Showing posts with label Kevin Reilly. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kevin Reilly. Show all posts

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Save Enlisted

Remember how they sent peanuts to CBS to save Jericho?  (Or how, 30 Rock hilariously joked, they sent douchebags to HBO to save Entourage?)  Well, it's time to save Fox's underappreciated Friday night military comedy Enlisted.  In this case, I don't know what gimmicky gift you should send Fox's president Kevin Reilly, but a plain old letter of support is a good place to start.

In an exclusive Must-Hear TV interview yesterday, Enlisted's creator Kevin Biegel said he's pleased that fans have already begun writing to the network prez to show their support.  For one thing, he pointed out, there's a glitch in the TV ratings system that may be causing Enlisted's true fans to be undercounted.

"We know the show is reaching a giant audience of military folk that literally can't be measured by Nielsen boxes because they don't allow boxes on post or in military housing," Biegel explains. "It basically discounts any and all military audience."

"Basically, fan support is what has kept us alive, and as the very vocal community of fans continues to be vocal, it gives the show a shot at Fox or even at a new network," Biegel said.  "We believe every voice matters.  And because actual letters seem to speak much louder than emails," he continues, "if you have two seconds and a stamp," why not write a letter of support to:

Kevin Reilly
Fox Broadcasting
10201 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA  90035

In another great show of support, some fans have had an even better, win-win idea:  they've started donating to the Wounded Warrior Project in Enlisted's name, and have listed Kevin Reilly's information as the contact.  (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/18/six-reasons-to-watch-enlisted_n_4986442.html)

Enlisted has fought a tough battle, getting stuck with a January premiere (despite what the poster here says; it was pushed from November, signaling scheduling troubles from the start) in an unenviable Friday night time slot, paired with the fading (and now cancelled) Raising Hope, and then suffering from changing lead-ins, including the low-rated Rake.  Let's show Kevin Reilly we'd love to see Enlisted live to fight another season.  (Sorry, I'm not good with war metaphors, but you get the idea.)

Monday, May 17, 2010

FOX announces 2010-11 schedule

In a conference call this morning, in advance of the network's upfront presentation to advertisers this afternoon at New York's Beacon Theater, Fox has announced its schedule for Fall 2010-2011.

The schedule shows an impressive commitment to comedy, including Running Wilde, a promising new show from Arrested Development creator Mitch Hurwitz. There's a new animated show for Sunday nights in the spring, Bob's Burgers. And although Fox makes me nervous in how it develops new and innovative sci-fi shows, and then tends to dump them without too much remorse (remember Dollhouse or Sarah Connor Chronicles?), there's an intriguing new sci-fi show from producer Steven Spielberg (!), Terra Nova.

And rest assured, some "bubble" shows, like Human Target and Lie To Me, are renewed. As for cancellations? One journalist on the call asked about the fate of Sons of Tucson, the sitcom which debuted in the spring to poor ratings. According to network president Kevin Reilly, the show will complete its run this summer, and is unlikely to return, "although stranger things have happened." I guess we can interpret that as: only if there's a ratings miracle this summer.

Of course, there were the perennial questions about American Idol, and who will replace Simon Cowell as judge; those things have not been decided yet and won't need to be, the FOX execs say, until September, when auditions for the new season begin.

And Glee fans, take note: this year, the show will get the plum post Super Bowl slot!

Check out the full schedule below.

FOX ANNOUNCES PRIMETIME SLATE

FOR 2010-2011 SEASON

FOUR NEW COMEDIES, THREE NEW DRAMAS JOIN SCHEDULE

FALL TUESDAY COMEDY BLOCK TO FEATURE

NEW FAMILY COMEDY “RAISING HOPE”

AND NEW ROMANTIC COMEDY “RUNNING WILDE”

STARRING WILL ARNETT AND KERI RUSSELL

COMPELLING NEW DRAMA “LONESTAR” TO DEBUT IN FALL

NEW ACTION-ADVENTURE FAMILY DRAMA “TERRA NOVA”

SLATED FOR MIDSEASON

NEW ANIMATED COMEDY “BOB’S BURGERS”

AND NEW FAST-PACED DRAMA “RIDE-ALONG” TO PREMIERE MIDSEASON

NEW ENSEMBLE COMEDY “MIXED SIGNALS”

TO DEBUT IN SPRING

Special Episode of GLEE to Air Following SUPER BOWL XLV

Sunday, February 6, 2011

New York (Monday, May 17, 2010) – Peter Rice, Chairman, Entertainment, Fox Networks Group; and Kevin Reilly, President, Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company, today unveiled the FOX primetime schedule for the 2010-2011 television season to the national advertising community during its annual Programming Presentation at The New Beacon Theatre.

“FOX has been the No. 1 network for six consecutive seasons not only because our programs are hits, but also because they’re the most engaging shows on television,” said Rice. “We’re very excited to add a full slate of creative, original new series next season that will help us continue to capture imaginations and draw people back to FOX week after week.”

