TV Script Sales: CBS Buys 2 Comedies, ABC Goes For Witch Drama

In an interesting twist, sitcom veteran Chris Case, who was in contention to write the new Charlie Sheen sitcom Anger Management, has sold a sitcom project to CBS, the network where Sheen was a star on Two and a Half Men for 8 seasons. Case, creator of TV Land’s comedy series Retired at 35, is co-writing the untitled comedy — about a recently separated father of two who attempts to move on with his life — with Joey Gutierrez (Still Standing). CBS TV Studios is producing with Mindy Shultheis and Michael Hanel’s Acme Prods. This is a project a lot of my colleagues can unfortunately relate to: CBS has bought multi-camera comedy script Malled, written by Bill Kunstler (Accidentally On Purpose). It centers on a career journalist who, after getting laid off from her job at a newspaper, takes a retail job in a clothing store at a mall. CBS Studios and studio-based Tennenbaum Co are producing, with Kunstler, Eric and Kim Tannenbaum exec producing. From thugs to witches. Jason Richman, creator of gritty cop drama Detroit 1-8-7, has sold a second project to ABC this season through his overall deal with ABC Studios. Wicked Good, which ABC Studios is co-producing with Mandeville, centers on a family of witches, soldiers in an eternal battle between good and evil, which is dispatched to suburban Orange County, where they must root out dark forces while battling the challenges of everyday life in suburbia. In addition to writing, Richman is executive producing with David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman. Additionally, Richman is co-writing with David Zabel the ABC/ABC Studios drama project Two Roads.

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DreamWorks Animation, Chinese Online Video Site Youku Strike Deal for 'Kung Fu Panda' Films

NEW YORK - DreamWorks Animation and Chinese online video site Youku.com said Monday that they have reached a first-of-its-kind online distribution agreement for rights to the Kung Fu Panda franchise films in mainland China. It is the first time that DreamWorks Animation titles, currently distributed by Paramount Pictures, will be made available through an online platform in China. The companies didn't disclose financial details. Both Kung Fu Panda titles are available for on-demand viewing on Youku Premium and will later debut on Youku's Hollywood Movie Channel after the paid viewing window closes, the companies said. "As technology matures and Chinese Internet users increasingly turn to the web for entertainment, Youku has been able to expand on the traditional movie release roadmap through agreements for studio films such as Kung Fu Panda and Kung Fu Panda 2," said Victor Koo, chairman and CEO of Youku. "Both titles have a proven track record of success with Chinese audiences, and we look forward to expanding our alignment with Hollywood studios in the future to offer even more compelling content." Said Kelley Avery, head of worldwide franchise strategy and distribution for DWA: "Youku is an innovative company with extraordinary reach in China, and we are thrilled that the Kung Fu Panda features will now be offered through their platform, which presents high-quality content to consumers online." Youku has made recently released films available for on-demand viewing for a certain period of time before becoming available on a subscription basis, followed by free-on-demand viewing. Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com Twitter: @georgszalai Related Topics DreamWorks Animation

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'Glee's' Chord Overstreet to Guest Star on ABC's 'The Middle'

GettyChord Overstreet Chord Overstreet is certainly going from as being a student at Glee's McKinley High to teaching 4th grade on ABC's The Center. The first kind Glee co-star continues to be reserved to guest star about the ABC comedy starring Patricia Heaton, Neil Flynn, Charlie McDermott, Eden Sher and Atticus Shaffer. Overstreet, who performed Mike on Fox's musical dramedy, will have Rob Wilkerson, a 4th-grade teacher whose innovative techniques run counter to Frankie (Heaton) and Mike's (Flynn) "more enjoyableInch raising a child. Fall TV Preview: The Entire Broadcast Premiere Calendar Overstreet's operate on Glee found an finish the 2009 summer time once the actor elected not revisit the musical dramedy when he wasn't knocked as much as series regular. STORY: Chord Overstreet Out as Darren Criss, Harry Shum Junior. Upped to Regulars Overstreet's episode will air Sept. 28. Season 3 from the Middle returns to have an hourlong premiere on Sept. 21 at 8 p.m. on ABC. Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com Twitter: @Snoodit RELATED: Ryan Murphy on Chord Overstreet Return, Season 3 Spoilers, 'The Glee Project's' Future 'The Middle': Ray Romano Reunites with Patricia Heaton for Guest Gig

