2017 and beyond

• BRAVO DIGITAL GREENLIGHTS FIVE NEW VIDEO SERIES
  BravoTV.com Celebrates Best Month and Quarter Ever for Both Unique Visitors and Total Video Streams Year-to-Date, Bravo Ranks as the #1 Cable Network for Video on Demand with 45.3M Views
  Bravo Media is giving the greenlight to five new original digital series, it was announced today by Lisa Hsia, Executive Vice President, Digital, Bravo & Oxygen Media. The announcement marks the network’s commitment to doubling down on short-form digital content and comes on the heels of a record-breaking month and best quarter ever for Bravo Digital (BravoTV.com and Bravo Now app). BravoTV.com generated the most traffic in its history with 27.6M visits and 13.5M unique visitors, and Bravo Digital received 32M video streams across all platforms for the month of April. Additionally, Bravo ranks as the #1 cable network for Video on Demand year-to-date with 45.3MM views on set-top-box and BravoTV.com currently ranks as a top 5 fastest-growing cable entertainment TV site across all key demos.
  “We’re very excited to announce this new slate of Bravo digital originals, and after another record-breaking month for Bravo Digital,” said Hsia. “This marks another milestone in continuing our momentum in the digital storytelling space and in delivering fresh and compelling content for consumers.”
  "As marketers plan where to put their messaging this Upfront, it's important we are able to offer them the ability to partner with our premium video content on all platforms," said Laura Molen, Executive Vice President, Lifestyle and Hispanic Advertising Sales, NBCUniversal. "Bravo expertly extends its content into these engaging, unique video series that are the perfect place for brands to create meaningful relationships with consumers."
  The new slate of original, short-form digital series launching over the next sixth months include: Jet Set’s “The Upgrade” – Travel expert Ben Schlappig reveals how you can score high-end, luxury travel experiences using only reward programs including airline and credit card miles. Launching from Bravo's travel site Jet Set, this immersive journey into the world of luxury travel will offer up fresh video, editorial and social posts each week.
  “Personal Space” – From celebrity PDA, blind-date disasters and dealing with your in-laws, this digital video series will unpack a week’s worth of relationship issues and provide comprehensive coverage and commentary on the three Rs – Romance, Relatives, and Relationships.
  “The Weekly Pre-game” – Serving as the play by play for reality television, every Monday host Daryn Carp will break down the Bravo clashes, confrontations, wins and losses expected for the week ahead.
  “Dish Happy Hour” – This new series serves up the week’s buzziest stories from Bravo’s Daily Dish along with the cocktails needed to wash them down. It’s the TGIF pop culture happy hour fans didn’t know they needed.
  “Bake Amends” – See what’s cooking in the world of apology cakes, where people say sorry by whipping-up a baked creation…which doesn’t always go according to plan.
  
• FOX ANNOUNCES A LIVE MUSICAL PRODUCTION OF THE TONY-AWARD-, GRAMMY AWARD- AND PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING MUSICAL “RENT”
  Award-Winning Producer Marc Platt (GREASE: LIVE, “La La Land”) and the Estate of Writer/Composer Jonathan Larson to Executive-Produce
  FOX has announced a live musical production of the groundbreaking, Tony Award-, Grammy Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical RENT. Acclaimed film, television and theater producer Marc Platt (GREASE: LIVE, “La La Land,” “Wicked”), along with the estate of writer/composer Jonathan Larson, will executive-produce the event. Additional details and auspices to be announced.
  “We are so honored to partner with the estate of the brilliant Jonathan Larson and producer Marc Platt on one of the great musicals of our time,” said Dana Walden and Gary Newman, Chairmen and CEOs, Fox Television Group. “The title is so iconic, the music is so beloved, and the themes are as meaningful today as they were when the show first premiered on Broadway. With Marc overseeing this project, we are sure it will have a profound impact on the legions of fans who know and love this musical."
  “‘Rent’​​ was Jonathan’s dream of sharing the ​theater and the passion he had for it with a whole new generation,” said Julie and Al Larson. “None of us could have imagined the massive impact that the messages and themes in ‘Rent’ would have on the ​theater​ community or the world...except for Jonathan. We are absolutely thrilled to be continuing Jonathan’s legacy and ​the still-relevant ​themes of ​the show in this way.”
  A re-imagining of Puccini’s "La Bohème," and set in New York City's gritty East Village, “Rent” tells the unforgettable story of seven artists struggling to follow their dreams during a time of great social and political turmoil. After winning four Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize, writer/composer Jonathan Larson’s tour de force celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, as it continues to offer an inspiring message of hope and friendship.
  “Rent” originally was produced in New York by New York Theatre Workshop and on Broadway by Jeffrey Seller, Kevin McCollum, Allan S. Gordon and New York Theatre Workshop.
  RENT will be executive-produced by Marc Platt, Adam Siegel, Julie Larson, Al Larson and Revolution Studios’ Vince Totino, Scott Hemming and Marla Levine.
  