-more-

FOX 2010-2011 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE – Page 2

“Last season, we did what FOX does best: we took some risks that paid off. Now we’re going to up the ante with an even more diverse and creative roster of programs for next year,” said Reilly. “With three daring new dramas, a fresh new animated series and three new live-action comedies, we’re positioned to rebuild the FOX comedy brand, introduce the next generation of unique characters and deliver an even more compelling experience for our viewers next season.”

GLEE, the No. 1 new series of this season among Adults 18-49 and key demos, returns for its sophomore season to anchor a new Tuesday comedy block. Premiering this fall is RAISING HOPE, the new family comedy from Emmy Award winner Greg Garcia (“My Name Is Earl”), starring Lucas Neff (“The Beast”), Martha Plimpton (“How To Make It In America”), Garret Dillahunt (“Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles”) and Academy and Emmy Award winner Cloris Leachman (“Malcolm In The Middle”). The sweet, offbeat comedy follows Jimmy Chance (Neff), a well-meaning screw-up trying his best to raise his infant daughter with the help of the eccentric family who did a less-than-stellar job of raising him.

Also debuting this fall is RUNNING WILDE, the new romantic comedy from “Arrested Development’s” Jim Vallely, Mitch Hurwitz and Will Arnett. Starring Arnett (“30 Rock”) and Keri Russell (“Waitress,” “Felicity”), the comedy centers on a lovable, but immature playboy (Arnett) trying desperately to win (or buy) the heart of his childhood sweetheart (Russell), the über-liberal humanitarian who got away.

LONESTAR, a sophisticated and provocative drama set against the sprawling backdrop of big Texas oil, will premiere this fall. From Chris Keyser and Amy Lippman (“Party of Five”), writer Kyle Killen and directed by Marc Webb (“(500) Days of Summer”), the compelling series stars newcomer James Wolk as a charismatic and brilliant schemer who has entangled himself in a deep, complex web from which he can’t break free. He’s caught between two very different lives and two very different women.

TERRA NOVA, an epic family adventure 85 million years in the making, is the new event drama slated for midseason from executive producers Steven Spielberg (“Jurassic Park,” “The Pacific”), Peter Chernin, Brannon Braga (24, “Star Trek: Enterprise”) and David Fury (24, “Lost”). The action-adventure series follows an ordinary family on an extraordinary journey back in time to prehistoric Earth as a part of a massive expedition to save the human race.

Joining the Sunday ANIMATION DOMINATION lineup in midseason is BOB’S BURGERS, a new animated comedy series from creator Loren Bouchard (“Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist”) about a man, his family and their floundering burger joint. Despite the greasy counters, lousy location and occasionally spotty service, Bob and his lovable and quirky family are convinced their burgers are their ticket to success.

-more-

FOX 2010-2011 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE – Page 3

The new drama scheduled for a midseason debut is RIDE-ALONG. From creator Shawn Ryan (“The Shield,” “The Unit”), the fast-paced series, shot on location in Chicago and starring Jason Clarke (“Public Enemies”), Jennifer Beals (LIE TO ME) and Delroy Lindo (“Kidnapped”), will take audiences on an unflinching and unpredictable ride through the streets of Chicago to navigate crime and corruption with the most respected – and notorious – cops in the city.

MIXED SIGNALS, scheduled for a spring premiere, is a new relationship comedy created by Bob Fisher (“Wedding Crashers”) about three longtime friends and their attempts to balance their committed relationships with their desire for freedom. The ensemble comedy stars Nelson Franklin (“I Love You, Man”), David Denman (“The Office”), Kris Marshall (HUMAN TARGET), Liza Lapira (“Dexter”) and Alexandra Breckenridge (FAMILY GUY) and reveals how friendships and romances enhance – and further complicate – the lives of men and the women who love them.

It was also announced that a very special GLEE will air following SUPER BOWL XLV on Sunday, February 6. GLEE, the most award-winning series of the year, will then make its spring premiere Wednesdays following AMERICAN IDOL.

Other FOX series returning in 2010-2011 include: AMERICAN DAD (Season 6), AMERICAN IDOL (Season 10) AMERICA’S MOST WANTED (Season 24), BONES (Season 6), THE CLEVELAND SHOW (Season 2), COPS (Season 23), FAMILY GUY (Season 8), FRINGE (Season 3), THE GOOD GUYS (Season 1), HELL’S KITCHEN (Seasons 7 and 8), HOUSE (Season 7), HUMAN TARGET (Season 2), KITCHEN NIGHTMARES (Season 3), LIE TO ME (Season 3), THE SIMPSONS (Season 22) and SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE (Season 7). Specials returning to the FOX schedule include NEW YEAR’S EVE LIVE and TEEN CHOICE 2010.

[EDITOR’S NOTE: Gallery and episodic photos from the new and returning series are available at www.foxflash.com/2010-2011slate. Additionally, promotional video from the new series will be posted to www.foxflash.com at the conclusion of the FOX 2010 Programming Presentation at approximately 5:00 PM ET today.]