New Contagion One-Sheet Lands

AaaaaaaaatishooThe Oxford British Dictionary defines 'contagion' as 'the transmission of the disease by direct physical connection with an infected person'. Despite the possible lack of mention for zombies there - an apparent oversight - it is a neat review of the plight facing the complement of the-listers Steven Soderbergh has put together for his new bio-thriller. But will Contagion be considered a high-class Outbreak, without the apes and sneeze-cam, or perhaps an artier study of humans under discomfort? Knowing with this brand new one-sheet, most likely a bit of both. Joining an extremely poorly searching Gwyneth Paltrow (see, all individuals mung beans will not stop a pandemic) are Marion Cotillard, Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Jude Law and Kate Winslet because the males and ladies stricken through the movie's mysterious global virus. . Its advertising campaign under way, Contagion has unleashed superbly icky-coloured character ad banners below along with a nerve-fraying trailer about the world. All it'll take now's a b outbreak of sniffles within the Empire office and we are visiting operate in orange chem suits. Contagion has gone out(breaking) on October 21.

The Magnificent Seven from the Emmy Drama Actor Races

When Lost discontinued the environment and "Breaking Bad" continued hiatus, top challengers Matthew Fox ("Lost") and Bryan Cranston ("Breaking Bad") disappeared in the lead actor race, and Lost's Michael Emerson and Terry O'Quinn and Cranston's co-star Aaron Paul disappeared from supporting.Thanks, men. Now both groups tend to be more intriguing and unpredictable, and fresh faces have an improved chance. Here's phone major challengers and what their wins might mean.Steve Buscemi, lead, "Boardwalk Empire" Buscemi's victory would prove that HBO's large purchase of sets, cast and fancy parties takes care of -- but additionally that the actor does not need to need it bad to win. Buscemi is definitely an akido campaigner: He sways back, and voters tumble for him. "I do not follow these items that carefully," he informs "THR." He's like his character Nucky Thompson, who, states Buscemi, "kind of keeps themself over the fray a bit.InchJon Hamm, lead, "Mad Males" Emmy voters are meant to target the posted episode, and the "The Suitcase" is really a humdinger. It's his best-ever season, and three previous unsuccessful noms lead him to look great and ready for victory.Timothy Olyphant, lead, "Justified" Olyphant would upend the Emmy tradition that beginners often miss out to individuals having a longer rsum of honours. Aside from discussing "Deadwood's" SAG ensemble nom with 21 others along with a Television Experts Association Award nom (not really a large Emmy influence), he's short on trophies. His victory would reveal that current critical kudos can replace with the possible lack of a history.Kyle Chandler, lead, "Friday Evening Lights" An Emmy touchdown would prove that it's not only the storyline onscreen that wins, it is the inspiring backstory from the odds the actor transformed. Unlike "Males of the Certain Age's" cancellation by TNT -- which smacks of defeat and affects supporting nominee Andre Braugher's chances "FNL's" chronic hair's-breadth survival appears winnerish. If he wins, I am purchasing the drinks. And when "FNL" wins, systems will buy more theaterlike, improv-wealthy niche dramas.John Slattery, supporting, "Mad Males" Slattery's 4th nom proves the Emmy benefit of a personality who reveals psychologically just like a tropical orchid. When the chilliest, most cynical and remote from the ad males, Slattery this year reached lose the firm's top client and cope with his secretary's pregnancy. His win also will be the one most assisted with a previous winner's absence: He's lost previously to now-ineligible Emerson, Paul and Zeljko Ivanek of "Damages." As an ad campaign, an Emmy campaign is about timing.Walton Goggins, supporting, "Justified" A Goggins victory would prove that Forex reaches last fully about the Emmy map. Couple of stars tend to be more recognized having a network than Goggins is by using Forex -- and couple of got an Emmy snub more crazy than he did on FX's "The Shield."Alan Cumming, supporting, "The Great Wife" Cumming is definitely an Olivier- and Tony-winning stage and movie character actor that has known to his TV role as "a lark." His abrupt graduation from 2010 guest nom to 2011 supporting champion would prove that theater chops impress Emmy. He's also a part of a small-invasion of Britons into Emmyland: He hosts "Masterpiece," which created 2011 Emmy noms "Downton Abbey" and "Upstairs Downstairs"' Jean Marsh. And Cumming is yet another illustration of the significance of timing. He lost this past year to John Lithgow, who left "Dexter" this year. Like a lot of other 2011 challengers, he's lucky to become from the shadow of past Emmy titans and the main attraction. Snap it up, Cumming. Spotlights do move. The Hollywood Reporter

