom is just starting, and by aligning our strengths and organizing as one, unified, best-in-class development team we are creating an unmatched, multiplatform destination for both creators and fans,” said Aubrey. “Adult Swim has created an iconoclastic adult animation brand,...
- 4/23/2021
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Fox has put in development a single-camera workplace comedy from writers Nicole Delaney (Thirsty) and Matt Hausfater (Undateable), Phil Lord & Chris Miller and their Lord Miller Productions, and Sony Pictures TV, where Lord Miller is based. The project is a co-production between Sony Pictures TV and Fox Entertainment.
Written by Delaney and Hausfater, the Untitled Wellness Comedy revolves around 33-year-old writer Niki Davidson and her eccentric co-workers at the hottest wellness brand on the planet run by celebrity guru, Hallie Spencer.
Delaney and Hausfater executive produce with Lord and Miller through their Lord Miller banner.
The project is part of Lord Miller’s first broadcast selling season at the company’s new TV home, Sony Pictures Television.
Delaney wrote and directed the short film, Thirsty starring Maya Rudolph and Jay Ellis through FX’s Cake that premiered in competition at the Toronto International Film Festival this year. She previously staffed on HBO’s Vegetable,...
Written by Delaney and Hausfater, the Untitled Wellness Comedy revolves around 33-year-old writer Niki Davidson and her eccentric co-workers at the hottest wellness brand on the planet run by celebrity guru, Hallie Spencer.
Delaney and Hausfater executive produce with Lord and Miller through their Lord Miller banner.
The project is part of Lord Miller’s first broadcast selling season at the company’s new TV home, Sony Pictures Television.
Delaney wrote and directed the short film, Thirsty starring Maya Rudolph and Jay Ellis through FX’s Cake that premiered in competition at the Toronto International Film Festival this year. She previously staffed on HBO’s Vegetable,...
- 12/19/2019
- by Nellie Andreeva and Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Producer Seth Cohen (Bless the Harts) has signed a first-look deal with Full Frontal and Russian Doll producer Jax Media, a pact that marks the first Ep deal for the company’s TV group. Cohen will be working out of Jax Media’s L.A. offices.
Over the past year, Cohen as an independent producer has sold projects to Netflix, FX, Amazon, Adult Swim, Miramax and eone. He also has served as an executive producer on Netflix’s Hoops and Fox’s Bless the Harts, which was just renewed for a second season, alongside Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. Previously, Cohen was president of Lord and Miller’s pod at 20th TV, where he developed and served as executive producer of the Emmy- nominated comedy series The Last Man on Earth, as well as Son of Zorn and Making History.
“We are very excited to have Seth on board,...
Over the past year, Cohen as an independent producer has sold projects to Netflix, FX, Amazon, Adult Swim, Miramax and eone. He also has served as an executive producer on Netflix’s Hoops and Fox’s Bless the Harts, which was just renewed for a second season, alongside Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. Previously, Cohen was president of Lord and Miller’s pod at 20th TV, where he developed and served as executive producer of the Emmy- nominated comedy series The Last Man on Earth, as well as Son of Zorn and Making History.
“We are very excited to have Seth on board,...
- 11/6/2019
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Jason Sudeikis is bringing his whistle and playbook to Apple TV+: The SNL alum will star as his football coach character Ted Lasso in a new comedy series for the streamer.
The comedy, titled Ted Lasso, has earned a straight-to-series order from Apple, with Sudeikis as the title character, an American football coach who finds himself hired to manage an English soccer team, despite having zero soccer coaching experience. (The character originated in a series of promotional videos for NBC Sports that debuted in 2013.) Sudeikis will co-write the pilot with Bill Lawrence (Scrubs, Cougar Town), with both also serving as executive producers.
The comedy, titled Ted Lasso, has earned a straight-to-series order from Apple, with Sudeikis as the title character, an American football coach who finds himself hired to manage an English soccer team, despite having zero soccer coaching experience. (The character originated in a series of promotional videos for NBC Sports that debuted in 2013.) Sudeikis will co-write the pilot with Bill Lawrence (Scrubs, Cougar Town), with both also serving as executive producers.
- 10/14/2019
- TVLine.com
Jason Sudeikis is bringing back his clueless football coach character Ted Lasso for a new series at Apple TV+, the streamer announced on Monday.
“Ted Lasso” — named for the character Sudeikis first originated on NBC during the networks Premier League coverage — stars the “Saturday Night Live” alum as an idealistic all-American football coach hired to manage an English football club, despite having no soccer coaching experience at all.
In addition to starring, Sudeikis will serve writer and executive producer on the comedy, which has been given a series order by the upcoming streaming service. He co-wrote the pilot with “Scrubs” creator Bill Lawrence, who also serves as executive producer.
Also Read: Jason Sudeikis Returns as Clueless Soccer Coach, Drives 'Bradley Mini Cooper' (Video)
Sudeikis first appeared as the character — then the fictional new head coach for the very real Tottenham Hotspurs — in 2013. He returned the following year for a six-minute...
“Ted Lasso” — named for the character Sudeikis first originated on NBC during the networks Premier League coverage — stars the “Saturday Night Live” alum as an idealistic all-American football coach hired to manage an English football club, despite having no soccer coaching experience at all.
In addition to starring, Sudeikis will serve writer and executive producer on the comedy, which has been given a series order by the upcoming streaming service. He co-wrote the pilot with “Scrubs” creator Bill Lawrence, who also serves as executive producer.
Also Read: Jason Sudeikis Returns as Clueless Soccer Coach, Drives 'Bradley Mini Cooper' (Video)
Sudeikis first appeared as the character — then the fictional new head coach for the very real Tottenham Hotspurs — in 2013. He returned the following year for a six-minute...
- 10/14/2019
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
Jason Sudeikis is bringing his Ted Lasso character to Apple’s upcoming streaming service.
Variety has learned that Apple TV Plus has given a series order to “Ted Lasso,” on which Sudeikis will star in addition to writing and executive producing. In the series, Sudeikis plays Lasso, an idealistic all-American football coach hired to manage an English football club despite having no soccer coaching experience at all. This marks Sudeikis’ first regular onscreen television role since he left “Saturday Night Live” in 2013. He previously voiced the main character in the Fox live-action/animation hybrid series “Son of Zorn” in 2016.
The character originally appeared in an NBC Sports video in 2013 to help promote the fact that NBC Sports would begin broadcasting English Premier League games. It proved so successful that NBC brought the character back the following year to serve as an analyst.