-more-

FOX 2010-2011 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE – Page 4

Following are the FOX 2010-2011 primetime schedule and synopses of the new series:

FOX FALL 2010 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE

(All Times ET/PT)

MONDAY

8:00-9:00 PM HOUSE

9:00-10:00 PM LONESTAR (new)

TUESDAY

8:00-9:00 PM GLEE

9:00-9:30 PM RAISING HOPE (new)

9:30-10:00 PM RUNNING WILDE (new)

WEDNESDAY

8:00-9:00 PM LIE TO ME

9:00-10:00 PM HELL’S KITCHEN

THURSDAY

8:00-9:00 PM BONES

9:00-10:00 PM FRINGE

FRIDAY

8:00-9:00 PM HUMAN TARGET

9:00-10:00 PM THE GOOD GUYS

SATURDAY

8:00-8:30 PM COPS

8:30-9:00 PM COPS

9:00-10:00 PM AMERICA’S MOST WANTED

SUNDAY

7:00-8:00 PM THE OT (NFL post-game)

8:00-8:30 PM THE SIMPSONS

8:30-9:00 PM THE CLEVELAND SHOW

9:00-9:30 PM FAMILY GUY

9:30-10:00 PM AMERICAN DAD

-more-

FOX 2010-2011 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE – Page 5

FOX MIDSEASON 2011 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE

(All Times ET/PT)

MONDAY

8:00-9:00 PM HOUSE

9:00-10:00 PM LONESTAR (new) / RIDE-ALONG (new)

TUESDAY

8:00-9:30 PM AMERICAN IDOL Performance Show

9:30-10:00 PM RUNNING WILDE (new) / MIXED SIGNALS (new; spring)

WEDNESDAY

8:00-8:30 PM RAISING HOPE (new)

8:30-9:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL Results Show

9:00-10:00 PM GLEE

THURSDAY

8:00-9:00 PM BONES

9:00-10:00 PM FRINGE

FRIDAY

8:00-9:00 PM HUMAN TARGET

9:00-10:00 PM KITCHEN NIGHTMARES

SATURDAY

8:00-8:30 PM COPS

8:30-9:00 PM COPS

9:00-10:00 PM AMERICA’S MOST WANTED

SUNDAY

7:00-7:30 PM THE SIMPSONS (encores)

7:30-8:00 PM AMERICAN DAD

8:00-8:30 PM THE SIMPSONS

8:30-9:00 PM BOB’S BURGERS (new)

9:00-9:30 PM FAMILY GUY

9:30-10:00 PM THE CLEVELAND SHOW

-more-

FOX 2010-2011 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE – Page 6

FOX 2010-2011 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE

NEW SERIES SYNOPSES

The following new comedies will premiere this fall on FOX:

RAISING HOPE

RAISING HOPE is a new single-camera family comedy from Emmy Award winner Greg Garcia (“My Name Is Earl”) that follows the Chance family as they find themselves adding an unexpected new member into their already terribly flawed household. At 23 years old, JIMMY CHANCE (Lucas Neff, “The Beast”) is going nowhere in life. He skims pools for a living, parties every night and still lives at home with his family, including his MAW MAW (guest star Academy Award and Emmy Award winner Cloris Leachman); his mother, VIRGINIA (Martha Plimpton, “How to Make It in America”); his father, BURT (Garret Dillahunt, “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles,” “Damages”); and his cousin, MIKE (Skyler Stone, “The Mentalist,” “Dollhouse”). Jimmy’s life takes a drastic turn when a chance romantic encounter with LUCY (guest star Bijou Phillips, “Choke,” “Almost Famous”) goes awry once he discovers she is a wanted felon. Months later, when Jimmy pays a visit to the local prison, he discovers Lucy gave birth to their baby, who he is now charged with raising. At home with his new daughter, Jimmy’s family is less than enthusiastic about a new addition to the household. His parents, who had him when they were 15, never knew anything about raising a child and have no interest in trying again. If Jimmy can work up the nerve to ask her out on a date, he might get some help from SABRINA (Shannon Woodward, “The Riches,” “ER”), a sardonic checkout clerk he met at the supermarket. Cousin Mike is only concerned about how the baby is going to affect their social life, and out-of-touch Maw Maw is no help either. But Jimmy is determined to take care of his baby – whom Virginia thinks they should name HOPE. With very few useful skills but their hearts in the right place, will the Chance family be successful when they step into the unpredictable and immensely challenging world of parenting?

