Networks give pilot orders to familiar names
Nets give orders to familiar names
Feb 2, 2005
Among a flurry of comedy pilot pickups Tuesday, NBC and ABC gave the green light to vehicles starring "Saturday Night Live" writer Tina Fey and former cast member Chris Kattan along with "Beverly Hills, 90210" star Tori Spelling, and the WB Network gave the thumbs up to a one-hour to be directed by Shawn Levy.
NBC has ordered two comedy pilots from "SNL" writers -- head writer Fey and Paula Pell, both hailing from NBC Universal TV and "SNL" exec producer Lorne Michaels' Broadway Video TV production company.
The untitled Fey project will star Fey as the head writer of a "SNL"-like variety show, focusing on her efforts to control a volatile star and executive producer.
The single-camera pilot, written by Fey and exec produced by Fey, Michaels, JoAnn Alfano and Fey's manager David Miner, will be filmed in the summer after "SNL" wraps its current season.
The untitled Paula Pell project, written by Pell, centers on a formerly fat woman who struggles as she grows into her new skin while surrounded by her still-overweight family and friends.
Pell is exec producing the pilot with Michaels and Alfano.
"Notorious," a single-camera comedy from NBC Uni TV, stars Spelling as a version of herself in the period immediately after "90210," with her character depicted as an underdog in the un-celebrity world that she desperately tries to be a part of.
Chris Alberghini and Mike Chessler are the writers/exec producers. Spelling is co-exec producing.
Additionally, NBC has given a cast-contingent pilot order to an untitled comedy project from writer Emily Kapnek, 20th Century Fox TV and Adelstein-Parouse Prods.
The show is described as a fresh twist on a coming-of-age story centering on a young savant whose parents force him to leave their home and business so he can become a man.
Marty Adelstein and Dawn Parouse are exec producing, with Kapnek co-exec producing.
ABC's untitled Chris Kattan comedy pilot, from 20th TV and 3 Arts Entertainment, centers on an egocentric consumer reporter (Kattan) who thinks the world revolves around him (HR 11/9).
Michael McCullers, who penned the script with Don Woodard and Tom Maxwell, are exec producing the pilot with 3 Arts' Michael Rotenberg, Miner and Steve Tann. Kattan will serve as a producer.
ABC also has picked up an untitled half-hour pilot from writers/exec producers Mark Torgrove and Paul Kaplan and Warner Bros. TV.
The project revolves around three quirky couples whose lives have become intertwined since they met in a baby class.
The WB's "Pepper Dennis," from 20th TV, has received a cast-contingent presentation pickup.
Written by Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts, the project centers on an ambitious female TV news reporter in Chicago who tries to balance work, romance and her crazy family.
Berg and Harberts are exec producing with Levy.
NBC has ordered two comedy pilots from "SNL" writers -- head writer Fey and Paula Pell, both hailing from NBC Universal TV and "SNL" exec producer Lorne Michaels' Broadway Video TV production company.
The untitled Fey project will star Fey as the head writer of a "SNL"-like variety show, focusing on her efforts to control a volatile star and executive producer.
The single-camera pilot, written by Fey and exec produced by Fey, Michaels, JoAnn Alfano and Fey's manager David Miner, will be filmed in the summer after "SNL" wraps its current season.
The untitled Paula Pell project, written by Pell, centers on a formerly fat woman who struggles as she grows into her new skin while surrounded by her still-overweight family and friends.
Pell is exec producing the pilot with Michaels and Alfano.
"Notorious," a single-camera comedy from NBC Uni TV, stars Spelling as a version of herself in the period immediately after "90210," with her character depicted as an underdog in the un-celebrity world that she desperately tries to be a part of.
Chris Alberghini and Mike Chessler are the writers/exec producers. Spelling is co-exec producing.
Additionally, NBC has given a cast-contingent pilot order to an untitled comedy project from writer Emily Kapnek, 20th Century Fox TV and Adelstein-Parouse Prods.
The show is described as a fresh twist on a coming-of-age story centering on a young savant whose parents force him to leave their home and business so he can become a man.
Marty Adelstein and Dawn Parouse are exec producing, with Kapnek co-exec producing.
ABC's untitled Chris Kattan comedy pilot, from 20th TV and 3 Arts Entertainment, centers on an egocentric consumer reporter (Kattan) who thinks the world revolves around him (HR 11/9).
Michael McCullers, who penned the script with Don Woodard and Tom Maxwell, are exec producing the pilot with 3 Arts' Michael Rotenberg, Miner and Steve Tann. Kattan will serve as a producer.
ABC also has picked up an untitled half-hour pilot from writers/exec producers Mark Torgrove and Paul Kaplan and Warner Bros. TV.
The project revolves around three quirky couples whose lives have become intertwined since they met in a baby class.
The WB's "Pepper Dennis," from 20th TV, has received a cast-contingent presentation pickup.
Written by Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts, the project centers on an ambitious female TV news reporter in Chicago who tries to balance work, romance and her crazy family.
Berg and Harberts are exec producing with Levy.
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