I know I’m late on this but ya know what… I’m busy working it out here in LA for Paley this week. I think you can deal.

Battlestar Galactica’s prequel CAPRICA has been given the go ahead and will begin production this Spring. Frak Yeah! So Say We All!

I’m freaking out! I’ve been behind the idea of CAPRICA since I first heard of it way back when. While there’s a part of me that wants it to be like Muppet Babies, I know that’s astretch. Come on, Muppet Cylons? If Angel can go all Smile Time so can the folks on Caprica.

Two-Hour Backdoor Pilot for ‘Battlestar Galactica’ Prequel Series To Begin Production this Spring

New York, NY – March 18, 2008 — As the Peabody and Emmy-winning original series Battlestar Galactica heads into its fourth and final season, SCI FI Channel has greenlit production on Caprica, a two-hour Battlestar backdoor pilot prequel from executive producers Ronald D. Moore and David Eick. Production on Caprica is slated to begin
in Vancouver this spring.

“We couldn’t be more excited to see this long-anticipated project get off the ground. It’s an amazing script, and, though clearly inspired by the Battlestar mythology, it is not just a pale spin-off. This is a smart, thought-provoking, emotional, and compelling character drama in its own right,” said Mark Stern, Executive Vice President of Original Programming.

Set 50 years before Battlestar Galactica, Caprica follows two rival families – the Greystones and the Adamas – as they grow, compete, and thrive in the vibrant world of the 12 Colonies. Enmeshed in the burgeoning technology of artificial intelligence and robotics that will eventually lead to the creation of the Cylons, the two houses go toe-to- toe. Caprica will deliver all of the passion, intrigue, political backbiting, family conflict and
hardcore action that always leaves Galactica fans begging for more.

“I’m thrilled with the chance to expand on the Galactica world and get deeper into the origins of the story we’ve been telling,” said Moore. “It’s also great to have a chance at doing a completely different kind of science fiction series, one that’s even more character-oriented and doesn’t rely on pyrotechnics to carry the story.”

“While Caprica will have its own personality, it will carry on Battlestar’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of the genre, and we’re thrilled that SCI FI has seen fit to giving us another opportunity to tell character-driven stories in challenging ways,” added Eick.

“We’ve assembled a true dream team to produce this exciting project,” said Universal Media Studios president Katherine Pope. “Building on the brilliance of SCI FI’s Battlestar Galactica, we all know Caprica will be a critical and commercial success.”

Who’s frakkin’ excited? Don’t forget to check out the upcoming BSG specials, and the premiere on April 4th at 10pm EST on Sci-Fi! Need a Battlestar refresher in 8:18? Check it!

You know I love me some horror and I’m pleased to announce that NBC is getting in the game with a new series called FEAR ITSELF. Similar to Showtime’s Masters of Horror anthology series, Fear Itself will pair horror directors with horror writers and a bunch of hollywood b and c-listers to try and scare the bejesus out of us. Can’t wait for Brad Anderson and Mary Harron!

BURBANK — March 3, 2008 — A host of provocative directors, actors and writers — including award-winning directors John Landis (”An American Werewolf in London”), Darren Bousman (”Saw II, III and IV”), Ronny Yu (”Freddy vs. Jason,” “Bride of Chucky”), Brad Anderson (”The Machinist”), Breck Eisner (upcoming Universal Pictures film “Creature from the Black Lagoon”), Mary Harron (”American Psycho”), Stuart Gordon (”Re-Animator”) and Ernest Dickerson (NBC’s
“Heroes”) — have been signed for NBC’s “Fear Itself,” a new 13-episode suspense and horror anthology series from Lionsgate in association with Industry Entertainment.