• FREEFORM LAUNCHES EXCLUSIVE SHORT-FORM ORIGINAL SERIES ‘PARTY GIRL’ FROM NEW FORM AND MAKER STUDIOS SCRIPTED COMEDY CO-CREATED BY ACTRESS, WRITER AND COMEDIAN LISA SCHWARTZ AND TV WRITER LACEY FRIEDMAN
  “Party Girl,” an exclusive 10-episode original short-form series co-created by actress, writer and comedian Lisa Schwartz (aka LisBug) and television writer Lacey Friedman (“The Goldbergs”), is live now on Freeform.com, the Freeform app and Hulu.
  Loosely based on Schwartz’s experiences, “Party Girl” follows a twenty-something (Schwartz) as she navigates adulthood while working with a band of quirky co-workers at a Los Angeles party company that specializes in themed birthdays. The series features a cast of characters including Fay, the slightly off, mama-bear leader (Beverly D’Angelo, “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”); Philip, the mediocre magician (Ed Begley Jr., “Pineapple Express”); and Clive, the client that literally takes the cake as the weirdest party hero ever (Adam Busch, “Men at Work”), among others.
  Schwartz is best known for her widely popular YouTube channel that has over 2 million followers and her musical parodies that have amassed millions of views.
  “We are thrilled to premiere our show on the Freeform app and are glad to be a part of their family,” said Schwartz and Friedman. “’Party Girl’ is a twisted homage to birthday party entertainers, based on Lisa’s personal experience, and a nod to all of us who try to maintain our dignity in a world set up for us to have none.”
  “We love working with emerging talent like Lisa who has such an authentic and fresh point of view. “’Party Girl’ is a hilarious show that beautifully portrays the emotional highs and lows of being in your twenties,” said Karey Burke, executive vice president, Programming and Development, Freeform.
  The series is produced by digital studios New Form and Maker Studios. The “Party Girl” pilot first emerged during the New Form incubator program last year and was further developed into a series project premiering at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival.


• SYFY TO ADAPT 3001: THE FINAL ODYSSEY AS A MINISERIES
  RIDLEY SCOTT, SCOTT FREE TO EXECUTIVE PRODUCE; STUART BEATTIE TO WRITE AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCE
  NEW YORK — Syfy announced today that it is working with Scott Free Productions and Warner Horizon Television to adapt the Arthur C. Clarke novel 3001: The Final Odyssey into a miniseries. Stuart Beattie (Pirates of the Caribbean, Collateral) will write the adaptation and serve as executive producer along with Scott Free’s Ridley Scott and David W. Zucker. Clayton Krueger will serve as co-executive producer.
  An epic story of a man lost in time, Arthur C. Clarke's final "Odyssey" book resolves the tale that was begun in 2001: A Space Odyssey. Beginning with the discovery of Frank Poole's frozen body, floating in space, 3001: The Final Odyssey offers an extraordinary range of complex characters with conflicting agendas, stunning visuals, and dark thematic meditations on the final fate of all Humankind.
  Arthur C. Clarke’s “Odyssey” series spanned over 30 years, with the initial publication of “2001” in 1968, and the final “3001” 1997. The original film, directed by Stanley Kubrick, is an Academy Award winning classic, and “2010” was the only other of the novels to be filmed. The estates of both Kubrick and Clarke have offered their full support for “3001: The Final Odyssey.”