PRODUCTION COMPANIES: Amigos de Garcia Productions, 20th Century Fox Television

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER/WRITER: Greg Garcia

DIRECTOR: Michael Fresco

CAST: Garret Dillahunt as Burt, Lucas Neff as Jimmy, Martha Plimpton as Virginia, Skyler Stone as Mike, Shannon Woodward as Sabrina

GUEST CAST: Cloris Leachman as Maw Maw, Bijou Phillips as Lucy

RUNNING WILDE

From the Emmy Award-winning creator and the star of the critically acclaimed FOX series “Arrested Development” comes RUNNING WILDE, a romantic comedy starring Will Arnett (“Arrested Development,” “30 Rock”) as STEVE WILDE, a filthy-rich, immature playboy trying desperately to win (or buy) the heart of his childhood sweetheart, EMMY KADUBIC (Keri Russell, “Waitress,” “Felicity”), the über-liberal humanitarian who got away – all told through the perspective of a 12-year-old girl. Steve Wilde has never performed a selfless act. But why should he – he’s rich! The son of an oil tycoon, Steve hasn’t had to work a day in his life and has always gotten everything he’s wanted – with one exception: the love of Emmy. The daughter of a former Wilde housekeeper, Emmy is an earnest do-gooder who has spent her adult life trying to save the world. And though Emmy is content living with an indigenous tribe in the Amazon rainforest, her 12-year-old daughter, PUDDLE (Stefania Owen, “The Lovely Bones”), just wants to be a normal kid experiencing her adolescence in a normal place. And she would speak up except for the fact that she hasn’t spoken in years. When Wilde Oil’s expansion in the rainforest threatens her adopted tribe, Emmy decides to attend Steve’s self-thrown “Humanitarian of the Year” award ceremony in hopes of convincing him to help her cause…and also maybe because she still has a thing for Steve. But same-old Steve is unwilling to help because fighting Wilde Oil (a/k/a Dad) means putting his meal ticket in jeopardy. Rather than run the risk of letting Emmy slip away again, Steve pulls out all the stops to win her heart. To do so, he enlists the only other people in his life who can help: MIGO SALAZAR (Joe Nuñez, “Superbad,” “Prison Break”), Steve’s employee/sidekick/errand-boy, and GERTIE STELLVERTRETTER (Jayne Houdyshell, “Law & Order”), Steve’s nanny-turned-head-of-security as well as the biggest protector of Steve…and her own job. Despite having everything he ever wanted, Steve knows he can’t buy love and happiness, which falls in sharp contrast to Emmy, who has nothing but love and happiness. So with Emmy committed to doing good for nothing, and Steve being a good for nothing, will this hopelessly mismatched pair ever be able to reconcile their differences?

PRODUCTION COMPANIES: Tantamount Studios, Five Hole Pictures, Principato-Young Management, Lionsgate Television

CREATORS/WRITERS: Mitch Hurwitz, Jim Vallely, Will Arnett

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Mitch Hurwitz, Jim Vallely, Will Arnett, Eric Tannenbaum, Kim Tannenbaum, Peter Principato, Paul Young, Anthony Russo, Joe Russo

DIRECTORS: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo

CAST: Will Arnett as Steve Wilde, Keri Russell as Emmy Kadubic, Stefania Owen as Puddle Kadubic, Joe Nuñez as Migo Salazar, Jayne Houdyshell as Gertie Stellvertretter

-more-

FOX 2010-2011 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE – Page 7

The following new drama will debut this fall on FOX:

LONESTAR

From Chris Keyser and Amy Lippman, the creators of “Party of Five”; Marc Webb, the director of “(500) Days of Summer”; and creator Kyle Killen, comes LONESTAR, a provocative soap set against the backdrop of big Texas oil. ROBERT/BOB ALLEN (newcomer James Wolk) is a charismatic and brilliant schemer who has meticulously constructed two lives in two different parts of Texas. He’s juggling two identities and two women in two very different worlds – all under one mountain of lies. As “Bob,” he lives in Houston and is married to CAT (Adrianne Palicki, “Friday Night Lights”), the beautiful daughter of CLINT (Jon Voight, 24, “Midnight Cowboy”), the patriarch of an ultra-wealthy Texas oil family. More than 400 miles away in the suburban west Texas town of Midland, he’s “Robert,” living a second life with his sweet, naïve girlfriend, LINDSAY (Eloise Mumford, “Mercy,” “Law & Order: SVU”). In Midland, he plays the perfect boyfriend while secretly bilking local investors of their savings. In Houston, he’s a devoted husband, charming Cat and her family to cement his position in the rich family business he aims to clean out. Bob has lived both lives successfully for years without arousing any suspicions…so far. While one brother-in-law, DREW (Bryce Johnson, “Popular,” “The Mentalist”), admires Bob, his other brother-in-law, TRAMMELL (Mark Deklin, “Nip/Tuck,” “Desperate Housewives”), is suspicious of his motives. Bob begins to fear his secret lives may unravel. With the cons closing in on him, Bob is divided by his love for two women; his loyalty to his father and mentor, JOHN (David Keith, “An Officer and a Gentleman,” “The Class”); and his respect for his father-in-law, Clint. Now as he tries to hold his two lives together, while fending off angry investors and the suspicions of those around him, Bob puts it all on the line hoping he can beat the odds, leave the schemes behind and keep two separate relationships afloat.