Sudeikis co-wrote the pilot along with Bill Lawrence,...
Variety has learned that Apple TV Plus has given a series order to “Ted Lasso,” on which Sudeikis will star in addition to writing and executive producing. In the series, Sudeikis plays Lasso, an idealistic all-American football coach hired to manage an English football club despite having no soccer coaching experience at all. This marks Sudeikis’ first regular onscreen television role since he left “Saturday Night Live” in 2013. He previously voiced the main character in the Fox live-action/animation hybrid series “Son of Zorn” in 2016.
The character originally appeared in an NBC Sports video in 2013 to help promote the fact that NBC Sports would begin broadcasting English Premier League games. It proved so successful that NBC brought the character back the following year to serve as an analyst.
Sudeikis co-wrote the pilot along with Bill Lawrence,...
- 10/14/2019
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
One of the most reliable programming blocks on television belongs to Fox Sunday’s back-to-back animated shows, each of them a family comedy with its own specific tone and rhythm. And yet, it’s been a while since a fresh comedy established itself there as its own force. Attempts like “Son of Zorn,” “Bordertown,” and “Golan the Insatiable” died on the vine, maybe in part because they didn’t follow the family sitcom formula that’s served the more established trio of “The Simpsons,” “Family Guy” and “Bob’s Burgers” so well.
Enter “Bless the Harts,” a new series from creator Emily Spivey that mixes and matches elements from other family comedies in the hopes of finding its own groove. Loosely inspired by Spivey’s own childhood growing up in North Carolina, “Bless the Harts” follows the Hart family scraping by while stumbling from one inevitably disastrous misadventure to the next.
Enter “Bless the Harts,” a new series from creator Emily Spivey that mixes and matches elements from other family comedies in the hopes of finding its own groove. Loosely inspired by Spivey’s own childhood growing up in North Carolina, “Bless the Harts” follows the Hart family scraping by while stumbling from one inevitably disastrous misadventure to the next.
- 9/30/2019
- by Caroline Framke
- Variety Film + TV
Phil Lord and Chris Miller have just joined a very exciting club. Monday, Sony Pictures Television announced the creators behind “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” and “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” have signed a nine-figure overall deal with the studio.
Lord and Miller have worked with Sony for years, and the new deal will expand upon that relationship, allowing them to develop a slate of projects for a variety of platforms through Lord Miller Productions. One sandbox they’ll be able to play in is Marvel — specifically, the characters which are still under the Sony banner, including Spider-Man and his related foes.
“We are so grateful to everyone at Sony Pictures Television for choosing to partner with us and expand our enduring relationship with the studio. Together we aim to make groundbreaking work of the highest quality and integrity, and to place that work in convenient proximity to your eyeballs and earholes,...
Lord and Miller have worked with Sony for years, and the new deal will expand upon that relationship, allowing them to develop a slate of projects for a variety of platforms through Lord Miller Productions. One sandbox they’ll be able to play in is Marvel — specifically, the characters which are still under the Sony banner, including Spider-Man and his related foes.
“We are so grateful to everyone at Sony Pictures Television for choosing to partner with us and expand our enduring relationship with the studio. Together we aim to make groundbreaking work of the highest quality and integrity, and to place that work in convenient proximity to your eyeballs and earholes,...
- 4/29/2019
- by Liz Shannon Miller
- Indiewire
Oscar-winning writers/directors/producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller have signed a massive five-year overall deal with Sony Pictures Television.
No one is commenting but the value of the pact is believed to be in the nine figures. Under the agreement, the duo will develop live-action comedy and drama series as well as animated shows through their Lord Miller Productions company, including a suite of TV series based on Sony’s Universe of Marvel characters, referred to as Spider-verse, which had been a priority for Spt.
The latter is said to have been a major selling point that helped bring Lord and Miller to Sony TV in a very competitive situation with multiple independent studios and a streaming platform pursuing them. The pair is coming off winning an Oscar for Sony’s Spider-man: Into the Spider-verse. The Sony TV deal allows the pair to develop their own projects for network,...
No one is commenting but the value of the pact is believed to be in the nine figures. Under the agreement, the duo will develop live-action comedy and drama series as well as animated shows through their Lord Miller Productions company, including a suite of TV series based on Sony’s Universe of Marvel characters, referred to as Spider-verse, which had been a priority for Spt.
The latter is said to have been a major selling point that helped bring Lord and Miller to Sony TV in a very competitive situation with multiple independent studios and a streaming platform pursuing them. The pair is coming off winning an Oscar for Sony’s Spider-man: Into the Spider-verse. The Sony TV deal allows the pair to develop their own projects for network,...
- 4/29/2019
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Jason Alexander has been tapped to voice an animated mouse within a live-action comedy pilot, from the network that brought you Son of Zorn.
Fox’s Richard Lovely, penned by Billy Finnegan (Grace and Frankie), stars The Odd Couple‘s Thomas Lennon as the titular disgruntled author of the best-selling children’s book series, Mr. Mouse. Richard doesn’t hate children, but rather just everything about them. After a publicity fiasco involving an unexpectedly savvy 9-year-old, Mr. Mouse (voiced by Alexander) appears in Richard’s real life as he is forced into an unlikely father/son relationship that will change his life forever.
Fox’s Richard Lovely, penned by Billy Finnegan (Grace and Frankie), stars The Odd Couple‘s Thomas Lennon as the titular disgruntled author of the best-selling children’s book series, Mr. Mouse. Richard doesn’t hate children, but rather just everything about them. After a publicity fiasco involving an unexpectedly savvy 9-year-old, Mr. Mouse (voiced by Alexander) appears in Richard’s real life as he is forced into an unlikely father/son relationship that will change his life forever.
- 4/3/2019
- TVLine.com
Writer-producer Eli Jorne has signed a two-year overall deal with AMC. Under the pact, Jorne is writing on the upcoming tenth season of the network’s flagship series, zombie drama The Walking Dead, and is developing new series projects.
The overall pact formalizes Jorne’s relationship with AMC. He recently developed two projects for the cable network, a character-driven sci-fi project with Rainn Wilson and a character-driven horror anthology.
Jorne started in comedy. He served as executive producer/co-showrunner on FX’s Wilfred and as co-executive producer on Starz’s comedy series Blunt Talk and also co-created/executive produced Fox’s live-action/animated comedy series Son of Zorn.
