“Bless This Mess,” the single-camera comedy co-created by Lake Bell and Elizabeth Meriwether, has been ordered to series at ABC, Variety has learned.
The series had previously been in contention at Fox and is a co-production between 20th Century Fox Television and ABC Studios. Bell also stars in the series alongside Dax Shepard. In the series, a newlywed couple’s plan to ditch big city living for a simpler life in Nebraska doesn’t go as expected. It will air in 2019 and has received a six-episode order.
“Bell and Shepard headline a stellar cast in this hilarious take on a classic fish-out- of- water story that we found irresistible,” said Karey Burke, the newly-minted president of ABC Entertainment.
Meriwether and Bell are both executive producers on the series as well along with Jake Kasdan, Melvin Mar, Shepard, and Katherine Pope. Bell also directed the pilot.
Meriwether currently has the single-camera comedy “Single Parents” at ABC,...
The series had previously been in contention at Fox and is a co-production between 20th Century Fox Television and ABC Studios. Bell also stars in the series alongside Dax Shepard. In the series, a newlywed couple’s plan to ditch big city living for a simpler life in Nebraska doesn’t go as expected. It will air in 2019 and has received a six-episode order.
“Bell and Shepard headline a stellar cast in this hilarious take on a classic fish-out- of- water story that we found irresistible,” said Karey Burke, the newly-minted president of ABC Entertainment.
Meriwether and Bell are both executive producers on the series as well along with Jake Kasdan, Melvin Mar, Shepard, and Katherine Pope. Bell also directed the pilot.
Meriwether currently has the single-camera comedy “Single Parents” at ABC,...
- 12/11/2018
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix has renewed “The Ranch” for a fourth season.
The multi-camera comedy debuted the first half of it third season in June. A premiere date for the second half is yet to be set. The fourth season will consist of 20 episodes.
Ashton Kutcher, Sam Elliott, Debra Winger, and Elisha Cuthbert star. The show follows Colt’s (Kutcher) return home after a brief and failed semi-pro football career to run the family ranching business with his father Beau (Elliott). Winger stars as Colt’s mother, Maggie, and Cuthbert stars as Abby.
“The Ranch” was Netflix’s first multi-cam. Since its debut, Netflix has also launched multi-cams like “Fuller House” and ““One Day at a Time.” It was also Netflix’s first show to get a 20 episode order that were split up into 10 episode portions.
Danny Masterson previously starred in the series, but the “That 70’s Show” alum exited the series last...
The multi-camera comedy debuted the first half of it third season in June. A premiere date for the second half is yet to be set. The fourth season will consist of 20 episodes.
Ashton Kutcher, Sam Elliott, Debra Winger, and Elisha Cuthbert star. The show follows Colt’s (Kutcher) return home after a brief and failed semi-pro football career to run the family ranching business with his father Beau (Elliott). Winger stars as Colt’s mother, Maggie, and Cuthbert stars as Abby.
“The Ranch” was Netflix’s first multi-cam. Since its debut, Netflix has also launched multi-cams like “Fuller House” and ““One Day at a Time.” It was also Netflix’s first show to get a 20 episode order that were split up into 10 episode portions.
Danny Masterson previously starred in the series, but the “That 70’s Show” alum exited the series last...
- 10/31/2018
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix has renewed its multi-camera comedy series The Ranch for a fourth season. Like the previous three seasons, it is believed to consist of 20 episodes.
Original series regular cast members Ashton Kutcher, Sam Elliott and Elisha Cuthbert are said to be back, joined by recent cast addition Dax Shepard, who was added as a recurring guest star in the second half of the third season (Part 6) following the exit of co-lead Danny Masterson over allegations of sexual misconduct. Shepard likely will continue to recur as he awaits word on the fate of the Fox comedy pilot Bless This Mess, in which he stars.
I hear Debra Winger, who has not been in every episode of The Ranch, is expected to make multiple appearances. While on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, last night, Winger let slip that the series might have been renewed.
“It’s back,” she said. “There are 20 new ones being shot.