• SYFY AND STEVEN SPIELBERG’S AMBLIN TELEVISION REUNITING TO DEVELOP ALDOUS HUXLEY’S CLASSIC NOVEL BRAVE NEW WORLD
  Darryl Frank, Justin Falvey and Les Bohem Will Executive Produce Series With Bohem Writing Screenplay Universal Cable Productions to Serve as Studio
  NEW YORK – May 5, 2015 – Adding to its growing roster of major productions featuring science fiction’s most acclaimed franchises, Syfy is reuniting with Emmy® Award-winning Amblin Television to develop a scripted series based on Aldous Huxley’s classic novel Brave New World.
  Syfy and Amblin previously collaborated on Steven Spielberg Presents: Taken, which won a 2003 Emmy® for Best Miniseries, as well as nominations in six other categories.
  Brave New World is set in a world without poverty, war or disease. In this world, humans are given mind-altering drugs, free sex and rampant consumerism are the order of the day, and people no longer reproduce but are genetically engineered in “hatcheries.” Those who won’t conform are forced onto “reservations” – until one of these “savages” challenges the system, threatening the entire social order. First published in 1932, Brave New World was ranked fifth among the 100 best English language novels of the 20th Century by Modern Library.
  Said Dave Howe, President, Syfy & Chiller: “Brave New World is one of the most influential genre classics of all time. Its provocative vision of a future gone awry remains as powerful and as timeless as ever. Promising to be a monumental television event, Brave New World is precisely the groundbreaking programming that is becoming the hallmark of Syfy.”


• TRAVEL CHANNEL CHECKS OFF A SECOND SEASON OF ‘THE ZIMMERN LIST’ WITH CULINARY EXPLORER ANDREW ZIMMERN
  Travel Channel’s new hit series, “The Zimmern List,” hosted by one of the world’s most well-traveled food explorers, Andrew Zimmern, has been picked up for a second season. In the series, Zimmern shares his personal recommendations on the food, and places where, he most loves to eat. With the greenlight of 16 new half-hour episodes, he continues as the ultimate tour guide. Since its premiere in March, “The Zimmern List” is among Travel Channel’s highest rated series, posting double digit rating increases year over year. It has been seen by more than 10 million total viewers. Production on the new season begins in June.
  “This show is really very personal to me, but also very easy for fans to duplicate,” said Zimmern. “It’s about being really friendly and making it actionable. When I’m living with an African tribe, traveling by boat, not very many people are able to do that. In ‘The Zimmern List,’ anyone can go and do what I’m doing.”
  “While Andrew has been known for years for his adventurous palate, with ‘The Zimmern List,’ in every scene, viewers experience the food and restaurants he truly loves,” said Jane Latman, general manager, Travel Channel. “This series showcases the places and people Andrew seeks out when he wants to enjoy the most delicious food. He is an incredible and wholly entertaining guide.”
  The freshman season of “The Zimmern List” continues in premiere episodes through June 26 on Tuesday nights at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT. On May 8, Zimmern starts his Chicago food tour with Windy City classics like hot dogs and deep-dish pizza. Then he drops by other local hot spots including one of the best barbecue joints and a restaurant with three Michelin stars.
  
• Dear Diary: TV Land Orders Pilot Script of "Heathers"
  The script is written by Jason Micallef, and Tom Rosenberg and Gary Lucchesi will executive produce for Lakeshore Entertainment.
  Dating a murderous psychopath and figuring out what to wear to your best friend's suicide are typical teen problems for Veronica Sawyer. With a pilot script order for "Heathers," TV Land is digging into the pitch-black comedy for their first anthology series, based on the cult classic film. Set in the present day, our heroine will be dealing with a very different but equally vicious group of Heathers. The script is written by Jason Micallef ("Butter"), and Tom Rosenberg and Gary Lucchesi will executive produce for Lakeshore Entertainment.
  The pilot script order for "Heathers" comes on the heels of several development announcements TV Land made at their upfront presentation on March 3rd, including an untitled put pilot based on the life of Kyle Richards ("The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills") with Emmy(R)-winning executive producers John Wells ("Shameless," "ER," "The West Wing") and John Riggi ("The Comeback," "30 Rock," "Will & Grace"), and a pilot order for an adaptation of hit film "The First Wives Club," to be written by Rebecca Addelman ("New Girl") and executive produced by Jenny Bicks ("Sex and the City"). The network also renewed "Teachers" for a 20-episode second season and struck an overall development deal with Darren Star, the creator of the critically-acclaimed show "Younger," which has its second season finale on Wednesday, March 23rd at 10pm ET/PT.