Over the last couple of years, Jorne has transitioned from comedy to drama. He worked on a wrestling drama series, which was in the works at Starz before segueing to development at AMC. He is repped by UTA and Hansen Jacobson.
The overall pact formalizes Jorne’s relationship with AMC. He recently developed two projects for the cable network, a character-driven sci-fi project with Rainn Wilson and a character-driven horror anthology.
Jorne started in comedy. He served as executive producer/co-showrunner on FX’s Wilfred and as co-executive producer on Starz’s comedy series Blunt Talk and also co-created/executive produced Fox’s live-action/animated comedy series Son of Zorn.
Over the last couple of years, Jorne has transitioned from comedy to drama. He worked on a wrestling drama series, which was in the works at Starz before segueing to development at AMC. He is repped by UTA and Hansen Jacobson.
- 3/20/2019
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: ICM Partners has inked multi-hyphenate and multi-Emmy nominated actress Cheryl Hines.
The former Groundlings alum is best known for her role as Cheryl David, the foil and former wife to Larry David’s Larry David on HBO’s Emmy winning series, Curb Your Enthusiasm which landed her two Comedy Supporting Actress Primetime Emmy noms and three SAG ensemble noms.
Hines made her feature directorial debut with the 2009 pic Serious Moonlight which starred Meg Ryan, Timothy Hutton, Kristen Bell, and Justin Long. The pic was from a script by late actress-filmmaker Adrienne Shelly, and followed a high-powered attorney who duct tapes her adulterous husband to the toilet prior to their home being invaded by burglars. Hines starred in Waitress, the 2007 film Shelly directed, wrote and starred in and which went on to inspire a posthumous successful Broadway musical.
Hines’ credits include such films as Bad Moms Christmas, Along Came Polly,...
The former Groundlings alum is best known for her role as Cheryl David, the foil and former wife to Larry David’s Larry David on HBO’s Emmy winning series, Curb Your Enthusiasm which landed her two Comedy Supporting Actress Primetime Emmy noms and three SAG ensemble noms.
Hines made her feature directorial debut with the 2009 pic Serious Moonlight which starred Meg Ryan, Timothy Hutton, Kristen Bell, and Justin Long. The pic was from a script by late actress-filmmaker Adrienne Shelly, and followed a high-powered attorney who duct tapes her adulterous husband to the toilet prior to their home being invaded by burglars. Hines starred in Waitress, the 2007 film Shelly directed, wrote and starred in and which went on to inspire a posthumous successful Broadway musical.
Hines’ credits include such films as Bad Moms Christmas, Along Came Polly,...
- 3/19/2019
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Fox is developing a single-camera comedy that hails from Riki Lindhome and Monica Padrick.
“Tails” will follow Erika (Lindhome), a woman in her late 30s, who despite the pressure she feels from the world around her, refuses to settle in any area of her life. Lindhome will serve as writer and executive producer on the project alongside Padrick in addition to starring. Fox has given the project a script commitment with a penalty attached.
Amy Poehler will also executive produce via her Paper Kite Productions banner, with Paper Kite’s Kim Lessing producing. Dave Becky of 3 Arts Entertainment will also executive produce. Universal Television will produce in association with Paper Kite, which is set up under an overall deal at the studio.
Padrick previously served as a staff writer on “Community,” and has written for recent shows like “The Mayor” and “Son of Zorn.” She is also writing for...
“Tails” will follow Erika (Lindhome), a woman in her late 30s, who despite the pressure she feels from the world around her, refuses to settle in any area of her life. Lindhome will serve as writer and executive producer on the project alongside Padrick in addition to starring. Fox has given the project a script commitment with a penalty attached.
Amy Poehler will also executive produce via her Paper Kite Productions banner, with Paper Kite’s Kim Lessing producing. Dave Becky of 3 Arts Entertainment will also executive produce. Universal Television will produce in association with Paper Kite, which is set up under an overall deal at the studio.
Padrick previously served as a staff writer on “Community,” and has written for recent shows like “The Mayor” and “Son of Zorn.” She is also writing for...
- 10/18/2018
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Phil Lord and Chris Miller (The Lego Movie, 21 Jump Street) are set to help develop a new comedy series at NBC as executive producers. The series is a workplace comedy called Business as Usual and it’s described as a comedy about “everyday employees at a company in crisis, trying to keep their jobs and maintain their relationships as their workplace goes insane.”
According to Variety, the project generated significant interest from several networks and many of them offering to buy it in the room before it ultimately ended up landing at NBC.
The project is set up to be produced by Twentieth Century Fox Television, and what’s interesting about that is that fact that the concept for the series is very similar to what is going on at Fox at the moment as they are being purchased by Disney.
Obviously, the series isn’t about what is happening at Fox,...
According to Variety, the project generated significant interest from several networks and many of them offering to buy it in the room before it ultimately ended up landing at NBC.
The project is set up to be produced by Twentieth Century Fox Television, and what’s interesting about that is that fact that the concept for the series is very similar to what is going on at Fox at the moment as they are being purchased by Disney.
Obviously, the series isn’t about what is happening at Fox,...
- 9/13/2018
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
NBC has put into development a workplace comedy from “The Last Man on Earth” duo Phil Lord and Chris Miller, TheWrap has learned.
Written and executive produced by “Vice Principals” and “Family Guy” alum Hayes Davenport, “Business as Usual” follows everyday employees at a company in crisis, trying to keep their jobs and maintain their relationships as their workplace goes insane.
Hailing from 20th Century Fox Television, the project has been given a script commitment with penalty from the network. Lord and Miller will executive produce.
Also Read: NBC Seizes 5th Straight 52-Week Ratings Win, Takes Total Viewers for First Time in 16 Years
Lord and Miller’s most recent TV efforts include the recently canceled “The Last Man on Earth” and the short-lived Fox comedies “Son of Zorn” and “Making History.” They’re also credited as executive producers on “Unkitty!,” the “Lego Movie” spinoff series on Cartoon Network.
Variety first reported the news.
Written and executive produced by “Vice Principals” and “Family Guy” alum Hayes Davenport, “Business as Usual” follows everyday employees at a company in crisis, trying to keep their jobs and maintain their relationships as their workplace goes insane.
Hailing from 20th Century Fox Television, the project has been given a script commitment with penalty from the network. Lord and Miller will executive produce.
