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Variety.com - Pilot Watch
The premier source of entertainment news. Turn to Variety.com for timely, credible articles, reviews and analysis of film, TV, music, theater, video, gaming and movie and television production -- information vital to your showbiz career.
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TLC adds 'Mall of America' to lineup
Pilot Watch: 'Ghost Intervention' also given series order -- TLC has given a full-series order to "Mall Cops: Mall of America" and a four-episode OK for docuseries "Ghost Intervention."
Tags:
Reality
Intervention
TLC
Oprah gets steamy with HBO
Pilot Watch: Harpo Films sets sensual pilot at network -- Oprah Winfrey has a surprising project in the works.
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Other
Oprah Winfrey
Tarses family to develop family sitcom
Pilot Watch: NBC comedy partners father and son -- The Tarses clan has come together to develop -- what else? -- a family comedy for NBC.
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Other
NBC Universal
Winsberg set up at CBS, WB TV
Pilot Watch: Scribe locks two projects at separate studios -- TV scribe Austin Winsberg ("Jake in Progress") has lined up new projects at CBS and Warner Bros. TV.
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Other
CBS
Warner Bros.
CBS hears what 'Dad Says'
Pilot Watch: Popular Twitter account to get sitcom adaptation -- From Twitter to the tube: CBS has ordered a script for a domestic comedy inspired by the popular Twitter feed "Shit My Dad Says."
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Other
CBS
Tribeca gets two year deal at CBS
Pilot Watch: George, Martin, Ridley writing NYC-set pilots -- Tribeca partners Jane Rosenthal and Robert De Niro are working on a trio of projects for CBS.
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Other
Robert De Niro
CBS
Deal
Tribeca gets two-year deal at CBS
Pilot Watch: George, Martin, Ridley writing NYC-set pilots -- Tribeca partners Jane Rosenthal and Robert De Niro are working on a trio of projects for CBS.
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Other
Robert De Niro
CBS
Deal
Rosenbaum to lead 'V'
Pilot Watch: Sci-fi show gets change in showrunner -- Just as viewers got their first peek at new sci-fi drama "V" on Tuesday, the show has undergone a change at the top.
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Other
Kirstie Alley set to go unscripted for A&E
Pilot Watch: Actress ready open up life for reality series -- Kirstie Alley is set to join the docuseries ranks; thesp is close to signing on to star in an unscripted show for A&E.;
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Other
Kirstie Alley
Sleuthing magician casts spell on NBC
Pilot Watch: Fesman to write Vegas-set drama pilot -- NBC is conjuring a drama series revolving around a crime-solving magician in Las Vegas.
Tags:
Drama
NBC Universal
Las Vegas
Gabourey Sidebe circles 'C Word'
Pilot Watch: 'Precious' star may take guest spot in pilot -- Gabourey Sidibe, star of Lionsgate's "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire," is in talks to appear in the Showtime pilot "The C Word."
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Other
Showtime
Gabourey Sidibe circles 'C Word'
Pilot Watch: 'Precious' star may take guest spot in pilot -- Gabourey Sidibe, star of Lionsgate's "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire," is in talks to appear in the Showtime pilot "The C Word."
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Other
Showtime
TV Land orders up pilots
Pilot Watch: Network branches out into original programming -- TV Land is in the market for homegrown sitcoms.
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Other
TV Land
NBC deals with Carolla, Cheadle
Pilot Watch: Half-hour comedies find home at Peacock -- NBC is looking to stock up on laffs, cutting deals for a half-hour comedy starring Adam Carolla, a laffer from "The Simpsons" alum Bill Oakley and a project from Don Cheadle and "Boondocks" ...
Tags:
Animation
Adam Carolla
The Simpsons
Don Cheadle
Fox plots on robbers and polygamists
Pilot Watch: Two new hour-long dramas in the works -- Fox is prepping a new take on the British series "Daylight Robbery," and has another hourlong in the works about a polygamist.
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Other
Michaels to host 'Loser' companion
Pilot Watch: NBC orders eight episodes of 'Losing It' -- NBC's extending its "Loser" strategy, picking up a new show starring "The Biggest Loser" trainer Jillian Michaels.
