Drama!
E! The answer is E!
…I’m no good at this suspense thing.
In any event, a new network is eager to get its hour-long drama on, and E! is making moves to be the next. Naturally it’s not just the major networks and cable brands like HBO and AMC doing hour-longs as MTV, A&E, and more have their own long-form shows, but it is interesting to see scripted narrative taking back real estate on a channel as fixated on reality programming as E!
Their foray into long drama will involve a pretty deep slate of new titles, the latest announcement from which is the hideously titled Gallerina, an art gallery drama!
“A young woman [is] determined to make her name at the Bettencourt Gallery, which symbolizes LA as the prestigious new center of the art world. Navigating the collision of moneyed elite, emerging artists and established players, not to mention the gallery’s womanizing namesake and her iconic mother, will put both her brains and morals to the test.”
Will this be True Blood against white walls, or is this aiming to be top-shelf drama? Hard to say, but again, any swing of the pendulum back from reality programming to actual dramatic storytelling is worth a raised eyebrow. The network actually announced this initiative to bring scripted, narrative shows to the channel last year, and announced an entire slate earlier in 2012. A lot of it is cheesy-sounding updates of known IPs and stories into modern (more cheaply shot) settings, but who knows… is the next Breaking Bad going to air on the place where Pop Matters? A few of the projects below sound like they might be worth a look- have a glance yourself…
AMY DEVLIN MYSTERIES – A modern take on procedural storytelling, Amy Devlin is a late 20something, culturally-obsessed detective who brings her own style and POV to police work. Based on the graphic novel of the same name written by Christina Weir & Nunzio Defilippis and illustrated by Christopher Mitten. From writer Daniel Barnz, who wrote and directed the upcoming Won’t Back Down, and CBS TV Studios. Executive Producers are Daniel Barnz, Eric Gitter, Joe Nozemack and Andy Bourne from Oni Press.
ANNE OF HOLLYWOOD –Based on the bestselling novel by Carol Wolper, the story of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII is reset in present-day Hollywood … “the flashiest, most treacherous court of all.” The elements of Anne’s true story — love, passion, intrigue, betrayal, infidelity and conspiracy — remain fully intact, and become truly relatable to today’s audience. From John Wells Prods. and Warner Horizon Television.
DOROTHY – Inspired by the books “Dorothy” and “The Wizard of Oz,” a girl from Kansas City falls for a man and moves with him to the Emerald City to work at his Emerald Hotel. From writer Natalie Krinsky (Gossip Girl) and Warner Horizon Television.
FASCINATION STREET – A then-and-now look at the tumultuous relationship between two brothers as they work to make their band a success in the past and struggle to find who is behind the disappearance of the lead singer in the present. From executive producers Phillip Noyce (Salt), Josh Reims (Brothers & Sisters), Ross Fineman (Lights Out), and writer Steven Kijak (Stones In Exile). From Fox TV Studios.
THE 400 – The rise of the Vanderbilt dynasty is chronicled in this sprawling, stylized and fast-paced drama set in NY society of the 1890s, where “Society” was defined by the number of people who could fit into Mrs. Astor’s ballroom. From prolific writer Emily Whitesell (Brothers & Sisters) and Executive Producer Anne Thomopoulos (The Borgias). From Fox Television Studios.
JUROR #9 – Alex Dunbar is a good man who makes one critically bad decision –he accidentally kills a woman who has been blackmailing him for a somewhat shady business deal. He frames a man who turns out to become the scion of a business empire. The ensuing media frenzy engulfs the police investigator, the DA and even Alex’s wife as the trial becomes the national obsession. As the story unfolds, we learn that the man framed is far from innocent, the blackmailer was not who she seemed, and the puppet master for this media circus seems to be juror #9…aka Alex Dunbar. From writer Brian Ross (Crossing Jordan) and Executive Producer/Director Danny Cannon (CSI). From Warner Horizon Television.
KING DAVID – From writer (and former D.C. lobbyist who has worked for Rep. NancyPelosi and Sen. George Mitchell) David Gerken (West Wing) comes the tale of a modern-day “Mr. Smith” who is, in this case, a self-made billionaire with a penchant for hooking up with lobbyists in the nation’s capital. Gerken will also serve as co-executive producer. From Universal Cable Productions.
UNTITLED ASSISTANT PROJECT – Ambition bordering on insubordination fuels the lives of a group of executive assistants who are seemingly loyal minions to their high-powered bosses. However, when their superiors are out of the office, the gloves come off as these aspiring titans plot their way up the corporate ladder. From writers Meredith Lavender & Marcie Ulin (Missing) and executive producer Gary A. Randall (The Glades). From Fox Television Studios.
UPSTARTS – Two-time Oscar winner Kevin Spacey and Oscar-nominated producer Michael De Luca (The Social Network) are Executive Producers through their respective production companies, Trigger Street Prods. and Michael De Luca Prods., of this sprawling drama in which three big dreamers seek to grab their share of wealth and glory amidst Silicon Valley’s digital gold rush of the late 1990s. Fueled by power, money, sex and politics, these three will stop at nothing to earn a spot atop the digital food chain. Written by Joey Falco, who will also be a co-executive producer. Dana Brunetti and Ben Younger will also Executive Produce with Younger set to direct, if ordered to pilot. Brian Haas is also set to co-executive produce. From Universal Cable Prods.
Source | Deadline