Original series regular cast members Ashton Kutcher, Sam Elliott and Elisha Cuthbert are said to be back, joined by recent cast addition Dax Shepard, who was added as a recurring guest star in the second half of the third season (Part 6) following the exit of co-lead Danny Masterson over allegations of sexual misconduct. Shepard likely will continue to recur as he awaits word on the fate of the Fox comedy pilot Bless This Mess, in which he stars.
I hear Debra Winger, who has not been in every episode of The Ranch, is expected to make multiple appearances. While on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, last night, Winger let slip that the series might have been renewed.
“It’s back,” she said. “There are 20 new ones being shot.
- 10/31/2018
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Each year Variety’s New Leaders feature profiles the most prominent up-and-comers in the entertainment business. To determine this year’s worthies, Variety looked across disciplines, from television, digital, music and film, to law and finance, as well as content creators. They were proposed by their bosses and peers who have worked with them and seen their rise. All are age 40 or under, and Variety has measured them by the progress of their career trajectories: do they take calculated risks? How fast have they risen in their companies? Are they innovative and employ solutions to problems that are creative? As part of the salute to the qualities that keep the town humming, filmmaker/producer Travis Knight, who founded Laika Studios and is finishing up the anticipated “Bumblebee” for Paramount, as well as Variety‘s 10 Assistants to Watch along with the New Leaders will be recognized Oct. 17, at the Jeremy Hotel rooftop in West Hollywood.
- 10/17/2018
- by Variety Staff
- Variety Film + TV
ABC has given a put pilot commitment to Woman Up, a single camera comedy from Life in Pieces star Zoe Lister-Jones, New Girl creator Liz Meriwether, Jason Winer. Life In Pieces producer 20th Century Fox TV, where Lister-Jones, Meriwether and Winer are under an overall deals, is the studio.
Written by Lister-Jones, Woman Up is about two former teen moms who have worked their asses off to see their daughters all the way through high school graduation. And now, at 37, they’re ready to make up for the youth they never had.
Lister-Jones executive produces with Meriwether and Winer and Jon Radler via Winer’s Small Dog Picture Company. 20th Century Fox TV produces with Lister-Jones’ Ms. Lister Films and Small Dog Picture Company.
Lister-Jones stars opposite Colin Hanks in Life in Pieces, set to return for Season 4 on CBS in midseason. Her other credits...
Written by Lister-Jones, Woman Up is about two former teen moms who have worked their asses off to see their daughters all the way through high school graduation. And now, at 37, they’re ready to make up for the youth they never had.
Lister-Jones executive produces with Meriwether and Winer and Jon Radler via Winer’s Small Dog Picture Company. 20th Century Fox TV produces with Lister-Jones’ Ms. Lister Films and Small Dog Picture Company.
Lister-Jones stars opposite Colin Hanks in Life in Pieces, set to return for Season 4 on CBS in midseason. Her other credits...
- 10/8/2018
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
ABC scheduled only an afternoon at TCA, bailing on having an executive panel because, a network rep said on stage, they had an earnings report coming out today and “thought it best not to have an executive session compete.”
Instead, ABC’s first panel, Single Parents competed with news creator Liz Meriwether had extended her overall deal with 20th Century Fox TV for another year.
Meriwether created, wrote and executive produced all seven seasons of Fox’s New Girl, which has been one of 20th Century Fox TV’s most successful comedy series of the past decade with a lucrative Svod deal. She also co-created with Lake Bell 20th Century Fox TV-produced off-cycle Fox pilot Bless This Mess, which has been heating up for midseason consideration.
The extension keeps Meriwether in the 20th TV fold as the company transitions from 21st Century Fox to ABC parent Disney as part of the pending mega acquisition.
Instead, ABC’s first panel, Single Parents competed with news creator Liz Meriwether had extended her overall deal with 20th Century Fox TV for another year.