Also Read: NBC Seizes 5th Straight 52-Week Ratings Win, Takes Total Viewers for First Time in 16 Years
Lord and Miller’s most recent TV efforts include the recently canceled “The Last Man on Earth” and the short-lived Fox comedies “Son of Zorn” and “Making History.” They’re also credited as executive producers on “Unkitty!,” the “Lego Movie” spinoff series on Cartoon Network.
Variety first reported the news.
- 9/12/2018
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
Phil Lord and Chris Miller may have just taken meta joke telling to a new level.
The celebrated writers, producers, and directors are set to executive produce a single-camera comedy project currently in the works at NBC, Variety has learned exclusively.
Hailing from writer and fellow executive producer Hayes Davenport, the project is titled “Business as Usual.” It is described as a comedy about everyday employees at a company in crisis, trying to keep their jobs and maintain their relationships as their workplace goes insane.
Lord and Miller will produce via their Lord Miller Productions banner, with the company’s Aubrey Lee overseeing the project. Twentieth Century Fox Television, where Lord Miller is under an overall deal, will produce. NBC has given the project a script commitment with a penalty attached. According to an individual with knowledge of the deal, the project generated significant interest, with multiple networks offering to...
The celebrated writers, producers, and directors are set to executive produce a single-camera comedy project currently in the works at NBC, Variety has learned exclusively.
Hailing from writer and fellow executive producer Hayes Davenport, the project is titled “Business as Usual.” It is described as a comedy about everyday employees at a company in crisis, trying to keep their jobs and maintain their relationships as their workplace goes insane.
Lord and Miller will produce via their Lord Miller Productions banner, with the company’s Aubrey Lee overseeing the project. Twentieth Century Fox Television, where Lord Miller is under an overall deal, will produce. NBC has given the project a script commitment with a penalty attached. According to an individual with knowledge of the deal, the project generated significant interest, with multiple networks offering to...
- 9/12/2018
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Supergirl alum Floriana Lima, as well as Josh Stewart (Shooter) and Giorgia Whigham (Scream), have boarded Marvel’s The Punisher for Season 2.
Per our sister site Deadline, Lima will fill the series regular role of Krista Dumont, a compassionate and driven psychotherapist for military veterans.
Stewart has been cast as John Pilgrim, a man who left behind a life of violence but is forced by circumstances to revisit his old skill set and enter Frank Castle’s world, while Whigham will play Amy Bendix, a street-smart grifter with a mysterious past.
A Season 2 premiere date has not been set for the Netflix series,...
Per our sister site Deadline, Lima will fill the series regular role of Krista Dumont, a compassionate and driven psychotherapist for military veterans.
Stewart has been cast as John Pilgrim, a man who left behind a life of violence but is forced by circumstances to revisit his old skill set and enter Frank Castle’s world, while Whigham will play Amy Bendix, a street-smart grifter with a mysterious past.
A Season 2 premiere date has not been set for the Netflix series,...
- 2/26/2018
- TVLine.com
Katie Newman, director of development and production at Lord & Miller's 20th Century Fox TV-based production company, has joined 3 Arts Entertainment as a manager. She starts this week. Newman, who began her career as an assistant at UTA, spent the last three years as director of development and production for Lord Miller and had producing roles on the company’s Fox comedy series Last Man on Earth and Son of Zorn. "We're so thrilled Katie chose 3 Arts as her home," said 3…...
- 1/23/2018
- Deadline TV
When Curb Your Enthusiasm returned for its eighth season in 2011, it was a strange experience for Cheryl Hines, who is best known for her role as Cheryl, Larry David’s onscreen wife who left David on the show several seasons prior.
“It was kind of sad,” Hines tells Et of being largely absent from the show’s eighth season. “It was a little different because before, I would watch the new episodes with my friends. We had a little Sunday night thing. When I was working on Curb I could stay up, because we had already shot it,” she says. “But when Curb came back and I wasn’t in it, it wasn't quite the same because I was working at the time. I had to get up at four in the morning for an early call time on Mondays, so I couldn’t really stay up to watch it.”
It had been...
“It was kind of sad,” Hines tells Et of being largely absent from the show’s eighth season. “It was a little different because before, I would watch the new episodes with my friends. We had a little Sunday night thing. When I was working on Curb I could stay up, because we had already shot it,” she says. “But when Curb came back and I wasn’t in it, it wasn't quite the same because I was working at the time. I had to get up at four in the morning for an early call time on Mondays, so I couldn’t really stay up to watch it.”
It had been...
- 10/5/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
Last year, Fox aired nine new shows and ended up dropping six of them. How will the network do in the ratings this time around? How many 2016-17 shows will be cancelled or renewed? Stay tuned.How do the execs decide what to cancel or keep? They look at a lot of different factors but the ratings play a very large role. The higher the ratings, the better chances a show has of surviving.Fox shows this season (so far): 24: Legacy, American Grit, Apb, Beat Shazam, Bob's Burgers, Bones, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Empire, The Exorcist, The F Word, Family Guy, Gotham, Hell's Kitchen, Kicking & Screaming, The Last Man on Earth, Lethal Weapon, Love Connection, Lucifer, MasterChef, MasterChef Junior, The Mick, My Kitchen Rules, New Girl, Pitch, Prison Break, Rosewood, Scream Queens, The Simpsons, Sleepy Hollow, Son of Zorn, Star and You the Jury.Read More…...
- 9/26/2017
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
Sunday’s Hurricane Irma-delayed Nielsen numbers are in, and Fox’s The Orville premiered to 8.6 million total viewers and a 2.8 demo rating (per finals), up sharply from what what Son of Zorn debuted to a year ago leading out of football (6 mil/2.4) and marking the highest-rated broadcast drama launch since This Is Us.
Over on NBC, Sunday Night Football drew 24.2 million total viewers, up 5 percent from the finals for last year’s Sunday opener.
Finals are not yet available for CBS’ Big Brother (6.5 mil/1.9), which is eyeing its biggest Sunday audience of the season while equaling its best rating in five weeks,...
Over on NBC, Sunday Night Football drew 24.2 million total viewers, up 5 percent from the finals for last year’s Sunday opener.
Finals are not yet available for CBS’ Big Brother (6.5 mil/1.9), which is eyeing its biggest Sunday audience of the season while equaling its best rating in five weeks,...
- 9/12/2017
- TVLine.com
Prepare for You’re the Worst‘s Lindsay and Becca to regress… even more than usual.
The Fxx comedy has hired Robin Riker (General Hospital, The Bold and the Beautiful) to play Fay Cottumaccio, mother to Lindsay and Becca, per The Hollywood Reporter. The character, an actress of some fame in the 1980s, arrives in town to take a part on a sitcom, prompting her daughters to compete for her attention. Riker will appear in two episodes.
