HBO is developing Americatown, a futuristic drama series project, from writer Bradford Winters and producers Tom Fontana, Barry Levinson, Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy. Set 25-40 years into the future when the precipitous decline of the U.S. leads to a mass exodus of its citizens, Americatown takes place in a cluster of newly arrived American immigrants in a big foreign city. “By presenting Americans as immigrants in the near future, as both underdog and hero in the drama of global dislocation, we substitute a mirror for the rancor that informs much of the partisan debates on immigration,” Winters said.
In his research for Americatown, Winters had explored possible nightmare scenarios that could bring the U.S. to a collapse decades down the road, like the price of oil skyrocketing and natural disasters reaching catastrophic proportions. Then suddenly oil hovered near $150 a barrel this summer, floods hit the Midwest and the South and Wall Street crashed under the weight of the mortgage crisis.
Actor/singer/songwriter Jesse McCartney has joined ABC Family’s Greek, says Michael Ausiello. He will play the recurring role of Andy, a heavily recruited freshman jock who’ll be torn between rushing the KT and OX houses. The fact that he’s an old friend of Calvin’s may offer a clue as to which way he’ll ultimately swing. Greek creator Sean Smith says Andy is of the straight persuasion. McCartney, who can also been seen in this season’s 10th episode of SVU, will make his Greek debut in early ‘09 when the show kicks off its fourth season.
Swingtown is swinging to Bravo, which has acquired exclusive cable rerun rights to the CBS drama says The Hollywood Reporter. Bravo has picked up all 13 produced episodes, which aired over the summer to modest ratings. CBS has not made a final decision about the future of Swingtown, but a second-season pickup is considered a very long shot.
CBS had also been shopping the drama about partner-swapping couples in 1970s suburbia to cable, but a Bravo source said the deal is a straight acquisition and that the network has no plans to produce new episodes. The off-network sale essentially closes the door on the show continuing with originals on CBS or another network. Bravo is scheduled to premiere Swingtown in the fall, joining a lineup that includes Law & Order: Criminal Intent and The West Wing.
The 2008 Fall Season is upon us and that signals the return of Premiering Tonight. Welcome to Premiering Tonight, highlighting all the new and returning shows premiering on the Fall 2008 schedule.
Premiering tonight on TV are the season premiere of Fox’s Animation Domination block with new episodes of The Simpsons, King of the Hill, Family Guy and American Dad. CBS has season premieres of 60 Minutes, Cold Case and The Unit at its new time. ABC returns with a two hour premiere of Extreme Makeover: Home edition followed by new episodes of Desperate Housewives and Brothers and Sisters. Showtime has season premieres of Dexter and Californication and HBO has the series premiere of Little Britian USA.
The Simpsons - 8 pm/ET Fox
The TV Remote’s Pick To Click
The Simpsons open their 20th season in Springfield, and Gunsmoke is the only other prime-time series to have run so long. In tonight’s episode, Marge and Homer get new jobs you might not expect. Marge goes to work at an erotic bakery, and Homer becomes a bounty hunter with Ned Flanders.
Continue reading Premiering Tonight 09.28.08
Sarah Michelle Gellar is set to return to the small screen in a new HBO series says Variety. The Wonderful Maladys, developed by Charles Randolph for the actress, will focus on a trio of dysfunctional siblings still reeling from the loss of their parents at an early age. Gellar’s character is described as having “a kind of zealous immaturity - like a drug addict with a to-do list.”
Guest stars Mehcad Brooks, Todd Lowe, Deborah Ann Woll and Michelle Forbes have been promoted to regulars for the True Blood’s recently ordered second season. All will appear in the first-season finale later this fall. The season finale of Alan Ball’s vampire drama will mark Mehcad Brooks’ first showing as Benedict “Eggs” Talley, a mellow, guitar-strumming refugee from a hard life. Gilmore Girls alum Todd Lowe debuted his character Terry Bellefleur in Episode 2. Deborah Ann Woll plays Jessica, while Michelle Forbes plays Maryann.
Fox has pulled the comedy Do Not Disturb off the air after its third episode says The Hollywood Reporter. Do Not Disturb will be replaced next week with an additional episode of Til Death to fill the 9 pm hour. A network spokesman insists the show isn’t officially canceled. But it’s also difficult to imagine the show making a return after being pulled from the schedule. That means Do Not Disturb will likely become the first axed show of the season.
