It looks as if Lucy Lawless - best known as XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS, although we loved her stint on BATTLESTAR GALACTICA - will be one of the catfighting women taking center stage on ABC’s upcoming FOOTBALL WIVES (based on the hit BBC sudser FOOTBALLERS WIVES). Lawless has been cast as Tanya Turner, whom fans of the original will recall was considered that show’s queen bitch. The American version is being described as “sexy, but less sophisticated than she thinks.” No word yet on who’ll play Tanya’s troubled hubby, Jason. But if we may, we’d like to suggest the sudser consider Harriet Samson Harris (Felicia, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES) for the role of Hazel Bailey. Each and every time we saw Alison Newman in the Brit version, we couldn’t help but think how perfect Harris — who first caught our eye as FRASIER’s agent, Bebe — would be in the part!
In other casting news, Louise Lombard (Sofia, CSI) has landed the title role in ABC’s JUDY’S GOT A GUN, Miriam Shor (Hedwig & The Angry Inch) will join those wifeswappers over in CBS’s SWINGTOWN, and Bridget Wilson-Sampras (whose career has always seemed this close to hitting it big) will play the promiscuous neighbor of ABC’s MR & MRS SMITH. 
Great news today for ALIAS fans. Michael Vartan (Michael Vaughn) is headed back to series television. Vartan has signed on to headline ABC’s untitled drama pilot about four high-powered CEOs or CEOs-to-be who are all friends.
In more ALIAS news, SpyDaddy Victor Garber has signed on to ELI STONE, a high concept Legal Drama from EVERWOOD mastermind Greg Berlanti. ‘Stone’ revolves around a brilliant young attorney (Jonny Lee Miller) at a top law firm who finds out that he might be a prophet. Garber will play the senior partner at the firm.
No word as to whether these ‘jobs’ are just fronts for a new APO/CIA/SD6 spy operation — but here’s hoping!
Today’s NYTIMES has a great article that reveals how hit TV shows are predicted, by measuring media and internet buzz. The Consumer Experience Practice, part of the Interpublic Group of Companies has been putting out a report for the past three years that previews more than two dozen new series being aired this fall, helping media buyers and companies choose where to spend their advertising dollars wisely. Some highlights of the report include:
Of the five new shows that consumers were discussing most often online in May and June, according to the report, four will be on NBC: “Heroes,” ranked first; “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,” second; “30 Rock,” fourth; and “Friday Night Lights,” fifth.
Of the five new shows the report says were being discussed least often online in May and June, two will be on Fox — “Happy Hour,” 25th, and “Standoff,” 26th — and three will be on ABC: “Notes from the Underbelly,” No. 22; “Big Day,” No. 23; and “Help Me Help You,” No. 24.
Though the report seems to have picked some pretty obvious winners this fall (Studio 60, Heroes, really going out on a limb there!), it should be noted that last year, the report did identify COMMANDER IN CHIEF and THRESHOLD as winners. Fans of both shows know all to well that the only way they’ll see those shows again is if they go out and buy the DVD sets of the ‘complete’ series.
Hoping to be the next NOBODY’S WATCHING, rejected pilots are popping up all over YouTube in droves. According to Variety, at least four failed pilots from the 2005-06 development season have ended up online. The pilot leaks are inspired by the fact that Bill Lawrence’s NOBODY’S WATCHING was recently picked up by NBC after being rejected by the CW, after it gained a large following on YouTube. Needless to say, TV Exects are not happy, and the pilots are generally removed within hours of being posted.
According to the Hollywood Reporter GILMORE GIRLS (former) showrunner and creator Amy Sherman-Palladino has found a new home. She’s signed a deal with FOX Broadcasting Co. to create a half-hour mutli-camera comedy. The untitled comedy revolves around two estranged sisters who reunite after one of them agrees to carry the other one’s baby. ASP will write, executive produce and direct the bpilot which has yet to be picked up by a studio.
The TV Addict has learned that ABC is hosting red carpet screenings for two of their new fall shows, UGLY BETTY and MEN IN TREES. For your chance to see a new fall show before it airs on the network, be sure to join ABC for one of the special screenings below:
Wednesday, August 9th @ 8pm
Crown Center Square - Kansas City, KS
Wednesday, August 16th @ 8pm
Cherry Creek North Shopping District - Denver, CO
Tuesday, August 22nd @ 9pm
Cinema San Pedro - San Francisco, CA
Thursday, August 24th @ 8pm
Marymoor Park - Seattle, WA
If you do attend the screenings, be sure to come back to theTVaddict.com to post your thoughts!
In what the TV addict believes is a brilliant promotional move, NBC has signed a deal with Netflix (the leading internet video rental store) to offer select shows from their fall line-up to Netflix Subscribers. NBC hopes to drum up early buzz for two shows: STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP and KIDNAPPED by offering them on DVD to Netflix Subscribers
According to NBC, subscribers will be able to watch the first episodes of each of the shows and sample trailers of NBC’s other new series set to air in the 2006/2007 broadcast season. The shows will be available beginning on August 5.
Yet another reason why theTVaddict wishes NetFlix would come to Canada!
Thanks to Watch With Intelligence for the tip
Source: Reuters
When the new fall TV season finally begins, do you often find yourself thinking, “Really, This is the best sitcom they could come up with? I could do so much better!” Well now’s your chance to prove that you have the artistic vision to choose the next FRIENDS (or RODNEY). The FX network has launched a contest on Myspace (myspace.com/sunnyfx). FX has chosen 20 videos (out of the 3,000 entries they received). You, the viewer gets to vote on the best video. The winner receives $50,000 to shoot a full pilot. Says FX Exec John Landgraf:
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” as a happy surprise that came in on spec from a struggling actor. There are lots of aspirants, filmmakers, actors, etc., on MySpace, the contest is both a development tool and a way to highlight the unconventional manner in which “Sunny” made it to FX’s schedule. It all comes down to creativity. That’s what we’re always looking for with potential shows.
Ever wonder what happens to TV sitcom pilots when they aren’t chosen to be on a Network’s Fall Schedule? Or, after viewing some truly awful network comedies (ie. Rodney, Modern Men etc.) do you ever wonder how ‘bad’ the sitcoms must have been that weren’t picked up? Well now is your chance to check out a WB pilot that was left to rot in the pilot cemetery.
Ironically titled, NOBODY’S WATCHING - was “Truman Show” like sitcom from the genius behind SCRUBS (Bill Lawrence - along with two FAMILY GUY writers). The show was pitched to both NBC and THE WB, and recently found its way on youtube.com. Creator Bill Lawrence is thrilled with the unexpected attention, “It’s validation for me because it proves that we weren’t completely crazy.”
Click below to view the pilot
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
If you’re as excited as I am to see NBC’s fall Superhero drama HEROES, now’s your chance (to see a preview!). Hop on over to NBC.com to check out a four minute preview of the show. Starring Greg Grunberg (Alias, Felicity, JJ.Abrams Best Friend!) and Milo Ventimiglia (Jess on Gilmore Girls), HEROES chronicles the lives of a ’special’ group of people and the lives of others like them – whose destiny just might be saving humankind. Click here to view the preview.