Mama’s appearance seems like it might put a pause on Lindsay’s nascent self-improvement, which series creator Stephen Falk talked about with...
The Fxx comedy has hired Robin Riker (General Hospital, The Bold and the Beautiful) to play Fay Cottumaccio, mother to Lindsay and Becca, per The Hollywood Reporter. The character, an actress of some fame in the 1980s, arrives in town to take a part on a sitcom, prompting her daughters to compete for her attention. Riker will appear in two episodes.
Mama’s appearance seems like it might put a pause on Lindsay’s nascent self-improvement, which series creator Stephen Falk talked about with...
- 9/7/2017
- TVLine.com
Warning: This post contains spoilers from Wednesday’s You’re the Worst season premiere.
If You’re the Worst is actually just a competition to see which character is truly the worst, Jimmy raced out to an early lead in Wednesday’s Season 4 premiere.
The Fxx comedy’s two-part premiere revealed how Jimmy and Gretchen reacted to him proposing to, and then abandoning, her in last season’s finale: Jimmy ran away and hid in a dusty trailer park for three months, watching The Fall Guy DVDs and drinking whiskey with a surly old neighbor (Justified‘s Raymond J. Barry...
If You’re the Worst is actually just a competition to see which character is truly the worst, Jimmy raced out to an early lead in Wednesday’s Season 4 premiere.
The Fxx comedy’s two-part premiere revealed how Jimmy and Gretchen reacted to him proposing to, and then abandoning, her in last season’s finale: Jimmy ran away and hid in a dusty trailer park for three months, watching The Fall Guy DVDs and drinking whiskey with a surly old neighbor (Justified‘s Raymond J. Barry...
- 9/7/2017
- TVLine.com
Last year, Fox aired nine new shows and ended up dropping six of them. How will the network do in the ratings this time around? How many 2016-17 shows will be cancelled or renewed? Stay tuned.How do the execs decide what to cancel or keep? They look at a lot of different factors but the ratings play a very large role. The higher the ratings, the better chances a show has of surviving.Fox shows this season (so far): 24: Legacy, American Grit, Apb, Beat Shazam, Bob's Burgers, Bones, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Empire, The Exorcist, The F Word, Family Guy, Gotham, Hell's Kitchen, Kicking & Screaming, The Last Man on Earth, Lethal Weapon, Love Connection, Lucifer, MasterChef, MasterChef Junior, The Mick, My Kitchen Rules, New Girl, Pitch, Prison Break, Rosewood, Scream Queens, The Simpsons, Sleepy Hollow, Son of Zorn, Star and You the Jury.Read More…...
- 9/3/2017
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
How will You’re the Worst‘s Jimmy bounce back from abandoning his fiancée last season? By taking a little “me time,” apparently.
The new trailer for Season 4 of Fxx’s caustic rom-com — premiering Wednesday, Sept. 6 at 10/9c — shows us the aftermath of Jimmy callously ditching Gretchen right after proposing to her in last season’s finale. Jimmy runs off to hide out in an old-folks trailer park, growing a patchy beard and befriending a mean old man (Justified‘s Raymond J. Berry) who doesn’t like him very much. And Gretchen’s handling the betrayal super well, too: She...
The new trailer for Season 4 of Fxx’s caustic rom-com — premiering Wednesday, Sept. 6 at 10/9c — shows us the aftermath of Jimmy callously ditching Gretchen right after proposing to her in last season’s finale. Jimmy runs off to hide out in an old-folks trailer park, growing a patchy beard and befriending a mean old man (Justified‘s Raymond J. Berry) who doesn’t like him very much. And Gretchen’s handling the betrayal super well, too: She...
- 8/17/2017
- TVLine.com
Fox has landed Revival, a new comedy executive produced by Fresh Off the Boat creator/showrunner Nahnatchka Khan. The project, which has received a put pilot commitment, will be written by former Son Of Zorn showrunner Sally Bradford McKenna, with Michael Showalter, coming off helming The Big Sick, set to direct. Turning the sitcom reboot phenomenon on its head, Revival centers on Elliot, formerly the little kid from a beloved ’80s family sitcom and now living a normal…...
- 8/17/2017
- Deadline TV
Zosia Mamet‘s post-Girls career is on a (literal) roll.
The Artist Formerly Known as Shoshanna Shapiro will guest-star as a roller-skating acquaintance of Gretchen’s in the Fxx series’ upcoming Season 4, creator Stephen Falk told reporters at the Television Critics Association summer press tour Wednesday.
RelatedYou’re the Worst Adds Son of Zorn and Nobodies Actors for Season 4
Per Falk, Mamet will portray Heidi, “a old figure in Gretchen’s life who runs a roller skating rink…. So there’s a lot of roller skating.” (Thanks to a press release from the network, we also know that Heidi...
The Artist Formerly Known as Shoshanna Shapiro will guest-star as a roller-skating acquaintance of Gretchen’s in the Fxx series’ upcoming Season 4, creator Stephen Falk told reporters at the Television Critics Association summer press tour Wednesday.
RelatedYou’re the Worst Adds Son of Zorn and Nobodies Actors for Season 4
Per Falk, Mamet will portray Heidi, “a old figure in Gretchen’s life who runs a roller skating rink…. So there’s a lot of roller skating.” (Thanks to a press release from the network, we also know that Heidi...
- 8/9/2017
- TVLine.com
“Star Wars”: I find your lack of funny disturbing.
The space saga has always been infused with a healthy dose of humor – C-3Po and R2D2, after all, are essentially a droid vaudeville team. And it’s Han Solo who has always brought the most levity to the film series with his dry, caustic wit.
But the exit this week of Phil Lord and Chris Miller from the “Han Solo” movie is a reminder that the entire “Star Wars” franchise has been moving toward a much more dramatic realm for some time – taking itself a bit too seriously, and losing some of the mirth and joy that came from being a fan.
There’s plenty that Lucasfilm has done right since Disney acquired the company and Kathleen Kennedy took over as president in 2012. “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” ultimately pulled in $937 million at the box office, while “Rogue One” raked in $532 million — so it’s hard to second guess that kind of success.
But in the transition, “Star Wars” lost some of its willingness to poke fun at itself. Pre-Kennedy, Lucasfilm executives were game to participate in parodies – giving their blessings to satiric takes by both “Family Guy” and “Robot Chicken.”
