SCRIPTED NEWS:
Showtime Developing Drama About Business Of Doping Pro Athletes
Showtime has put in development Dope, an hourlong drama about the business of performance-enhancing drugs for athletes and the doctor who popularized it in South Florida. David Hollander is writing the script and will produce with Michael Costigan.
http://www.deadline.com/2014/05/showtime-developing-drama-about-business-of-doping-pro-athletes/
(sched) FX Sets Premiere Dates for ‘The Strain,’ ‘Tyrant,’ ‘The Bridge,’ More
“Tyrant,” about an unassuming American family drawn into the workings of a turbulent Middle Eastern nation, will premiere June 24 at 10 p.m., while “The Strain,” about a team from the Center for Disease Control Canary Team in New York City that’s investigating a mysterious viral outbreak with hallmarks of an ancient and evil strain of vampirism, will premiere July 13 at 10 p.m. The Demian Bichir/Diane Kruger drama “The Bridge” will return for its second season July 9 at 10 p.m. Also announced, the premiere date for the fourth and final season of “Wilfred,’ which will kick off June 25 on FXX at 10 p.m. The new FX comedies “Married” and “You’re the Worst” will both premiere July 17 at 10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., respectively.
http://www.thewrap.com/fx-sets-premiere-dates-for-the-strain-tyrant-the-bridge-more/
THR: ‘Galavant,’ Comic Book Overload and Three More of TV’s Big Swings for 2014-15
How many comic book shows are too much? Will abandoning comedy on Thursdays work for NBC? THR takes a look.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/galavant-comic-book-overload-three-705003
THR: TV Upfronts: Studio Chiefs on Trends, Surprises and That Big Disappointment
The studio chiefs talk with THR about the big scheduling moves, redeveloping pilots and the broadcast networks’ diversity push.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tv-upfronts-studio-chiefs-trends-705007
Hitfix: What we learned from the 2014 TV Upfronts
Dan and I haven’t had time to look at any of the pilots yet, and we’d rather not make too many snap judgments off of trailers, but there are already some lessons we can take from the decisions that were made, the shows that were ordered — and, in some cases, the shows that weren’t — and more from upfront week.
Deadline: UPFRONTS 2014: The Overachievers
Here is Deadline’s annual honor roll of those who excelled at the upfronts and a list of pods and independent producers with multiple broadcast series on the schedule.
http://www.deadline.com/2014/05/upfronts-2014-the-overachievers/
EW: 16 TV Breakout Characters of 2013-14
Papa Pope, Crazy Eyes, ”Red” Reddington, Gina from ”Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” more MVPs
http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20593459_20816326,00.html
NON-SCRIPTED/ALTERNATIVE NEWS:
AMC Orders Chris Hardwick’s ‘All-Star Celebrity Bowling,’ Two More Reality Series
The cable network continues to beef up its unscripted offerings and gives yet another platform for its "Talking Dead" host. Other new series are an untitled wrestling project from Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan. It will follow Corgan in his new job as creative director of Chicago-based wrestling league Resistance Pro. An hourlong format, its first season is for an eight-episode order. Lastly, there’s Visionaries (working title), a workplace docuseries about the employees of Hollywood prop and set design outfit Vision Scenery. The half-hour is getting six episodes.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/amc-orders-chris-hardwicks-all-704936
INTERNATIONAL NEWS:
ITV orders Cockroaches
UK broadcaster ITV2 has commissioned a post-apocalyptic romantic comedy series titled Cockroaches. The 6×30’ series, from UK indie Big Talk Productions, tells the story of two 19-year-olds who decide to have sex as one of their last acts before nuclear war breaks out. Written by Freddy Syborn (Bad Education), Cockroaches will be produced by Josh Cole and Clelia Mountford, while Big Talk CEO Kenton Allen exec produces. The sitcom is directed by Ben Taylor (Cardinal Burns), and will broadcast on ITV2 later this year.
http://www.c21media.net/itv-orders-cockroaches/
EXECUTIVE/TALENT NEWS:
‘Hangover’ Pals Todd Phillips & Bradley Cooper Form New Warner Bros Producing Label
Sharing three Hangovers with anybody is rarely a good experience. But for director Todd Phillips and Bradley Cooper, the aftermath of their experience is to pool their resources and form a new unnamed production company in a three-year deal at Warner Bros. They are expected to redouble their efforts and become very active as producers in films Cooper will also sometimes star in and which Phillips will direct.
http://www.deadline.com/2014/05/hangover-pals-todd-phillips-bradley-cooper-form-new-warner-bros-producing-label/
The Morning Update 