PRODUCTION COMPANIES: 20th Century Fox Television, Depth of Field Productions, Keyser/Lippman Productions

CREATOR/WRITER: Kyle Killen

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Kyle Killen, Kerry Kohansky, Paul Weitz, Chris Keyser, Amy Lippman

DIRECTOR: Marc Webb

CAST: James Wolk as Robert/Bob Allen, Eloise Mumford as Lindsay, David Keith as John Allen, Adrianne Palicki as Cat Thatcher, Mark Deklin as Trammell Thatcher, Bryce Johnson as Drew Thatcher, Jon Voight as Clint Thatcher

The new animated comedy joining the FOX schedule in mideason is:

BOB’S BURGERS

BOB’S BURGERS is a new animated series about a man, his family and a burger joint. A third-generation restaurateur, BOB BELCHER (H. Jon Benjamin, FAMILY GUY, “Archer”) runs Bob’s Burgers with the help of his wife and their three kids. Bob has big ideas about burgers, condiments and sides, but only a few thoughts on customer service and business management. Despite his greasy counters, lousy location and occasionally spotty service, Bob is convinced his burgers speak for themselves. Even though business is slow, Bob gets to work with his family. His wife, LINDA BELCHER (John Roberts, “The Christmas Tree,” “Jackie & Debra”), supports Bob’s dream through thick and thin (but truth be told, she’s getting a little sick of the thin). Their eldest daughter, TINA (Dan Mintz, “Important Things with Demetri Martin,” “The Andy Milonakis Show”), is a 13-year-old hopeless romantic with minimal social skills. Middle child GENE (Eugene Mirman, “Flight of the Conchords,” “Aqua Teen Hunger Force”) is an aspiring musician and a prankster who serves up more jokes than burgers. Their youngest, LOUISE (Kristen Schaal, “Flight of the Conchords,” “Modern Family”), is the most enthusiastic about her dad’s business, but an off-balance sense of humor and her elevated energy level make her somewhat of a liability in the kitchen. Beyond the restaurant is a city rich with character. Next door to Bob’s is It’s Your Funeral Home and Crematorium; down the street is Wonder Wharf, the oceanside amusement pier; and a few blocks away is Wagstaff Middle School, where Bob and Linda’s kids go to school. And across the street is Jimmy Pesto’s Pizzeria, Bob’s Burgers’ main competition and the thorn in Bob’s side.

PRODUCTION COMPANY: 20th Century Fox Television

CREATOR: Loren Bouchard

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS/WRITERS: Loren Bouchard, Jim Dauterive

DIRECTOR: Anthony Chun

VOICE CAST: H. Jon Benjamin as Bob Belcher, John Roberts as Linda Belcher, Kristen Schaal as Louise Belcher, Eugene Mirman as Gene Belcher, Dan Mintz as Tina Belcher

-more-

FOX 2010-2011 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE – Page 8

The two new dramas slated for midseason debuts are:

TERRA NOVA

From executive producers Steven Spielberg, Peter Chernin, Brannon Braga (24, “Star Trek: Enterprise”) and David Fury (“Lost,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) comes an epic family adventure 85 million years in the making. TERRA NOVA follows an ordinary family embarking on an incredible journey back in time to prehistoric Earth as a small part of a massive experiment to save the human race. In the year 2149 the world is dying. The planet is overdeveloped, overcrowded and overpolluted. With the majority of plant and animal life extinct, devotion to science has brought mankind to the brink of destruction, but has also provided its only hope for salvation. Knowing there is no way to reverse the damage to the planet, a coalition of scientists has managed to open up a fracture in the space-time continuum, creating a portal to prehistoric Earth. This doorway leads to an amazing world, one that allows for a last-ditch effort to save the human race…possibly changing the future by correcting the mistakes of the past. The series centers on the Shannon family as they join the tenth pilgrimage of settlers to TERRA NOVA, the first colony of humans in this second chance for civilization. JIM SHANNON, a devoted father with a checkered past, guides his family through this new land of limitless beauty, mystery and terror. Jim’s wife, ELISABETH SHANNON, is a trauma surgeon chosen through a global lottery as a new addition to Terra Nova’s medical team. JOSH SHANNON is their son, mourning the girl he left behind, as he’s torn between two role models – his father and the charismatic COMMANDER FRANK TAYLOR, the leader of the settlement, and the heroic first pioneer through the time portal. MADDY SHANNON, Jim and Elizabeth’s teen daughter, is as independent and adventurous as her parents, but her distrust of authority soon leads her on a dangerous path. In addition to blue skies, rolling rivers and lush vegetation, TERRA NOVA offers new opportunities and fresh beginnings to its recent arrivals, but the Shannons have brought with them a familial secret that may threaten their citizenship in this utopia. Additionally these adventurers soon discover that this healthy, vibrant world is not as idyllic as it initially appears. The areas surrounding Terra Nova are filled with dangerous dinosaurs, and other prehistoric threats, as well as external forces that may be intent on destroying this new world before it begins. But perhaps even more threatening than what lies outside the protective walls is the Shannons’ realization that something sinister may be happening inside TERRA NOVA as not everyone on this mission has the same intentions of how best to save mankind.

