SCRIPTED NEWS:
‘Bored to Death’s’ Jonathan Ames Adapting Icelandic Dramedy ‘World’s End’ for Showtime
Showtime is teaming with Bored to Death’s Jonathan Ames to adapt Icelandic dramedy World’s End. World’s End centers on a high school English teacher, struggling with life, love and his disaffected students, who spins out of control and winds up committed to a mental institution, where, ironically, he finally feels normal and becomes the leader of an inmate revolt. Ames will pen the script and executive produce alongside Electus chairman Ben Silverman and Bored to Death EP/manager Stephanie Davis.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/bored-deaths-jonathan-ames-adapting-704677
(video) Syfy’s New Series Trailers: ‘Dominion’ & ‘Ascension’
Check out the new trailers for the upcoming Syfy drama Dominion, which premieres June 19, and space opera Ascension, which bows in November.
http://www.deadline.com/2014/05/video-ascension-dominion-trailer-syfy/
Deadline: Upfronts 2014: What Pilots Are Still Alive, What Projects Are Being Shopped
The networks’ pickups and cancellations have been done and their new schedules have all been announced as we wrap another upfront season. Here are the pilots and cancelled series that I hear are still alive or hoping for a resurrection in a new home.
http://www.deadline.com/2014/05/upfronts-2014-what-pilots-are-still-alive-what-projects-are-being-shopped/
NON-SCRIPTED/ALTERNATIVE NEWS:
ABC’s ‘Rising Star’ to Include Kesha, Ludacris, Josh Groban and Brad Paisley
This summer’s big reality swing, based on the popular Israeli format from Keshet DCP, lines up its talent just a month out from its June launch.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/abcs-rising-star-include-kesha-703680
Fox in talks with Apollo to create TV production house
Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox and private equity giant Apollo Global Management are in preliminary talks to create a global television production house that would manage big hits like "American Idol" and "Deal or No Deal." The deal would combine Fox’s Shine Group as well as the Apollo-controlled Endemol and Core Media Group. The joint venture would be one of the largest reality TV producers in the world, controlling franchises like "Master Chef," "The Biggest Loser" and "Big Brother."
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-fox-apollo-tv-production-20140516-story.html
(sched) Fox Moves Up ‘I Wanna Marry Harry’ Debut
Fox said today that it is bumping up the premiere of its summer reality yarn I Wanna Marry Harry by a week to May 20, following Night 1 of the two-part American Idol finale.
http://www.deadline.com/2014/05/fox-moves-up-i-wanna-marry-harry-debut/
NEW MEDIA NEWS:
Xbox ‘Halo 5’ and Steven Spielberg’s ‘Halo’ TV Series to Launch Fall 2015
Microsoft will release “Halo 5: Guardians” for the Xbox One and the “Halo” original series from Steven Spielberg in fall 2015, the company announced Friday.
http://variety.com/2014/digital/games/xbox-halo-5-and-steven-spielbergs-halo-tv-series-to-launch-fall-2015-1201183393/
XBox, ‘World Wars’ Producer Developing Interactive Historical Docu Series To Launch With ‘13 Days Of Blood’
XBox Entertainment Studios and TV producer Stephen David (The Men Who Built America) have teamed to develop a groundbreaking new hybrid series. According to David, it’s “like playing television – true interaction with real history.” The currently untitled project will cover centuries of history and tackle iconic true tales from the world’s greatest civilizations. Plan is to launch 8-10 hourlong episodes starting with lead-off installment “13 Days Of Blood”. “The first installment will tell the lesser-known story of the Roman Empire through the lens of Commodus, the ‘gladiator emperor’ who created 13 days of bloody ‘games’ in the Colosseum.
http://www.deadline.com/2014/05/13-days-of-blood-xbox-world-wars-stephen-david-interactive-history-series/
TWDC NEWS:
(rumor) Is Disney Readying Olaf Based Animated TV Show?