Brandon Routh (”Superman Returns”), Shiri Appleby (”Charlie Wilson’s War”), Elisabeth Moss (”Mad Men”), Cynthia Watros (”Lost”), Eric Roberts (NBC’s “Heroes”), John Billingsley (Star Trek: Enterprise”), Russell Hornsby (”Lincoln Heights”), Pablo Schreiber (”The Wire”), Stephen Lee (”Boston Legal”), Stephen R. Hart (”Shoot ‘Em Up”), Jack Noseworthy (”Judging Amy”) and Larry Gilliard Jr. (”The Wire”) are among the sought-after actors who will be portraying various characters in three episodes of the series.

Among the writers set are Joe Gangemi (”Wind Chill,” the novel “Inamorata”), Steve Niles (”30 Days of Night”), Dan Knauf (”Carnivàle,” “Supernatural”), Lem Dobbs (”The Score”), Matt Venne (”White Noise 2: The Light”), Richard Chizmar & Johnathan Schaech (”Masters of Horror,” “From a Buick 8″), Victor Salva (”Jeepers Creepers”), Mick Garris (”Riding the Bullet,” “Amazing Stories”),
Drew McWeeny & Scott Swan (”Masters of Horror”), Kelly Kennemer (”The Music Within”) and Max Landis (”Masters of Horror”).

The announcement was made today by Teri Weinberg, Executive Vice President, NBC Entertainment. “We’ve teamed up with some of the most illustrious writers, actors and directors to create a distinctive, scare-filled series that will push the boundaries of this classic genre,” said Weinberg. “‘Fear Itself’ will deliver memorable and horrifying moments that will keep fans on the edge of their seats, begging for more on this fun-filled ride of terror.”

“We and our partners at Industry Entertainment couldn’t be happier about NBC’s enthusiastic support of ‘Fear Itself’ and the caliber of artists who have been drawn to the project,” said Kevin Beggs, Lionsgate’s President of Television Programming and Production. “Our goal is to offer audiences a fantastic thrill every week and we’ve certainly got the all-star team to do it.”

“Eater,” is directed by Stuart Gordon (”Re-Animator,” “Masters of Horror”) and written by Cemetery Dance Magazine publisher and editor Richard Chizmar (”From a Buick 8″) & actor Johnathon Schaech (”Masters of Horror,” “That Thing You Do!”). A rookie cop (Moss) must spend her first night in the precinct watching over a serial killer, coined “The Eater” (Stephen R. Hart, “Shoot ‘Em Up”). When her fellow cops start acting bizarre, she quickly learns that no one is
who they seem. Russell Hornsby (”Lincoln Heights”), Pablo Schreiber (”The Wire”) and Stephen Lee (”Boston Legal”) also star.

“Spooked,” is directed by Brad Anderson (”The Machinist”) and written by Matt Venne (”White Noise 2: The Light”). While on a stake out in a haunted house, a private eye (Roberts) is made to confront the demons of his past. Jack Noseworthy (”Judging Amy”), Cynthia Watros (”Lost”) and Larry Gilliard Jr. (”The Wire”) also star.

“Community” is directed by Mary Harron (”American Psycho,” “The Notorious Betty Page,” “Big Love”) and written by Kelly Kennemer (”The Music Within”). When a young married couple, played by Routh and Appleby, find the perfect house in the perfect neighborhood, their lives seem…well…perfect. But as the dark underbelly of their neighborhood creeps to the surface, they soon realize that their neighbors will go to any extreme — even murder — to make sure that they comply with their twisted sense of conformity. John Billingsley (Star Trek: Enterprise”) also stars.

“Red Snow” has a screenplay written by Mick Garris (”Riding the Bullet,” “Amazing Stories”), from a story by Del Howison (”Dark Delicacies”). Breck Eisner (”Creature from the Black Lagoon”) will direct. When four criminals find themselves stranded in an old, snow-covered fort, they slowly discover both the fort and the seductive trio of sirens who reside there are filled with deadly
secrets.

“Chance” is written by Lem Dobbs (”The Score”), with a director to be announced later. In the vein of such classic doppelganger stories as “Jekyll & Hyde” and Poe’s “William Wilson,” the episode explores a dreadful, classic battle that ensues when a man is confronted by his evil self.