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Reality
The Biggest Loser
ABC nears 'Gates' deal with Fox
Pilot Watch: Drama might be shot overseas -- ABC has cut a deal with Fox Television Studios and Little Engine for a 13-episode order of a drama dubbed "The Gates."
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Other
ABC
Deal
'Burn Notice' scribe gets Fox pilot
Pilot Watch: Watkins to write, exec produce with Tollin -- "Burn Notice" scribe Ben Watkins has set up a drama project at Fox and 20th Century Fox TV about a undercover femme investigator who battles her own identity issues.
Tags:
Drama
Burn Notice
A&E's manic for Radha Mitchell
Pilot Watch: Network with pilot order to drama -- A&E; has given a pilot order to a Fox Television Studios drama to star Radha Mitchell as a femme LAPD detective struggling with bipolar disorder.
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Other
Radha Mitchell
ABC picks up more 'FlashForward'
Pilot Watch: Network orders 25 episodes for first season -- ABC has given a back-nine episode pickup to "FlashForward."
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Other
ABC
Showtime streams kudos contenders
Pilot Watch: Orgs to view shows online for voting purposes -- Following streaming of its programs to members of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for the Emmys, Showtime has made its wares available online to other groups as well.
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Other
Showtime
Emmy Awards
CBS takes shines to 'Flashpoint'
Pilot Watch: Network picks up 13 more episodes -- CBS has picked up an additional 13 episodes of "Flashpoint."
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Drama
Flashpoint
CBS
CBS takes shine to 'Flashpoint'
Pilot Watch: Network picks up 13 more episodes -- CBS has picked up an additional 13 episodes of "Flashpoint."
Tags:
Drama
Flashpoint
CBS
Abrams's spy spec generating heat
Pilot Watch: ABC, NBC, CBS bidding on pilot -- J.J. Abrams is spying a new adventure/action series, triggering a bidding war at several networks -- with NBC the victor.
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Other
ABC
CBS
J.J. Abrams
NBC Universal
FX fuels up more originals
Pilot Watch: 'Terriers,' 'Lights Out' get 13-episode pickups -- FX is batting a thousand this year with pilots now that the cabler has given 13-episode pickups to dramas "Terriers" and "Lights Out."
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Other
FX
Sonnenfeld brings comedy to ABC
Pilot Watch: 'Daisies' director to helm 'Greatest'-esque pilot -- Barry Sonnenfeld is shepherding a half-hour laffer for ABC and ABC Studios that revolves around a harried mother who finds a special suit that gives her super powers.
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Other
ABC
Viewers return to tube
Pilot Watch: Premiere-week promo push pays off -- Premiere week inspired a glimmer of optimism in even the most jaded network executives (well, unless they were at NBC).
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Other
NBC Universal
CW high on 'Fly Girls'
Pilot Watch: Network teams with Virgin on show -- They were once called "stewardesses," until the less sexist term "flight attendant" came into fashion. Now, the CW has a new name for them: "Fly Girls."
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Other
The CW Television Network
MTV goes 'Ape' for puppets
Pilot Watch: Network greenlights 'Grey the Bunny' spinoff -- MTV has greenlit puppet-populated project "Warren the Ape," a spinoff of erstwhile Fox and IFC series "Greg the Bunny," for a 2010 launch.
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Other
MTV
IFC sets table for 'Dinner'
Pilot Watch: Cable network orders up episodes -- IFC is getting into the rock and rolls biz.
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Other
NBC plans 'Prime Suspects' remake
Pilot Watch: Deal first output from partnership with ITV -- NBC is developing a new take on the groundbreaking U.K. drama series "Prime Suspect."
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Other
Deal
ITV
'Damages' a ratings 'disappointment'
Pilot Watch: FX president says DVR usage hurts show -- FX president John Landgraf applauds the TV Academy for choosing "Damages" as an Emmy nominee, but he'd probably be happier if Nielsen noticed, too.
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Drama
FX
Damages
Emmy Awards
Ratings
FX likes Louis C.K.
Pilot Watch: Cable network shot pilot for third comedy series -- Hungry for a few more laughs, FX has quietly shot a comedy pilot starring stand-up star Louis C.K.
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Other
FX
WE TV greenlights two, renews three
Pilot Watch: 'Gown,' 'Jilted?' added to programming slate -- Femme cabler WE TV has greenlit two series and announced the renewals of three others, including "The Locator," as part of its latest programming moves.