Disney has recently registered the OlafsAdventures.com domain name leading to some speculation that one of the first expansions of the Disney Frozen franchise will be based on the lovable snowman voiced by Josh Gad.
http://thedisneyblog.com/2014/05/15/is-disney-readying-olaf-based-animated-tv-show/
EXECUTIVE/TALENT NEWS:
Guardian: Is Shonda Rhimes the most powerful woman in television?
Rhimes’ imminent dominance of Thursday nights is no small feat considering how hard other networks are fighting to recapture the lost glory of the ‘Must-See TV’ years. The sneak peek of How to Get Away with Murder, starring the Academy Award-nominated Viola Davis, suggests it has the flavor of a procedural with typical Rhimes flare: hard-talking women in charge, pitting the best and brightest against each other, and, of course, a murder most foul.
http://www.theguardian.com/culture/tvandradioblog/2014/may/14/shonda-rhimes-scandal-tv-diversity-showrunner-davis
Exec Shuffle For 5/16/14: Legendary Entertainment, ReelzChannel, OWN, Hulu
Stun Originals: Stun Creative has launched this new production start-up, which aims to develop original programming and content for TV and the web. Former Mandeville TV president Maria Crenna will head the Los Angeles-based venture.
Bold Films: Zoe Engling has been promoted to Creative Coordinator.
Bold Films: Matt Rhodes has joined as President, Motion Picture Division.
Bold Films: Jeffrey Stott has joined as Vice President, Physical Production.
Legendary Entertainment: Alex Garcia has been promoted to Executive Vice President of Production
Legendary Entertainment: Jillian Share has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Production
Legendary Entertainment: Alex Hedlund has been promoted to Vice President of Production.
Material Pictures: DJ Goldberg has joined as Director, Development, Television.
Discovery Channel: Michael Sorensen has been promoted to Vice President, Development & Production.
Disney Junior: Emily Hart has been promoted to Vice President, Original Programming.
Disney XD: Jade-Addon Hall has joined as Coordinator, Original Series & International.
OWN: Scott Garner has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Scheduling & Acquisitions.
OWN: Tina Perry has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Business & Legal Affairs.
OWN: Debi Pomerantz has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Research.
http://www.studiosystemnews.com/exec-shuffle-for-51614-legendary-entertainment-reelzchannel-own-hulu/
MISCELLANEOUS NEWS:
US cable celebrates ‘best quarter in years’ as pay subs rise
The US cable TV industry achieved its “best quarter in years,” stemming subscriber losses as the overall pay TV market – including cable, satellite and IPTV – rose by 202,670 subscribers in Q1. According to IHS Technology, the overall pay TV gains marked the best performance for the market in a year, while a 132,330 fall in cable subscribers marked the lowest number of losses since the first quarter of 2011.
http://tbivision.com/news/2014/05/us-cable-celebrates-best-quarter-in-years-as-pay-subs-rise/275892/
AdWeek: ABC Dips a Toe Into the Programmatic Pool
Speaking to media buyers and advertisers during the network’s 2014-15 upfront presentation, ABC ad sales president Geri Wang announced that her team plans to begin kicking the tires on programmatic. The initial trial will take place throughout the summer and will include digital video ad inventory across ABC Entertainment and News programming. Sibling cable net ABC Family also will be participating in the trial, making video inventory available across its digital portfolio of shows.
http://www.adweek.com/news/television/abc-dips-toe-programmatic-pool-157656
AdWeek: Programmatic for Dummies Everyone says it’s exploding, but what is it?
“Programmatic is a catchall term that many people are using to categorize everything from behavioral and intent-based targeting to real-time bidding and exchange-based buying of inventory,” says Peter Naylor, former evp at NBCUniversal. “Programmatic is advertising’s newer, better mousetrap.”
http://www.adweek.com/news-gallery/advertising-branding/programmatic-dummies-153590#intro
(feature) Digg: The Female Sociopath
Amy Dunne of “Gone Girl,” Lisbeth Salander of “Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” Cersei Lannister of “Game of Thrones.” If there’s one thing these cold, calculating ladies can teach us, it’s that we’re captivated by the female sociopath. But how did she rise to such prominence in our cultural imagination?
http://digg.com/2014/the-female-sociopath
The Morning Update 