“New Year’s Day” will be directed by Darren Bousman (”Saw II, III and IV”), and is written by Steve Niles (”30 Days of Night”) from a story by Paul Kane. A young woman wakes up in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by horrifying zombies.

“Family Man” will be directed by Ronny Yu (”Freddy vs. Jason,” “Bride of Chucky”) and is written by Dan Knauf (”Carnivàle,” “Supernatural”). This action-charged, psychological thriller focuses on a likeable family man who switches bodies with a serial killer after a near-death experience. Now, he
must fight from behind bars to keep the murderer from adding his family to the long list of victims.

“Skin & Bones” is written by Drew McWeeny & Scott Swan (”Masters of Horror”) with a director to be announced later. When a cattle herder returns home to his family after being lost in the woods for days, he just doesn’t seem the same. Soon, a terrible mortal struggle ensues against the terrifying monster possessing him.

“Something With Bite” is a reinvention of the classic werewolf story from writer Max Landis (”Masters of Horror”), the son of John Landis. Ernest Dickerson (NBC’s “Heroes”) will direct.

In “Nightmare in Lace,” John Landis (”An American Werewolf in London”) will direct an episode written by Victor Salva (”Jeepers Creepers”). On her wedding day, a beautiful bride receives a mysterious note that reads: “The person you are marrying is a serial killer.”

Grease’s Sandy and Xanadu’s muse OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN will be reprising her role as a lesbian ex-con in Logo’s new series SORDID LIVES.

Based on a play turned film (now turned series), Sordid Lives is about three generations of a family in a small Texas town preparing for the funeral. According to IMDB, Among the characters are the grandson trying to find his identity in West Hollywood, the son who has spent the past twenty-three years dressed as Tammy Wynette, the sister and her best friend (who live in delightfully kitschy homes), and the two daughters (one strait-laced and one quite a bit looser).

Gay icons like Bonnie Bedelia (Heart Like a Wheel), Rue McClanahan (Golden Girls), Leslie Jordan (Will & Grace’s Beverly Leslie), Beth Grant (Donnie Darko), Candis Cayne (Dirty Sexy Money), Carson Kreesley (Queer Eye) and others will all make appearances or guest star. No wonder it’s on Logo.

Funny story about Neil Haskell and this article. I read the article quickly on my iPhone yesterday but never finished the article otherwise I would have noticed My BF Neil Haskell’s name all over this mother!

The So You Think You Can Dance hoofer will be working a High School Musical-esque film shortly. Loves it!

FROM HOLLYWOOD REPORTER:

High School Musical producers Bill Borden and Barry Rosenbush are developing a new musical for MTV, The American Mall. Nina Dobrev (Canadian TV series Degrassi: The Next Generation) and Rob Mayes will lead an ensemble cast in the romantic comedy/drama, which will air on MTV next summer, followed immediately by a DVD release. The story, set in a mall, follows high school graduate Ally (Dobrev), a singer-songwriter battling to save her mother’s music store. Mayes will play the boy she loves, Joey, a musically-gifted janitor who fronts a garage band. Also cast are Autumn Reeser, who will play Ally’s mean-girl adversary Madison, as well as Wade Allain-Marcus, Bianca Collins, Rodney To, Neil Haskell, Brooke Lyons, David Baum, Blythe Auffarth, Yassmin Alers, Bresha Webb and Al Sapienza. Shooting will start in late January at a mall in Utah.

Fox wants some of NBC’s comedy chops for their own. The Office’s David Denman (Roy) will star in the drama pilot, SAINT OF CIRCUMSTANCE from Scrubs star Zach Braff.

From the Hollywood Reporter:

Braff is in negotiations to direct and executive produce and Denman is set to star in the pilot, which was written by Braff’s brother, Adam.

The project, from ABC Studios, centers on Wayne (Denman), a man going through a midlife crisis who quits his dead-end office job to be a paramedic on the night shift.

Adam Braff also is executive producing “Saint” with ABC Studios-based producer Emile Levisetti.