Meriwether created, wrote and executive produced all seven seasons of Fox’s New Girl, which has been one of 20th Century Fox TV’s most successful comedy series of the past decade with a lucrative Svod deal. She also co-created with Lake Bell 20th Century Fox TV-produced off-cycle Fox pilot Bless This Mess, which has been heating up for midseason consideration.
The extension keeps Meriwether in the 20th TV fold as the company transitions from 21st Century Fox to ABC parent Disney as part of the pending mega acquisition.
- 8/7/2018
- by Lisa de Moraes
- Deadline Film + TV
Liz Meriwether is sticking with Fox. The “New Girl” creator has extended her overall deal with 20th Century Fox TV, amid Disney’s pending purchase of the studio.
“Liz is the greatest, and we all hope she will stay at this studio forever,” Joannie Davis, 20th Century Fox, President Creative Affairs, said in a statement Tuesday. “She’s a spectacular talent and an incredibly special person.”
“20th gave me my first job before I even owned Final Draft, and they’ve been an incredibly supportive home for me as an artist for almost a decade,” Meriwether said. “I’m thankful I get to continue making television with them — I wouldn’t want to be on conference calls with anyone else.”
Also Read: 'New Girl' Creator Liz Meriwether Tells Us Where the Idea for Winston's 'Greatest Prank' Came From
Meriwether’s Zooey Deschanel-led sitcom wrapped this spring after...
“Liz is the greatest, and we all hope she will stay at this studio forever,” Joannie Davis, 20th Century Fox, President Creative Affairs, said in a statement Tuesday. “She’s a spectacular talent and an incredibly special person.”
“20th gave me my first job before I even owned Final Draft, and they’ve been an incredibly supportive home for me as an artist for almost a decade,” Meriwether said. “I’m thankful I get to continue making television with them — I wouldn’t want to be on conference calls with anyone else.”
Also Read: 'New Girl' Creator Liz Meriwether Tells Us Where the Idea for Winston's 'Greatest Prank' Came From
Meriwether’s Zooey Deschanel-led sitcom wrapped this spring after...
- 8/7/2018
- by Jennifer Maas
- The Wrap
“New Girl” creator Liz Meriwether has signed an extended overall deal with 20th Century Fox Television.
The multi-year agreement will keep Meriwether in place at the studio where she signed her first overall deal five years ago, and where she has multiple pieces of business.
“Liz is the greatest, and we all hope she will stay at this studio forever,” said 20th Century Fox Television creative affairs president Jonnie Davis. “She’s a spectacular talent and an incredibly special person.”
Meriwether’s “New Girl,” a single-camera comedy starring Zooey Deschanel, ended its seven-season run on Fox Broadcasting in May. The writer and exec producer currently has two projects at 20th — ABC’s upcoming single-camera comedy series “Single Parents” with creator Jj Philbin and non-writing exec producer Katherine Pope, and Fox Broadcasting comedy pilot “Bless This Mess” with Lake Bell, which is in contention to be added to Fox’s lineup at midseason,...
The multi-year agreement will keep Meriwether in place at the studio where she signed her first overall deal five years ago, and where she has multiple pieces of business.
“Liz is the greatest, and we all hope she will stay at this studio forever,” said 20th Century Fox Television creative affairs president Jonnie Davis. “She’s a spectacular talent and an incredibly special person.”
Meriwether’s “New Girl,” a single-camera comedy starring Zooey Deschanel, ended its seven-season run on Fox Broadcasting in May. The writer and exec producer currently has two projects at 20th — ABC’s upcoming single-camera comedy series “Single Parents” with creator Jj Philbin and non-writing exec producer Katherine Pope, and Fox Broadcasting comedy pilot “Bless This Mess” with Lake Bell, which is in contention to be added to Fox’s lineup at midseason,...
- 8/7/2018
- by Daniel Holloway
- Variety Film + TV
It’s not business as usual at Fox. But Fox TV Group chairmen Dana Walden and Gary Newman said the future of the network isn’t as murky as some might expect, as sister studio 20th Century Fox TV and much of the 21st Century Fox assets move to Disney.