• TV ONE’S TRUE CRIME MONDAYS CONTINUES IN FEBRUARY WITH NEW FATAL ATTRACTION AND FOR MY MAN EPISODES
  TV One’s True Crime programming block continues in February with new episodes of the network’s hit crime and justice series Fatal Attraction and For My Man every Monday night.
  Beginning at 9 p.m. ET, Fatal Attraction delves into real-life stories of criminal acts committed under the guise of love and the tragic consequences that turn deadly. Recounting stories of love-gone-wrong, each episode consists of first-person interviews from loved ones, accounts from investigating officials, interrogation footage, recreations of pivotal moments and haunting cinematography.
  Immediately following at 10 p.m. ET, For My Man is jam-packed with new incredible stories of the lengths some women will go to keep the love of their man. Shedding light on the outrageous and shocking stories of women who have been arrested for a crime they committed in the name of love, each episode includes interviews of those closest to the events – family members, friends, witnesses, investigators and journalists – as well as psychologists, lawyers and when possible, the subjects themselves.
  ICYMI: Actress Sofia Pellegrino appeared on WTTG-FOX5 in Washington, D.C. to discuss her recent role as a love-sickened bank robber on TV One’s For My Man. The interview is available online: http://www.fox5dc.com/231455450-video .
• UNIVERSAL CABLE PRODUCTIONS AND HORROR VISIONARY WES CRAVEN SIGN FIRST-LOOK DEAL
  “WE ARE ALL COMPLETELY FINE” AND “THE PEOPLE UNDER THE STAIRS” IN DEVELOPMENT AT SYFY
  UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – Universal Cable Productions (UCP) continues to fortify its genre slate signing a first-look deal with horror mastermind, Wes Craven (“A Nightmare on Elm Street,” “Scream”). The deal, announced today by Dawn Olmstead, Executive Vice President, Development, will focus on creating unparalleled scripted programming for NBCUniversal and external networks.
  “Wes is an icon whose films have captivated audiences for decades. We're thrilled to be working with him, and to be able to bring his enormous talent and unique blend of horror, humor and intelligence to television,” said Olmstead.
  “UCP is the home of an amazing slate of TV programming and I’m delighted to be working with them,” said Craven. “Fasten your seatbelts.”


• UNIVERSAL CABLE PRODUCTIONS AND BENDERSPINK TO DEVELOP DAVID ROBERT MITCHELL’S “MR. POSTMAN”
  UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – Universal Cable Productions (UCP) and Benderspink today announced they are developing “Mr. Postman,” a crime series by writer/director David Robert Mitchell (“It Follows”). Known for his unique and modern dark flair, Mitchell is the latest to join UCP’s roster of standout auspices perfectly complementing the studio’s growing slate of genre projects in development.
  “David is a true artist with incredible vision that I believe will be a game changer in storytelling both in television and film,” said Dawn Olmstead, Executive Vice President, Development at UCP. “We are very excited to take out ‘Mr. Postman,’ his first TV project. It's like nothing else out there.”
  “Mr. Postman” follows a mailman who investigates the dark mysteries within his all-American town after a horrific event occurs on his own street. Mitchell is set to direct and executive produce alongside Chris Bender, JC Spink and Jake Weiner of Benderspink.
  “I’m really excited to be working with Universal Cable Productions and Benderspink on this project. It will be very fun to build this world, see these characters come to life, and share this mystery,” said Mitchell.
  Mitchell wrote and directed the award-winning horror feature “It Follows,” currently in theatres. Premiering at the Cannes Film Festival Critics’ Week, the only American film in that section, “It Follows” went on to garner various awards around the world, including NIFF in Switzerland, Fantastic Fest in Austin, and was deemed “one of the scariest films in years” to come out of the Sundance Film Festival. The critically acclaimed film had a limited release in March and has since expanded to 1,600 theaters boasting a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.