There is no start date for the pilot, which is expected to film after the end of the writers strike, accommodating Braff’s acting duties on “Scrubs.”

Braff has helmed half a dozen episodes of “Scrubs,” whose seventh and final season has been interrupted by the strike.

On the feature side, Adam and Zack Braff recently adapted the popular children’s book “Andrew Henry’s Meadow” for 20th Century Fox.

Denman, who played a warehouse dock worker and former fiancee of Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer) on “Office,” recently guest starred on ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy.” On the big screen, he next will appear in the Sundance entry “Smart People” as well as “Fanboys” and “Shutter.”

This news makes my little horror heart blacken even more than it already is. SyFyPortal is reporting that copyright issues coupled with the strike may have forced SUPERNATURAL to drop it’s planned episode 10 meeting with Jason Voorhees, the Friday the 13th baddie.

Fans of The CW’s “Supernatural” have already expressed concern over the show’s new look and the addition of two young female leads. Now, they have the rug pulled out from under them regarding Jason Voorhees’ appearance in the 10th episode of Season 3.

Plans were in place for Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) Winchester to go head to head with the unkillable killer with superhuman strength.

“We have Jason from ‘Friday the 13th,’ the character with the hockey mask,” creator Eric Kripke said. “He shows up in Episode 10. We have cleared the rights to actually use Jason. We have a twist on it so it is not really Jason out there but we have found an interesting way to bring him in so Sam and Dean fight Jason from ‘Friday the 13th.’ In our world, that is a pretty cool guest star.”

However, word on the Internet — and the writers picket line — is that there is in fact a copyright issue preventing Jason’s “Supernatural” premiere So now, no one really knows what will fill in the Voorhees gap in Episode 10, and “Friday the 13th” fans will have to wait until the new movie hits theaters on Feb. 13, 2009 to get their fix.

THE OAKS, a new series from David Schulner (writer from Tell Me You Love Me, Everwood, etc.) and The Shield creator Shawn Ryan has just cast the family for their 1988 portion of the time-bending drama.

This show is a show I’m really interested in and have been since it was greenlit. I love the concept which is a little drama with a little supernatural. Plus, it just sounds heartbreaking… heartbreakingly great! Three families living in the same house over 60 years and they’re all haunted by some evil spirits. What’s not to love. Plus, it will be on FX. Nudity, language, and lots of blood!

According to The Hollywood Reporter:

Michael Rispoli and Romy Rosemont have been tapped to star in Fox’s high-profile drama pilot “The Oaks” for director Michael Cuesta.

The project, from 20th Century Fox TV, tells the intertwined stories of three families — a young couple who have just lost a child in 1968, a family of four in 1988 and a pregnant couple in 2008 — who live in the same house and are haunted by a restless spirit.

Rispoli and Rosemont will play the parents in 1988.

20th TV had been trying to cast the father role for a while. Meanwhile, British actress Gina McKee originally was cast as the mother. She is now being replaced by Rosemont as the 1988 portion of the show is being taken in more comedic, blue-collar direction.

Rispoli and Rosemont begin work today on the pilot, which has been shooting in Pasadena since Nov. 5.

The castings and tonal changes to the show have been done with the blessing of “Oaks” creator David Schulner and showrunner Shawn Ryan, who had been involved in the process up until last Monday, when the went on strike. In their absence, the final two castings were overseen by nonwriting executive producer Gina Matthews of Little Engine.

Rispoli, who recurred on NBC’s “The Black Donnellys,” also co-starred on NBC’s drama pilot “Fort Pit” this year. Rosemont, who recently did multiple episodes on the Fox/20th TV drama “Prison Break” and ABC’s “Brothers & Sisters,” next appears in Killer Films’ “An American Crime.”

Apparently the “talent” pool is widening because AMERICAN IDOL is going to be allowing the contestants to play instruments… if they know how.

According to TV Guide:

When American Idol debuts its eighth season, a new element will be added: “We’re going to let the contestants play instruments if they can,” executive producer Nigel Lythgoe told TV Guide at the Nov. 8 Discovery Awards.