The ‘New Fox’ network will continue to look and act much like the old Fox network on TV screens, they told reporters on Thursday at the Television Critics Association press tour. But behind the scenes, Fox will now focus on developing shows with independent studios like Sony Pictures TV, Lionsgate, MGM, Warner Bros. TV and others without a network pipeline.
“Certainly it will be the only network to operate with complete independence,” Walden said. “It will have the opportunity to pick up shows, the best shows, from any production company with no studio agenda. We see this as a great...
The ‘New Fox’ network will continue to look and act much like the old Fox network on TV screens, they told reporters on Thursday at the Television Critics Association press tour. But behind the scenes, Fox will now focus on developing shows with independent studios like Sony Pictures TV, Lionsgate, MGM, Warner Bros. TV and others without a network pipeline.
“Certainly it will be the only network to operate with complete independence,” Walden said. “It will have the opportunity to pick up shows, the best shows, from any production company with no studio agenda. We see this as a great...
- 8/2/2018
- by Michael Schneider
- Indiewire
Fox has greenlighted Spin the Wheel, a high-stakes game show, co-created and executive produced by Justin Timberlake and hosted by Dax Shepard, which offers contestants a chance to win over $20 million per episode.
Fox has been expected to expand its unscripted portfolio as it is headed into a future as New Fox, an independent broadcast network with no in-house scripted studio.
Created by Timberlake and The Wall developer/executive producer Andrew Glassman of Glassman Media, Spin the Wheel pits contestants against a colossal, spinning 40-foot wheel that holds large sums of cash prizes in its rotation. Throughout the game, players will answer trivia questions – each correct answer adds more extreme amounts of cash in the wheel’s wedges in a strategic location of their choice, while each incorrect answer adds more dangerous wedges that could instantly bring their total back to zero. With massive prize money on the line, contestants...
Fox has been expected to expand its unscripted portfolio as it is headed into a future as New Fox, an independent broadcast network with no in-house scripted studio.
Created by Timberlake and The Wall developer/executive producer Andrew Glassman of Glassman Media, Spin the Wheel pits contestants against a colossal, spinning 40-foot wheel that holds large sums of cash prizes in its rotation. Throughout the game, players will answer trivia questions – each correct answer adds more extreme amounts of cash in the wheel’s wedges in a strategic location of their choice, while each incorrect answer adds more dangerous wedges that could instantly bring their total back to zero. With massive prize money on the line, contestants...
- 8/2/2018
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Fbc’s First Buying Season As “New Fox”: Talent Deals, Internal Development, Program Ownership & More
Fox Broadcast Company is heading into the 2018-19 development season as a soon-to-be independent network.
There has been great uncertainty in the marketplace what Fbc will look like after its sister studio –and predominant supplier of scripted series — 20th Century Fox TV, goes to Disney as part of several key assets that are being acquired. Since the Disney-Fox acquisition was originally announced late last year, Fbc has struck two big programming deals, both in the sports/live programming arena — for Thursday Night Football and WWE SmackDown, further fueling speculation that ‘New Fox’ may be relying less on scripted programming and more on sports, reality and live entertainment.
But in a series of meetings with talent agencies over the past two months, Fox Entertainment president Michael Thorn and his team have stressed that Fbc is still very much in the scripted business and plans to order a similar number of pilots...
There has been great uncertainty in the marketplace what Fbc will look like after its sister studio –and predominant supplier of scripted series — 20th Century Fox TV, goes to Disney as part of several key assets that are being acquired. Since the Disney-Fox acquisition was originally announced late last year, Fbc has struck two big programming deals, both in the sports/live programming arena — for Thursday Night Football and WWE SmackDown, further fueling speculation that ‘New Fox’ may be relying less on scripted programming and more on sports, reality and live entertainment.
But in a series of meetings with talent agencies over the past two months, Fox Entertainment president Michael Thorn and his team have stressed that Fbc is still very much in the scripted business and plans to order a similar number of pilots...
- 7/26/2018
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
“Ghosted” has been canceled at Fox after one season, Variety has confirmed.