The “Family Guy” episodes – “Blue Harvest,” “Something, Something, Something, Dark Side” and “It’s A Trap!” – were all retellings of the original “Star Wars” triliogy, but with the show’s characters (Stewie was Darth Vader, naturally). “Robot Chicken” produced three specials that included quick sketches taking on all sorts of characters, and even George Lucas.
Read More: ‘Star Wars’: The Han Solo Movie We Will Never Get to See
Both shows premiered these episodes between 2007 and 2010 – but there haven’t been any since then, even after the film franchise returned with “The Force Awakens.” (One source said “Family Guy” hasn’t asked since then, after George Lucas retired and the original films moved from 20th Century Fox to Disney when Lucasfilm was sold.)
Also put on hold: “Star Wars Detours,” which was produced by Stoopid Monkey – the team behind “Robot Chicken” (Seth Green and Matthew Senreich), with George Lucas’ blessing. Around two seasons were produced around the time Lucas sold the company – and now it’s still sitting in a vault somewhere, five years later. Here’s the trailer:
And then there’s the fate of a previously announced parody Darth Vader talk show produced by Disney-owned Maker Studios, “After Darth.” The irreverent digital shorts series was completely shot in 2015, but then shelved after Kennedy put down her foot.
“[She] heard Disney was making a comedy show and flipped out,” said one insider. “She said ‘Star Wars’ and comedy do not co-exist — it’s a drama. She shut down that show, and the ‘Robot Chicken’ [and ‘Family Guy’] stuff is now on moratorium. No more ‘Star Wars’ comedy.”
That insider said Kennedy also put a halt to “Star Wars” characters dancing at Disney theme parks: “Apparently they banned Darth Maul and Darth Vader from doing a breakdance battle in the Disney Parks,” said someone familiar with a meeting Lucasfilm execs had with Disney over proper use of the franchise.
But there does seem to be a bit of an exception to the humor rule in the children’s space, as the “Lego Star Wars” shows frequently contain humor, as do the mini books “Darth Vader and Son” and its spinoffs. (Lucasfilm has not responded to a request for comment.)
That’s not to say Lord and Miller were making “Han Solo” as a comedy. But as a source told Variety, Kennedy apparently wasn’t a fan of their shooting style – which, as IndieWire has noted, “tends to be freewheeling, collaborative, and open to improvisation.”
Read More: Han Solo Upheaval: Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s ‘Star Wars’ Exit
“Creative differences” have been cited for the firing – but it’s clear that there’s no place any more for irreverence in the “Star Wars” world, and that’s Lord and Miller’s bread and butter.
The duo have become experts at mixing a bit of absurdist, sometimes dark humor with true dramatic moments, in both their TV and film projects. That includes “The Lego Movie,” which was ultimately about a ragtag group of misfits who are destined, via prophecy, to forge a bond and fight evil – while also telling a story of an estranged father and son. (Wait, it sounds like they already did a “Star Wars” movie!)
Lord and Miller also deftly pulled off tragedy, pathos, drama, and humor with the pilot to Will Forte’s “The Last Man on Earth.” That DNA continued with last season’s “Son of Zorn” and “Making History,” two shows that they executive produced (but didn’t direct or write).
Like many of those characters, a young Han would presumably be even more cocky and self-assured – which is why Lord and Miller made plenty of sense to helm Lucasfilm’s “Han Solo” prequel. Ron Howard is a fine choice to replace the duo, but definitely leans toward the more dramatic, and earnest, side of things.
Take the lightheartedness out of “Star Wars,” and as a wise, old green Jedi Master once said, “Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny.”
Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.
Related storiesRian Johnson and Ana Lily Amirpour Talk 'Star Wars,' 'The Bad Batch' and Cinematic Boners -- ListenHan Solo Firing Proves Studios' Franchises Don't Want Directors To Be Storytellers'Star Wars': Don't Get Mad at Kathleen Kennedy For That Han Solo Shake-Up...
The space saga has always been infused with a healthy dose of humor – C-3Po and R2D2, after all, are essentially a droid vaudeville team. And it’s Han Solo who has always brought the most levity to the film series with his dry, caustic wit.
But the exit this week of Phil Lord and Chris Miller from the “Han Solo” movie is a reminder that the entire “Star Wars” franchise has been moving toward a much more dramatic realm for some time – taking itself a bit too seriously, and losing some of the mirth and joy that came from being a fan.
There’s plenty that Lucasfilm has done right since Disney acquired the company and Kathleen Kennedy took over as president in 2012. “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” ultimately pulled in $937 million at the box office, while “Rogue One” raked in $532 million — so it’s hard to second guess that kind of success.
But in the transition, “Star Wars” lost some of its willingness to poke fun at itself. Pre-Kennedy, Lucasfilm executives were game to participate in parodies – giving their blessings to satiric takes by both “Family Guy” and “Robot Chicken.”
The “Family Guy” episodes – “Blue Harvest,” “Something, Something, Something, Dark Side” and “It’s A Trap!” – were all retellings of the original “Star Wars” triliogy, but with the show’s characters (Stewie was Darth Vader, naturally). “Robot Chicken” produced three specials that included quick sketches taking on all sorts of characters, and even George Lucas.
Read More: ‘Star Wars’: The Han Solo Movie We Will Never Get to See
Both shows premiered these episodes between 2007 and 2010 – but there haven’t been any since then, even after the film franchise returned with “The Force Awakens.” (One source said “Family Guy” hasn’t asked since then, after George Lucas retired and the original films moved from 20th Century Fox to Disney when Lucasfilm was sold.)
Also put on hold: “Star Wars Detours,” which was produced by Stoopid Monkey – the team behind “Robot Chicken” (Seth Green and Matthew Senreich), with George Lucas’ blessing. Around two seasons were produced around the time Lucas sold the company – and now it’s still sitting in a vault somewhere, five years later. Here’s the trailer:
And then there’s the fate of a previously announced parody Darth Vader talk show produced by Disney-owned Maker Studios, “After Darth.” The irreverent digital shorts series was completely shot in 2015, but then shelved after Kennedy put down her foot.
“[She] heard Disney was making a comedy show and flipped out,” said one insider. “She said ‘Star Wars’ and comedy do not co-exist — it’s a drama. She shut down that show, and the ‘Robot Chicken’ [and ‘Family Guy’] stuff is now on moratorium. No more ‘Star Wars’ comedy.”