The hit Fox series will also feature “mentors” less often. “We realized that we took our eye off the ball and didn’t concentrate on the true talent on the show, and that’s the [wannabes],” says Lythgoe. As such, this season “we’ve got [mentors] just every other week.”

I just keep telling myself that I am not going to watch Idol this year. No way, no how. Enough is enough and if the strike is on, I really can’t watch. Support Scripted Television folks!

WE is creating a new docuseries called HIGH SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL which will chronicle high school as seen by 14 adolescent girls. Following the girls from Freshmen to Seniors, the documentary will try to examine the realities of being a teenager, sexuality, religion, death, etc.

This sounds incredible to me. Not only because I’m a teenage girl at heart but because it’s like a revamping of the Up Series, the incredible documentary film series that has tracked a group of kids from age 7 and every 7 years since. Granted, this is only over 4 years but very similar.

High School Confidential will be an eight-episode series, created and executive produced by Sharon Liese who got the idea when her own daughter entered high school. It will begin airing on WE in March 2008.

Well, this might be the first casualty of the probable WGA Strike. NBC has shelved HEROES:ORIGINS which sadly had not yet even started production. As you know, Origins was to be the mid-season filler while the show was on hiatus and was already set to be written and directed by some huge Hollywood talents.

E! has the scoop:
The Writer’s Guild of America strike has not officially happened yet, but it’s already claimed its first casualty.

NBC has indefinitely halted production on an already highly-touted planned midseason Heroes spinoff, Heroes: Origins, in anticipation of the industry-wide writers’ strike.

The WGA contract officially expired at midnight Wednesday and is expected to have far-reaching detrimental effects on scripted television.

There was no comment from NBC on the plug-pulling.

According to the trades, production on Heroes: Origins had not yet begun and the network was loath to set a premiere date without having to rely on, say, fan fiction as the main source of plots. Per Variety, NBC Universal cochairs Ben Silverman and Marc Graboff in particular pushed for the postponement, in light of the looming work stoppage.

While it’s unclear what stage of production the highly anticipated series was in, the Hollywood Reporter says no scripts had yet been finalized.

The network has so far refrained from uttering the dreaded “c” word, sticking with the purposely vague “indefinitely postponed” until the scribe situation comes into focus.

Origins’ six-episode run was originally slated to air in April, during the hiatus of its prime-time forbearer. The project, which aimed to introduce new superfolk to the franchise pantheon, had already attracted top talent, including Kevin Smith, Hostel director Eli Roth and Superman Returns helmer Michael Dougherty, all of whom had signed on to direct and write episodes.

Of course, a looming strike might not entirely be to blame.

Heroes has already suffered a hit this season, with critics bemoaning lame plot points and fans slowly tuning out. Last week’s episode averaged just 10.7 million viewers, down 6 percent from the previous week, making it the show’s lowest rated telecast to date.

I’m sorry, I’m still trying to fathom the awesomness of this news and how I didn’t know about it until 14 hours after it was announced. Damn Halloween and oversleeping! I seriously got up this morning 5 minutes after I was supposed to be at work. WHOOPS! By then Rae, Daniel, everyone had scooped me but I have to write about it as well!

JOSS WHEDON and ELIZA DUSHKU ReTeam For a New Series on Fox!!!!

The creator of the Buffyverse and his OOC Slayer Faith are reunited and folks, it does feel so good. As per E!’s Watch With Kristen:

Whedon’s new Fox series, called Dollhouse, stars Miss Eliza Dushku, best known as Faith to you Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans. And this show isn’t just a pilot. It’s already been given a seven-episode commitment by Fox. Woo!