The single-camera freshman comedy premiered in fall 2017. It starred Craig Robinson and Adam Scott as “polar opposite” partners hunting down the paranormal.
The series, which was created by Tom Gormican, also starred Ally Walker, Adeel Akhtar and Amber Stevens West. Gormican executive produced, alongside Robinson, Scott, Kevin Etten, Naomi Scott, Mark Schuman and Oly Obst. “Ghosted” was produced by 20th Century Fox Television.
The show was never able to gain much traction in the ratings, with the first season averaging a 0.9 rating in adults 18-49 and 2.4 million viewers in Live+Same Day. Fox had picked it up for an additional six episodes on top of its original 10 episode order and brought on “The Office” alum Paul Lieberstein to take over as showrunner from Etten in order retool it as more of a workplace comedy. The network ended up...
The single-camera freshman comedy premiered in fall 2017. It starred Craig Robinson and Adam Scott as “polar opposite” partners hunting down the paranormal.
The series, which was created by Tom Gormican, also starred Ally Walker, Adeel Akhtar and Amber Stevens West. Gormican executive produced, alongside Robinson, Scott, Kevin Etten, Naomi Scott, Mark Schuman and Oly Obst. “Ghosted” was produced by 20th Century Fox Television.
The show was never able to gain much traction in the ratings, with the first season averaging a 0.9 rating in adults 18-49 and 2.4 million viewers in Live+Same Day. Fox had picked it up for an additional six episodes on top of its original 10 episode order and brought on “The Office” alum Paul Lieberstein to take over as showrunner from Etten in order retool it as more of a workplace comedy. The network ended up...
- 6/28/2018
- by Danielle Turchiano
- Variety Film + TV
It’s official: Fox will have a clean live-action comedy slate next season with no returning series. The network has formally canceled Ghosted, its last remaining series that was still awaiting word on renewal.
Ghosted‘s cancellation had been considered a foregone conclusion but Fox postponed the decision until after the comedy returned for the remainder of its freshman season earlier this month. With the options on the cast expiring this coming weekend, the network was prompted to act.
Described as a comedic X-Files, Ghosted, starring Adam Scott and Craig Robinson, had an Ok ratings start in its October 1 premiere as a lead-out from The Simpsons but quickly lost steam. In late November, though, Fox ordered six more episodes of the paranormal action comedy and brought in Robinson’s former The Office co-star/Ep Paul Lieberstein as new showrunner to oversee a creative shift toward grounding the show as more of a workplace comedy.
Ghosted‘s cancellation had been considered a foregone conclusion but Fox postponed the decision until after the comedy returned for the remainder of its freshman season earlier this month. With the options on the cast expiring this coming weekend, the network was prompted to act.
Described as a comedic X-Files, Ghosted, starring Adam Scott and Craig Robinson, had an Ok ratings start in its October 1 premiere as a lead-out from The Simpsons but quickly lost steam. In late November, though, Fox ordered six more episodes of the paranormal action comedy and brought in Robinson’s former The Office co-star/Ep Paul Lieberstein as new showrunner to oversee a creative shift toward grounding the show as more of a workplace comedy.
- 6/28/2018
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Fox is making casting changes on its single-camera comedy pilot Dan the Weatherman, toplined by Thomas Lennon. JoAnna Garcia Swisher has been tapped as the new female lead, replacing Ashley Williams, who was in the pilot. Additionally, child actor Jack Stanton has been cast as Dan’s (Lennon) son in another recasting.
Both Swisher and Stanton just became available after their series, ABC’s Kevin (Probably) Saves the World and Fox’s The Mick, respectively, were cancelled last month.
As we previously reported, Fox brass liked Lennon in Dan the Weatherman but had issues with other aspects of the pilot, which did not make the cut to series was left alive for possible retooling/recasting/reshooting and midseason consideration. The pilot will now reshoot several scenes in the summer.
Fox currently has no comedy series on deck for a midseason launch after the network slotted its three new half-hour shows — all multi-camera — for fall,...