That insider said Kennedy also put a halt to “Star Wars” characters dancing at Disney theme parks: “Apparently they banned Darth Maul and Darth Vader from doing a breakdance battle in the Disney Parks,” said someone familiar with a meeting Lucasfilm execs had with Disney over proper use of the franchise.
But there does seem to be a bit of an exception to the humor rule in the children’s space, as the “Lego Star Wars” shows frequently contain humor, as do the mini books “Darth Vader and Son” and its spinoffs. (Lucasfilm has not responded to a request for comment.)
That’s not to say Lord and Miller were making “Han Solo” as a comedy. But as a source told Variety, Kennedy apparently wasn’t a fan of their shooting style – which, as IndieWire has noted, “tends to be freewheeling, collaborative, and open to improvisation.”
Read More: Han Solo Upheaval: Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s ‘Star Wars’ Exit
“Creative differences” have been cited for the firing – but it’s clear that there’s no place any more for irreverence in the “Star Wars” world, and that’s Lord and Miller’s bread and butter.
The duo have become experts at mixing a bit of absurdist, sometimes dark humor with true dramatic moments, in both their TV and film projects. That includes “The Lego Movie,” which was ultimately about a ragtag group of misfits who are destined, via prophecy, to forge a bond and fight evil – while also telling a story of an estranged father and son. (Wait, it sounds like they already did a “Star Wars” movie!)
Lord and Miller also deftly pulled off tragedy, pathos, drama, and humor with the pilot to Will Forte’s “The Last Man on Earth.” That DNA continued with last season’s “Son of Zorn” and “Making History,” two shows that they executive produced (but didn’t direct or write).
Like many of those characters, a young Han would presumably be even more cocky and self-assured – which is why Lord and Miller made plenty of sense to helm Lucasfilm’s “Han Solo” prequel. Ron Howard is a fine choice to replace the duo, but definitely leans toward the more dramatic, and earnest, side of things.
Take the lightheartedness out of “Star Wars,” and as a wise, old green Jedi Master once said, “Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny.”
Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.
Related storiesRian Johnson and Ana Lily Amirpour Talk 'Star Wars,' 'The Bad Batch' and Cinematic Boners -- ListenHan Solo Firing Proves Studios' Franchises Don't Want Directors To Be Storytellers'Star Wars': Don't Get Mad at Kathleen Kennedy For That Han Solo Shake-Up...
- 6/23/2017
- by Michael Schneider
- Indiewire
NBC’s Sunday Night Football and Thursday Night Football placed No. 1 and No. 2 for the 2016-17 TV season, with average ratings of 6.7 and 5.2 in the coveted 18-49 demo, respectively.
The Big Bang Theory came in third for the season (averaging a 4.9), while CBS’ Thursday Night Football package (4.8) and NBC’s freshman hit This Is Us (4.6) rounded out the Top 5, all including any available Live+7 DVR playback data.
RelatedTV Ratings: Everything You Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask
RelatedRenewal Scorecard: What’s Coming Back? What’s Cancelled?
In the demo, The Big Bang Theory easily led the comedy pack...
The Big Bang Theory came in third for the season (averaging a 4.9), while CBS’ Thursday Night Football package (4.8) and NBC’s freshman hit This Is Us (4.6) rounded out the Top 5, all including any available Live+7 DVR playback data.
RelatedTV Ratings: Everything You Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask
RelatedRenewal Scorecard: What’s Coming Back? What’s Cancelled?
In the demo, The Big Bang Theory easily led the comedy pack...
- 5/26/2017
- TVLine.com
Over the last few weeks, the TV networks have been letting fans know which of their favorite shows will be back next season. Fox disappointed many fans when it decided that freshman drama Pitch would strike out and not receive a second season pickup. Other series that will not be back include Scream Queens, Son of Zorn, and Making History. Fox also made a few surprise renewal announcements. New Girl will return for a shortened and final seventh season (though it is not airing in the fall) and the Exorcist will continue to scare on Friday nights. Lethal Weapon will be finding a new home as Fox is moving the drama
Fox Unveils New Fall Lineup: Gotham Shifts to Thursdays, Empire Begins at 8 Pm...
Fox Unveils New Fall Lineup: Gotham Shifts to Thursdays, Empire Begins at 8 Pm...
- 5/15/2017
- by Tim Gerstenberger
- TVovermind.com
Fox is the latest broadcaster to unveil its schedule for the 2017-18 TV season, and herewith is the major headline: Cookie is moving into TV’s family hour.
Related2017 Renewal Scorecard: What’s Coming Back? What’s Getting Cancelled? What’s on the Bubble?
This fall, Empire will move into Wednesday’s lead-off position (from 9 pm, where it’s been since launching three seasons ago). Quasi-companion series Star will follow Empire at 9 pm.
Also of note: Fox is creating a DC Comics/Marvel mashup on Mondays, pairing new X-Men-esque drama The Gifted with Lucifer; Lethal Weapon is being relocated to...
Related2017 Renewal Scorecard: What’s Coming Back? What’s Getting Cancelled? What’s on the Bubble?
This fall, Empire will move into Wednesday’s lead-off position (from 9 pm, where it’s been since launching three seasons ago). Quasi-companion series Star will follow Empire at 9 pm.
Also of note: Fox is creating a DC Comics/Marvel mashup on Mondays, pairing new X-Men-esque drama The Gifted with Lucifer; Lethal Weapon is being relocated to...
- 5/15/2017
- TVLine.com
Brace yourselves, TV fans -- it's time to discover the fate of your favorite shows!
Each May, the TV powers-that-be decide which series will continue on for another season, and which ones will be cast aside into the small screen abyss.
To help you sort through the overwhelming amount of TV news out there, Et has brought back our annual TV Cheat Sheet so you have a one-stop-shop master list all of the renewals and cancellations from ABC, CBS, The CW, Fox, and NBC.
We’ll be updating this list regularly with all the latest network news, so keep checking back to see what happens to those Tbd TV shows...
Related: 'Scandal' Reportedly to End After Season 7
ABC
ABC
Renewed:
American Housewife – Season 2
Black-ish – Season 4
Fresh Off the Boat – Season 4
Designated Survivor – Season 2
The Goldbergs – Seasons 5 and 6
Grey's Anatomy – Season 14
How to Get Away With Murder – Season 4
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – Season 5
The Middle – Season 9
[link...
Each May, the TV powers-that-be decide which series will continue on for another season, and which ones will be cast aside into the small screen abyss.