PRODUCTION COMPANIES: 20th Century Fox Television, DreamWorks Television, Kapital Entertainment, Chernin Entertainment

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Steven Spielberg, Peter Chernin, Craig Silverstein, Kelly Marcel, Brannon Braga, David Fury, Aaron Kaplan, Katherine Pope, Justin Falvey, Darryl Frank

RIDE-ALONG

The city of Chicago is a paradox that serves as the setting for RIDE-ALONG, a new drama from Shawn Ryan (“The Shield,” “The Unit”). During a ride-along, a civilian spends a shift in the passenger seat of a squad car, observing the work day of a police officer. But in this series, the audience is the passenger, taking an unpredictable ride through the streets of Chicago and navigating crime and corruption with the most respected – and notorious – cops in the city. JAREK WYSOCKI (Jason Clarke, “Public Enemies,” “Brotherhood”) is a local legend and larger-than-life veteran of the Chicago Police Department. Like the city of Chicago, Jarek is razor blades and brass knuckles wrapped in politeness and egoless charm – a man who throws away partners the way others throw away tissues. TERESA COLVIN (Jennifer Beals, LIE TO ME, “The L Word”) arrived at the pinnacle of the Chicago Police Department in a short period of time. She’s determined to implement changes before the mud that is Chicago politics clogs her office. As a result of Teresa’s difficult choices, she has made some powerful enemies along the way, including two street gangs, the police officers’ union and a city alderman who proves to be a dangerous adversary. Jarek’s new partner, CALEB EVERS (Matt Lauria, “Friday Night Lights”), is a smart and observant young detective who desperately wants to prove himself. He is savvier and more observant than most people give him credit for, and just might make the perfect yin to Jarek’s yang. Also in Jarek’s charge is his niece, VONDA WYSOCKI (Devin Kelley, “Tease”), a rookie beat cop whose father, Jarek’s brother, was killed in the line of duty when she was young. Jarek keeps close tabs on her and is less than thrilled to discover she’s falling for her partner, ISAAC JOINER (Todd Williams, “In Plain Sight,” “CSI”), a charismatic cop who takes unnecessary risks on the job that land him and Vonda in some dangerous situations. ALDERMAN RONIN GIBBONS (Delroy Lindo, “Kidnapped”) is a building-magnate-turned-politician who has ruled his ward with a velvet glove for three decades. Jarek and Teresa are convinced Gibbons and his cohorts, including LIAM HENNESSEY (Billy Lush, “The Black Donnellys”), an Irish tough guy in Gibbons’ construction empire, are dirty to the core, but they’ve never had the evidence to prove it. When a murder investigation leads them to Gibbons, they are determined to bring him to justice and clean up Chicago – if that’s even possible.

PRODUCTION COMPANIES: 20th Century Fox Television, MiddKid Productions

CREATOR/WRITER: Shawn Ryan

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Shawn Ryan, Charles McDougall

DIRECTOR: Charles McDougall

CAST: Jason Clarke as Jarek Wysocki, Jennifer Beals as Teresa Colvin, Matt Lauria as Caleb Evers, Devin Kelley as Vonda Wysocki, Todd Williams as Isaac Joiner, Billy Lush as Liam Hennessey, Delroy Lindo as Alderman Ronin Gibbons

-more-

FOX 2010-2011 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE – Page 9

The following new comedy will premiere in the spring:

MIXED SIGNALS

MIXED SIGNALS is a new comedy series about three longtime friends and their attempts to reconcile the irreconcilable: to balance their relationships with their need for freedom. The series reveals how friendships and romances enhance – and further complicate – the lives of men and the women who love them. ETHAN (Kris Marshall, HUMAN TARGET, “My Family”) is the perpetual bachelor. He loves women, and when he’s in, he’s all in – at least for three weeks. Charming, genuine and hopelessly independent, Ethan is finding out that as he gets older, the pool of women who are willing to take things day by day is rapidly evaporating. ADAM (Nelson Franklin, “The Office,” “I Love You Man”) recently moved in with his girlfriend, CALLIE (Alexandra Breckenridge, FAMILY GUY), and is learning how vastly different “she comes over a lot” and “she lives with me” really are. Adam is discovering there isn’t much “me” time any more, there’s only “us” time. MIKE (David Denman, “The Office”) is a married lawyer still trying to figure out the male-female dynamic. He wants nothing more than to be a good family man to his wife, LISA (Liza Lapira, “Dexter,” “Dollhouse”), and his infant son, but he’s also trying to carve out a little space for himself. Currently that space is in his car, where he watches action movies in 15-minute chunks while telling his wife he’s stuck in traffic.

PRODUCTION COMPANIES: 20th Century Fox Television, Keshet Broadcasting Ltd.

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Bob Fisher, David Hemingson, Avi Nir, Ran Sarig, Adir Miller, Elad Kuperman

DIRECTOR: Chris Koch

WRITER: Bob Fisher

CAST: Alexandra Breckenridge as Callie, David Denman as Mike, Nelson Franklin as Adam, Liza Lapira as Lisa, Kris Marshall as Ethan

Monday, January 11, 2010

Well, Better Off Ted ain't going to Fox...