Both Swisher and Stanton just became available after their series, ABC’s Kevin (Probably) Saves the World and Fox’s The Mick, respectively, were cancelled last month.
As we previously reported, Fox brass liked Lennon in Dan the Weatherman but had issues with other aspects of the pilot, which did not make the cut to series was left alive for possible retooling/recasting/reshooting and midseason consideration. The pilot will now reshoot several scenes in the summer.
Fox currently has no comedy series on deck for a midseason launch after the network slotted its three new half-hour shows — all multi-camera — for fall,...
- 6/1/2018
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Fox’s single-camera airplane comedy series La To Vegas has been permanently grounded as the network has opted not to renew it for a second season.
As Deadline exclusively reported last week, Fox had been looking to get La to Vegas executive producer Will Ferrell to appear in the Season 2 premiere in order to create buzz around the comedy’s return. I hear Ferrell was open to possibly guest starring in an episode next season but would not commit to doing the Season 2 opener. While not the crucial factor, that, along with the network’s reduced shelf space because of the addition of Thursday Night Football, contributed to Fox’s decision to cancel the comedy starring Dylan McDermott.
When discussing the then-pending renewal decision on the bubble freshman comedy on Fox’s upfront call last week, the network chairman Dana Walden noted that series creator/exec producer Lon Zimmet and...
As Deadline exclusively reported last week, Fox had been looking to get La to Vegas executive producer Will Ferrell to appear in the Season 2 premiere in order to create buzz around the comedy’s return. I hear Ferrell was open to possibly guest starring in an episode next season but would not commit to doing the Season 2 opener. While not the crucial factor, that, along with the network’s reduced shelf space because of the addition of Thursday Night Football, contributed to Fox’s decision to cancel the comedy starring Dylan McDermott.
When discussing the then-pending renewal decision on the bubble freshman comedy on Fox’s upfront call last week, the network chairman Dana Walden noted that series creator/exec producer Lon Zimmet and...
- 5/22/2018
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
While Fox is screening its pilots in contention for next fall, the network also has given a pilot order to a half-hour multi-camera comedy from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia co-creator Rob McElhenney, Rob Rosell and 20th Century Fox TV.
Written by McElhenney and Rosell, the untitled comedy centers on a woman, her ex-husband and her new wife who work together to raise a family in middle America. McElhenney and Rosell executive produce with It’s Always Sunny‘s Charlie Day and Glenn Howerton and 3 Arts’ Nick Frenkel.
The pilot will be filmed off-cycle for midseason 2019 consideration and beyond. The McElhenney/Rosell project joins another Fox comedy pilot, Bless This Mess, which also will be shooting this summer. As we reported last month, Fox again has been looking to do a round of off-cycle pilots. Last season’s off-cycle orders included multi-camera comedy pilot Cool Kids, also from Sunny‘s Day,...
Written by McElhenney and Rosell, the untitled comedy centers on a woman, her ex-husband and her new wife who work together to raise a family in middle America. McElhenney and Rosell executive produce with It’s Always Sunny‘s Charlie Day and Glenn Howerton and 3 Arts’ Nick Frenkel.
The pilot will be filmed off-cycle for midseason 2019 consideration and beyond. The McElhenney/Rosell project joins another Fox comedy pilot, Bless This Mess, which also will be shooting this summer. As we reported last month, Fox again has been looking to do a round of off-cycle pilots. Last season’s off-cycle orders included multi-camera comedy pilot Cool Kids, also from Sunny‘s Day,...
- 5/2/2018
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
It’s April, so Deadline is launching its annual Pilot Panic feature where we track buzz on the broadcast pilots as they go through filming, editing, screenings and testing. As usual, the first story is very sketchy and preliminary as many drama pilots still are filming, several comedy pilots have not shot yet and there are no cuts in. Here is a list of some pilots that are getting strong early buzz based on a combination of auspices, script, table read, taping or dailies. Because of how early it is, please take the information with big grain of salt. For a number of projects, especially high-concept dramas, it’s impossible to predict their chances until the pilot has been cut together.