To help you sort through the overwhelming amount of TV news out there, Et has brought back our annual TV Cheat Sheet so you have a one-stop-shop master list all of the renewals and cancellations from ABC, CBS, The CW, Fox, and NBC.
We’ll be updating this list regularly with all the latest network news, so keep checking back to see what happens to those Tbd TV shows...
Related: 'Scandal' Reportedly to End After Season 7
ABC
ABC
Renewed:
American Housewife – Season 2
Black-ish – Season 4
Fresh Off the Boat – Season 4
Designated Survivor – Season 2
The Goldbergs – Seasons 5 and 6
Grey's Anatomy – Season 14
How to Get Away With Murder – Season 4
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – Season 5
The Middle – Season 9
[link...
- 5/12/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
The dust appears to have settled — for now.
A total of 12 broadcast series were dispatched to TV’s graveyard on Thursday as the major networks began cleaning house in advance of next week’s fall presentations (aka the Upfronts). The body count was highest at ABC, which axed series both established (American Crime), fledgling (Imaginary Mary) and long presumed dead (Conviction, Notorious).
Fox, meanwhile, pulled the plug on rookie series Making History, Son of Zorn and Apb. Even NBC got into the act (R.I.P. Powerless.)
The good news? Thursday is over. The bad news? The next 72 hours will...
A total of 12 broadcast series were dispatched to TV’s graveyard on Thursday as the major networks began cleaning house in advance of next week’s fall presentations (aka the Upfronts). The body count was highest at ABC, which axed series both established (American Crime), fledgling (Imaginary Mary) and long presumed dead (Conviction, Notorious).
Fox, meanwhile, pulled the plug on rookie series Making History, Son of Zorn and Apb. Even NBC got into the act (R.I.P. Powerless.)
The good news? Thursday is over. The bad news? The next 72 hours will...
- 5/12/2017
- TVLine.com
Vulture Watch Will Zorn reclaim his wife and son, or return to his animated Pacific island home? Has the Son of Zorn TV show been cancelled or renewed for a second season on Fox? The television vulture is watching for the latest cancellation and renewal news, so this page is a dedicated place to track the status of Son of Zorn season two. Bookmark it, or subscribe for the latest updates. Remember, the television vulture is watching your shows. Are you? What's This TV Show About? A hybrid live-action/animated comedy airing on the television network, Son of Zorn follows the animated Zorn (Jason Sudekis). As the Defender of Zephyria, Conqueror of the tribes of Agon, and decapitator of the dark herdsmen of Grith, Zorn has fought in countless epic battles throughout his life. Now, his greatest challenge may be reconnecting with his suburban, live-action family.
- 5/11/2017
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
Zorn is leaving Orange County for his Pacific island home -- and staying there. The Son of Zorn TV show has been cancelled by Fox. There will be no season two of the Sunday comedy series.A live-action/hybrid TV show, Son of Zorn stars Jason Sudeikis (well, his voice) as the animated title character. The Fox cast also includes Johnny Pemberton, Cheryl Hines, Tim Meadows, and Artemis Pebdani.Read More…...
- 5/11/2017
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
The unique live action/animation comedy Son of Zorn is no more. Fox announced the cancellation today after only one season.
The show was about a cartoon barbarian warrior (voiced by Jason Sudeikis), that was trying to assimilate into real-life Orange County where his son and ex-wife lived. It was created by Wilfred‘s Reed Agnew and Eli Jorne, and executive-produced by Phil Lord and Chris Miller (The Lego Movie).
Entertainment Weekly reports that Fox was not happy with how Zorn was performing in the ratings.
This is kind of a bummer, as I thought the show was pretty funny and very unique. It definitely had room for improvement and we could have easily seen that had Fox renewed.
The show was about a cartoon barbarian warrior (voiced by Jason Sudeikis), that was trying to assimilate into real-life Orange County where his son and ex-wife lived. It was created by Wilfred‘s Reed Agnew and Eli Jorne, and executive-produced by Phil Lord and Chris Miller (The Lego Movie).
Entertainment Weekly reports that Fox was not happy with how Zorn was performing in the ratings.
This is kind of a bummer, as I thought the show was pretty funny and very unique. It definitely had room for improvement and we could have easily seen that had Fox renewed.
- 5/11/2017
- by Kristian Odland
- GeekTyrant
Fox has canceled three freshman series: drama “Apb” and comedies “Making History” and “Son of Zorn.” The decision comes ahead of the network’s upfront presentation in New York next week, where they will announce their 2017-18 lineup. The cancellation comes days after Fox gave the axe to supernatural drama “Sleepy Hollow” after four seasons and the Morris Chestnut drama “Rosewood” after two seasons. The network has also canceled freshman baseball drama “Pitch,” starring Kylie Bunbury and Mark-Paul Gosselaar. Read More See Cheryl Hines's latest Power Move. PowerRank: 3712 Fox...
- 5/11/2017
- by Linda Ge
- The Wrap
It’s one and out for freshman series Making History, Son Of Zorn & Apb, which will not be renewed for a second season. The hybrid live-action/animated Son Of Zorn showed promise when it launched last fall but it’s proved very difficult to produce and a lengthy search for a new showrunner did not lead to a hire. In the end, the ratings proved not strong enough to justify a second season. Ditty for time-travel comedy Making History, which received very good reviews. Both…...
- 5/11/2017
- Deadline TV
Making History is, well, history. Son of Zorn has drawn his last breath. And it’s R.I.P. for Apb.
Fox has cancelled all three rookie series due to low ratings, TVLine has confirmed.
Related2017 Renewal Scorecard: What’s Coming Back? What’s Getting Cancelled? What’s on the Bubble?
The time travel-themed comedy Making History — which starred Adam Pally and Leighton Meester — saw its 13-episode order scaled back to 9 last fall before launching in March with 2.19 million viewers and an anemic 0.9 demo rating (and that was with the benefit of a Simpsons lead-in). Its series finale is slated...
Fox has cancelled all three rookie series due to low ratings, TVLine has confirmed.
Related2017 Renewal Scorecard: What’s Coming Back? What’s Getting Cancelled? What’s on the Bubble?
The time travel-themed comedy Making History — which starred Adam Pally and Leighton Meester — saw its 13-episode order scaled back to 9 last fall before launching in March with 2.19 million viewers and an anemic 0.9 demo rating (and that was with the benefit of a Simpsons lead-in). Its series finale is slated...
- 5/11/2017
- TVLine.com
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