I just asked Fox President of Entertainment Kevin Reilly about whether Fox, which he says is looking to get deeper into the comedy business, would ever considering rescuing worthy comedies from other networks -- specifically, ABC's neglected Better Off Ted.

"We're going to create our own shows," he answered.

Oh well... there's always NBC (?!)

Simon Cowell announces final season on Idol

At today's TCA Executive Session, FOX President Kevin Reilly and Chairman Peter Rice brought out Simon Cowell to announce breaking news: the 2011 launch of a U.S. version of his international hit talent contest, The X Factor.

X is currently shown in 17 countries worldwide, with a global audience of more than 500 million, and is the #1 TV entertainment format in Europe. The show, Cowell says, has no upper age limit for contestants, and so it receives over 250,000 applicants each year. ("You could literally be 100 years old -- so Paula [Abdul] could audition," Cowell joked.) In order to accommodate huge numbers like these, and to secure the judges for the U.S. version -- which by the way, Cowell says, will definitely not include Paula -- Fox and Cowell have agreed to hold off the debut to 2011, but will begin putting the show together now.

As a result, Cowell says, he is announcing that this upcoming season of American Idol will be his last, because he doesn't feel that he can do both shows simultaneously. To add a bit of ceremony to the proceedings, Rice produced a contract for Simon to sign on stage, noting that Fox and Cowell had come to their agreement to launch the show at 11:30 this morning -- merely an hour ago.

As to how the new reality show will affect Fox's schedule, Reilly says that decisions haven't been made about moves to other reality shows, but he envisions a schedule where Idol airs in the spring, X Factor in the fall, and So You Think You Can Dance in the summer.

No News on Conan at Fox

Anticipating and addressing the critics' questions at today's TCA Executive Session, Fox's President of Entertainment Kevin Reilly commented on rumors that a dissatisfied Conan O'Brien might prefer to leave NBC, rather than delay his Tonight Show a half hour in deference to the newly moving Jay Leno, and jump ship to Fox. Here's what Reilly had to say:

There's not too much more we can illuminate. We're digesting this the same way you are. We're in "wowee" mode right now. Our position on late night has been consistent all along. At our last session when we announced and talked about Wanda [Sykes], people asked if we wanted to be in the five times a week business. And we said that's a business we've been in and out of, and it's never completely off the agenda. It's something we're always interested in.

I love Conan personally and professionally, but he has to make decision about his futgure. We've talked to his people and had informal conversations, mostly commiserating about the situation. But other than that, we're not free to talk about any other business proposition [with Conan], and we haven't.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

'Til Death renewed through 2010

When one door closes, another one opens:  he discussed the end -- but stressing that it's not a cancellation, just a natural ending for a show which has creatively played out -- of Prison Break.  But Kevin Reilly also commented on taking the unusual step of announcing, this early in the calendar year, a renewal for Brad Garrett-Joely Fisher sitcom 'Til Death through 2010.

It hardly sounds like a huge vote of confidence for 'Til Death, but more like a resignation to Fox's sad state of comedy, and the paucity of original programming on the networks in general.

The situation on 'Til Death is pretty straightforward and apropos to the conversation earlier about economics.  You're going to see every one of these companies make certain strategic decisions to address the economics.  We want to keep original programming on the air.  We looked at the show and said, "We like the show. There are not a lot of sitcoms on the air.  This one does have a viewership base.  We'd like to keep it on the air."  At a certain deal, it makes sense for us in certain time periods.  So we were able to make that deal, and so we're going to have places where we can program it and keep originals on the air versus just repeats or some sort of filler.

More to come from Kevin Reilly on the state of comedy overall at Fox.

Prison Break ending

Live from the TCA:  Fox president Kevin Reilly confirms:  after four seasons, Prison Break will be ending this spring.

"It's a show that just came to the end of its run," Reilly said, answering a question about the ratings declines of both Prison Break and sophomore series Sarah Connor Chronicles this season.

Prison Break will return for its final episodes on Friday, April 17 at 8PM ET on Fox.

Monday, August 4, 2008

A Presidential "State of Comedy" Address

As the oft-told story goes, in the spring of 1983, people were saying the sitcom was dead. On NBC, freshman Family Ties was struggling, and another brand new comedy Cheers, ranked dead last in the Nielsen ratings. Then, in the fall of ‘84, The Cosby Show premiered and changed everything.

Now, to end network comedy’s current drought, comedy fans have been waiting for the next Cosby for over a decade. Although the sitcom had proliferated on TV in the ‘90s – to an extent, wearing out its welcome – trend after trend has chipped away at the number of half-hours on each network’s lineup. First there were the umpteen editions of Dateline, taking up valuable NBC real estate. Then game shows, like ABC’s eight-days-a-week Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. Then the continuing reality juggernaut (some would say “scourge”), starting in 2000 with CBS’ Survivor.