On the hourlong side, ABC has the Nathan Fillion starrer The Rookie, which has a straight-to-series order and has been well received so far. Of the pilots, Courtney Kemp...
On the hourlong side, ABC has the Nathan Fillion starrer The Rookie, which has a straight-to-series order and has been well received so far. Of the pilots, Courtney Kemp...
- 4/7/2018
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Stay in the loop on industry and casting news with our write-up on who’s been slated for recent film and television roles! “Bless This Mess”Picking up your life to move is never an easy task, but going from the big city to a quaint Midwestern lifestyle requires way more than a few boxes. Fox has given the pilot greenlight to “Bless This Mess,” which will follow a couple of newlyweds from New York looking to break up the unfulfilling motions of living in the big city. Operating under the assumption that drastic change is key, they move to Nebraska to seek out a simpler life. There are some things about living in the city that can’t be changed so quickly, though. Casting director Susie Farris is continuing to beef up the roster of names signed on to star in the comedy. Already attached are Lake Bell, who...
- 4/4/2018
- backstage.com
The 2018 pilot season is shaping up to be a landmark year for women behind the camera.
Female creators and directors saw gains virtually across the board, as networks ramp up efforts to include more women in the pilot process. As Variety previously reported, the Time’s Up and Me Too movements have played important roles this season, with the networks all looking for ways to increase female representation.
According to multiple TV literary agents who spoke with Variety, there was a clear shift within the networks this year to increase the number of women behind the camera, particularly in the director’s chair. One source also noted that the studios exerted “immense pressure” to increase the number of female directors this season.
ABC has 13 female creators on 9 of their 23 pilots this year, up from 9 creators in 2017. Of those, five are comedies, including originals from Liz Meriwether and J.J. Philbin, Diablo Cody,...
Female creators and directors saw gains virtually across the board, as networks ramp up efforts to include more women in the pilot process. As Variety previously reported, the Time’s Up and Me Too movements have played important roles this season, with the networks all looking for ways to increase female representation.
According to multiple TV literary agents who spoke with Variety, there was a clear shift within the networks this year to increase the number of women behind the camera, particularly in the director’s chair. One source also noted that the studios exerted “immense pressure” to increase the number of female directors this season.
ABC has 13 female creators on 9 of their 23 pilots this year, up from 9 creators in 2017. Of those, five are comedies, including originals from Liz Meriwether and J.J. Philbin, Diablo Cody,...
- 3/28/2018
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Ed Begley Jr. has been tapped for a lead role opposite Lake Bell and Dax Shepard in Bless This Mess, Fox's single-camera comedy pilot from New Girl creator Liz Meriwether, which has Bell attached to star, co-write and direct. Written by Meriwether and Bell, Bless This Mess centers on a newlywed couple — Rio (Bell) and Mike (Shepard) — that gives up their drab and unfulfilling lives in NYC and moves to Nebraska to live a simpler life. It doesn't work out like they…...
- 3/22/2018
- Deadline TV
As TV comedy couplings go, this one is heavenly: Dax Shepard has signed on to star opposite Lake Bell in the Fox comedy pilot Bless This Mess.
According to our sister site Variety, the Parenthood alum will play Mike, the husband of Bell’s character Rio. The newlywed pair decides to ditch New York and move to Nebraska for a simpler life — and yeah, things don’t exactly go as they planned.
The single-camera comedy, which snared a pilot order last month, is co-created by Bell and New Girl creator Liz Meriwether. (Shepard will also serve as an executive producer.
According to our sister site Variety, the Parenthood alum will play Mike, the husband of Bell’s character Rio. The newlywed pair decides to ditch New York and move to Nebraska for a simpler life — and yeah, things don’t exactly go as they planned.
The single-camera comedy, which snared a pilot order last month, is co-created by Bell and New Girl creator Liz Meriwether. (Shepard will also serve as an executive producer.
- 3/7/2018
- TVLine.com
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