Here’s how Fox describes the series:

Echo (Eliza Dushku) [is] a young woman who is literally everybody’s fantasy. She is one of a group of men and women who can be imprinted with personality packages, including memories, skills, language—even muscle memory—for different assignments. The assignments can be romantic, adventurous, outlandish, uplifting, sexual and/or very illegal. When not imprinted with a personality package, Echo and the others are basically mind-wiped, living like children in a futuristic dorm/lab dubbed the Dollhouse, with no memory of their assignments—or of much else. The show revolves around the childlike Echo’s burgeoning self-awareness, and her desire to know who she was before, a desire that begins to seep into her various imprinted personalities and puts her in danger both in the field and in the closely monitored confines of the Dollhouse.

It sounds crazy! For a full interview with both Joss and Eliza, head on over to E! Joss spills whether or not Eliza will be kicking some ass again, how the whole idea shook down, how Fox came to them with the killer committment and much much more.

One of the creative minds behind PUSHING DAISIES, Director Barry Sonnenfeld has inked another directing gig with ABC Television.  Instead of fantastical fields of daisies, swirling pies, and folks that are alive… again, he’s tackling the world of Buddy Cops in the 80’s.

Per The Hollywood Report,

Director Barry Sonnenfeld is adding another project to his busy TV schedule.  Sonnenfeld has signed on to direct and executive produce a comedy in the works at ABC, which hails from Sony Pictures TV and Tantamount, the production company of Mitch Hurwitz, Eric Tannenbaum and Kim Tannenbaum.

The project, tentatively titled “Buddies,” is a single-camera buddy comedy set in the world of ’80s cops.

Josh Lobis and Darin Moiselle, the duo behind the 2006 Fox comedy pilot “That Guy,” penned the script. They are co-executive producing the project, which has received a script commitment from the network. Hurwitz, the Tannenbaums and Sonnenfeld are exec producing. Lobis and Moiselle are co-exec producing.

Sonnenfeld directed the pilot and the second episode of ABC’s “Pushing Daisies” as well as executive produces the freshman series. He recently wrapped Fox’s comedy pilot “Hackett” and is segueing to helming NBC’s untitled Luke Reiter drama pilot. Sonnenfeld also is attached to direct CBS’ medieval drama “The Kingdom.”

The always amazing TONI COLLETTE has just landed a deliciously dark and comic role on Showtime’s newest series The United States of Tara.  Collette plays the title character as well as her many multiple personalities in the series being produced by Steven Spielberg.

Collette will play Tara, a wife and mother who has multiple-personality syndrome. The project will show Tara in all her personalities, including an aggressive male biker, a promiscuous teenage girl and a Martha Stewart-like homemaker.

“When you’re casting a show that requires an actress to not only play one complex character, but in this case several, the road begins and ends with Toni Collette,” Showtime Networks president of entertainment Robert Greenblatt said. “All of us at Showtime and DreamWorks are thrilled to have one of the best young actresses of her generation come aboard this project.”

The United States of Tara is scheduled to shoot early 2008.  Showtime continues to kick HBO’s ass lately!  I cannot wait for this series.

It’s a Wednesday and I hate to say it, my days of feeling down in the dumps and dog tired are continuing. I’m fighting a cold at the least and hit the bed around 9pm last night. Here’s some intersting news bits to get you guys through the day.

THE WIRE creator DAVID SIMON has inked a deal with HBO to create a new series set in New Orleans. The Hollywood Reporter has the details on the new series.

The next series he hopes to produce for HBO is about musicians reconstituting their lives in New Orleans, he told The New Yorker for its issue hitting newsstands Monday. Simon, whose dramas are known for their authenticity and detail, has been spending time there researching the music scene.

“This show will be a way of making a visual argument that cities matter,” Simon said. “‘The Wire’ has never done that. I certainly never said or wanted to say that Baltimore is not worth saving, or that it can’t be saved. But I think some people watching the show think, Why don’t they just move away?”

A goal of the show will be to celebrate the glories of an American city, and “why we need to accept ourselves as an urban people,” Simon said. “At the Macy’s parade, when they show New York, they gotta get the dancers from Broadway shows out in the streets doing a kick line,” he said. “In New Orleans the musicians are already in the streets.”