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Other
Tom Arnold returns to TV
Pilot Watch: Actor pacts with Universal on sitcom -- Tom Arnold is giving TV another try, sealing a blind script deal with Universal Media Studios.
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Other
Tom Arnold
Universal Media Studios
USA orders up 'Covert Affairs'
Pilot Watch: Piper Perabo stars in the drama -- USA Network has ordered the CIA-themed drama pilot "Covert Affairs."
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Other
Piper Perabo
USA Network
FX picks up 'Lawman'
Pilot Watch: Network nabs 13 episodes of drama -- FX is on the right side of the "Lawman," picking up 13 episodes of the Timothy Olyphant starrer.
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Other
FX
Timothy Olyphant
CBS clears way for 'Smash Cut'
Pilot Watch: Series set to bow on Sept. 27 -- CBS Television Distribution has achieved 95% clearance of "Smash Cuts," a series that will amass viral short videos taken from the Internet, in time for a planned launch the week of Sept. 27.
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Other
CBS
Syfy sets date for 'Caprica'
Pilot Watch: 'Battlestar' prequel series to bow on Jan. 22 -- Syfy has set Jan. 22 as a premiere date for its highly anticipated series "Caprica."
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Sci-Fi
Sci Fi Channel
Caprica
Dominic Monaghan joins 'FlashForward'
Pilot Watch: ABC adds 'Lost' alum to cast of fantasy drama -- The casting of Dominic Monaghan offers the strongest evidence yet that ABC sees "FlashForward" as the next "Lost."
Tags:
Drama
ABC
Lost
Dominic Monaghan
John Goodman arrives at 'Station'
Pilot Watch: Wain to direct Stiller-produced comedy pilot -- John Goodman has been cast to star in "The Station," the Fox comedy pilot from Ben Stiller's production shingle.
Tags:
Comedy
John Goodman
The Station
Ben Stiller
NBC starts 'Nathan vs. Nature'
Pilot Watch: Guarascio, Port to write, exec produce -- NBC is developing a family-centered sitcom from "Just Shoot Me" alums David Guarascio and Moses Port.
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Other
NBC Universal
FX takes aim with 'Archer'
Pilot Watch: Network orders six episodes of toon -- FX is setting aim on animation, ordering six episodes of the half-hour entry "Archer."
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Other
FX
NBC pushes back 'Parentood'
Pilot Watch: Maura Tierney's illness delays drama to midseason -- NBC is pushing frosh drama "Parenthood" to midseason, due to star Maura Tierney's illness.
Tags:
Drama
Maura Tierney
NBC Universal
Parenthood
Comedy Central OKs Heder sitcom
Pilot Watch: Will Ferrell's Gary Sanchez Prods. to produce -- Comedy Central has greenlit a sitcom starring Jon Heder from Will Ferrell's Gary Sanchez Prods. shingle.
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Other
Will Ferrell
Comedy Central
Lynch leaves 'Party' for 'Glee'
Pilot Watch: Actress stays with new Fox fall series -- Jane Lynch won't be returning to the second season of Starz comedy "Party Down" because of her commitment to Fox fall series "Glee," the actress told Daily Variety .
Tags:
Comedy
Glee
Jane Lynch
Starz!
Party Down
VH1 spices up slate with 'Chilli,' 'Pepa'
Pilot Watch: Network picks up three new reality shows -- VH1 is tossing a dash of "Pepa" and a helping of "Chilli" into its series pot.
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Other
VH1
N sets date for 'Assistants'
Pilot Watch: Cable network greenlights 13 episodes -- Nickelodeon's N Network has set July 10 as the launch date for new half-hour series "The Assistants."
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Comedy
The Assistants
Nickelodeon
NBC unveils primetime slate for fall
Pilot Watch: Jay Leno, Thursday comedies get headstart -- As expected, Jay Leno will get an early jump on the fall season as his primetime yakker bows the week of Sept. 14.
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Other
Jay Leno
CBS keeps it simple with TV slate
Pilot Watch: Network stays with traditional fall schedule -- CBS is keeping its fall rollout simple, launching most of its new and returning series during TV's traditional premiere week.
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