But these competing formats are not totally to blame; network comedy has all along been devouring itself. And this is why: if you, average aspiring writer, happen to have the world’s best idea for a new network comedy, you can’t just walk into NBC and slap it on Ben Silverman’s desk. No, in order to create one’s own sitcom, a would-be comedy writer must first make his or way through “the system.” That is, a writer must land an agent, then a highly-coveted, nearly non-existent starter’s (or “staff writer”) position on an existing sitcom, then be lucky enough to maintain steady employment so as to toil for years, working his or way up the ladder to the ultimate rung of “executive producer.” The trouble is, with so few comedies on the air, this career-path has become non-existent. There are no shows for one to work one’s way up on. The pipeline is blocked.

And thus with fewer “showrunner”-level writers available – and their continued unwillingness, despite their professions to the contrary, to look outside the pool of usual suspects – the networks have fewer choices when it comes to developing pilots, and fewer chances of hitting the great sitcom lottery by producing the next, game-changing Cosby.

It’s a downward spiral. And from what the networks’ presidents each told me last month at the Television Critics Association convention in Los Angeles, they obviously know it. I heard Fox’s Kevin Reilly and CBS’ Nina Tassler discuss The Great Comedy Question from the TCA stage, and cornered ABC’s Steve McPherson and NBC’s Ben Silverman at their respective networks’ parties. What is the state of network comedy today?, my fellow critics and I asked each of them. What are you doing to revive it? What are you looking for, and where are you going to find it?

The answers below may sound encouraging, but beware: we’ve heard some of this, particularly about opening the studio gates to untested talent, before. So believe this stuff when you see it – that is, when you finally find that screamingly funny sitcom showing up on your screen.



I’m so confident and excited about where we stand as the clear comedy leader in broadcast TV… I love our lineup on Thursday, with a night of sophisticated comedy with movie and TV stars that transcend the genre. …These are the best talents assembled. Our comedies rock. I’m very excited and I feel bullish about it. [And as for multi-camera comedy] , we’re aggressively looking for those as well. We’re developing it. We’re just trying to find the best talent to invest in and believe in their ideas.

[As for any further upcoming new comedies], Thursday night is still the home of the vast majority of our comedies, and that’s probably where we would target. But over time, I’m hoping that we get some traction and some hits and can open up new nights.

- Ben Silverman, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and NBC Universal Television Studio




We’ve talked about [the dire state of comedy] every year. And I can’t even talk to the platitude of “it’s cyclical; it’s going to come back.” My observation is that a lot of confidence has left the creative space on a day-to-day basis. I see really talented people coming in very skittish, not knowing what to pitch, what will sell. I see executives trying to figure out where there is a nerve to hit…

We’re really going to mix it up this year. I’ll tell you one thing we’re doing, which sounds silly, but we’ve agreed in our comedy pitches we’re not going to take most of our pitches in our office. We’re going to go out and meet the writers on their own turf, and that could be at a restaurant. If they want to do it in their house, we’ll do it in their house -- anything that just gets it out of a sterile environment and try something different. …We’re going to try to … pay writers a little bit of money… and say, “You want to shoot something before you come in? Don’t sit on our couch and pitch us. Go shoot something and then pop it in the machine, even if it’s not for air.” We’ve got to do anything to mix it up.

We’ve got one project,… Boldly Going Nowhere for midseason that I think is going to be a great stake in the ground for the next generation of comedy for us. It’s one of the funniest scripts I’ve read in a long time. It’s single camera. It’s sort of The Office in space – petty jealousies and incompetencies on a long-term mission to wherever they’re going. …I feel like right now there’s opportunity for a lot of young voices to come up, and we’re not giving up… Our comedy brand has been a little anemic… for all of our success in the last batch of years, and we’re ready for our next Malcolm in the Middle.

- Kevin Reilly, President, Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company




I think comedy is not dead at all. I think comedy is alive and well -- it’s just that we’ve got to execute some good ones. [As for single-camera versus multi-camera format], I don’t think it’s the form that matters – I think it’s point of view and content and whether it’s good or not. [It may be in the more traditional, multi-camera format, but] you watch reruns of Seinfeld, because it’s a great show. Sitcoms aren’t failing because of the form, but because there haven’t been great ones that have worked.

We’re trying to find new things and voices from other places, whether it’s the book world or feature world or [elsewhere]. We’ve just got to keep looking. We’re lucky when we can put together a Don Todd with a Christina Applegate [on Samantha Who?] It doesn’t come along that often. Or for example take Chuck Lorre and Charlie Sheen – you’ve got to find these great combinations, and we’re looking for that.

I think that’s one of the challenges of the comedy world, that there isn’t the same bench strength …that there is in the drama world. So we’ve got to keep pounding the pavement and be open to new voices. We’ve got to be much more open to all different angles of getting the stuff. We’ll just keep looking… We’ll continue to develop year-round and announce [new shows] when it makes sense.

- Steve McPherson, President, ABC Entertainment




Certainly [with] our comedies, … look at the huge step we made this year in terms of building to a second night. Adding Worst Week to Monday nights certainly speaks to... the future of comedy at the network. So I think that we've been very, very calculated in building shows and adding shows that are certainly within the wheelhouse, but certainly expanding the brand.

- Nina Tassler, President, CBS Entertainment