Big week for cable in primetime

"Phineas and Ferb"Season finale of "Falling Skies," above, and a "Phineas and Ferb" telepic saw impressive ratings on basic cable. The first week of August was a noisy one for cable, including a strong return for MTV's "Jersey Shore," a big tune-in for a "Phineas and Ferb" movie on Disney Channel and an impressive first-season finale for TNT's "Falling Skies."The TNT drama starring Noah Wyle has emerged as the summer's top-rated scripted program in both adults 18-49 and 25-54, according to Nielsen, and has seen its numbers jump by more than 50% when all same-week DVR playback is included. Its finale Sunday, the second of back-to-back episodes, averaged a 1.9 rating/6 share in adults 18-49 and 5.54 million viewers overall.At MTV, "Jersey Shore" showed no signs of slowing down as it kicked off its fourth season in Italy and racked up the week's No. 1 score in 18-49 (4.3/13) while drawing a record overall audience of 8.79 million. In its core demo of femmes 12-34, the reality show drew a huge 8.9/25.Disney Channel's "Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension" averaged 7.64 million viewers Friday, rating as TV's No. 1 program for the week in kids 6-11 and tweens 9-14 and cable's most-watched scripted telecast.Overall for the week of Aug. 1-7, unscripted fare accounted for the week's top 16 ad-supported primetime programs in adults 18-49. NBC's two-hour Tuesday seg of "America's Got Talent" ranked second in 18-49 (3.1/9) and first in total viewers (11.92 million).In the battle for network supremacy, Fox led in adults 18-49 with a 1.5 rating/5 share, followed by ABC (1.4/5) and Univision (1.4/4), CBS (1.3/4) and top cabler USA (1.0/3).ABC and CBS tied in adults 25-54 (1.8/5), while Univision posted a rare triumph in adults 18-34 (1.4/5 to 1.3/5 for Fox) and the Eye had it in total viewers for a fifth straight week (5.9 million). Fox's victory was paced by culinary contests "Hell's Kitchen" and "MasterChef," with two editions of each ranking among the week's top 15 in 18-49.Net's Sunday's telecast of "The Teen Choice Awards" (1.1/3 in 18-49, 3.22m) hit a low in 18-49 but had its best score in three years among teens 12-17 (2.9/11).ABC, which had its top-rated summer week since the end of the NBA Finals in mid-June, was led by the finale of "The Bachelorette" (2.8/8, 9.75m) and postgame "After the Final Rose" spec (2.8/8, 9.31m). Though down markedly from last year's especially strong showing, this season was the second highest-rated "Bachelorette" summer edition to date. Also, the net's new "Take the Money and Run" had a pretty good bow on Tuesday (1.9/5, 5.28m).It was more of the same at CBS, where "Big Brother" placed all three of its hours in the top 10, including Sunday's edition (2.9/9. 7.84m), which was tied for third. Net also saw gains for the new show that follows "Brother" on Sunday, "Same Name" (1.6/4, 5.00m), which led among broadcasters in its timeslot.NBC's weekly average was dragged down by low-rated originals like "It's Worth What" (1.2/4, 4.87m) and "Marriage Ref" (1.0/3, 2.72m). And burnoff Friday comedy "Friends With Benefits" opened to predictably weak results (0.7/3, 2.34m).Other cable highlights included ESPN's "Sunday Night Baseball" drawing the net's largest audience for a baseball game (4.72 million) in four years with its Red Sox-Yankees matchup; Sunday also saw E!'s "Ice Loves Coco" hit a series high with its second-season finale (2.05 million) while Oxygen's "The Glee Project" hit a high as well (912,000 viewers). Contact Rick Kissell at rick.kissell@variety.com

Schwentke Consideing Poison Kitchen

Tracing the rise of the Nazi partyThough his work up to now - including Flightplan, The Time Traveller's Wife and Red - has been largely fictional, director Robert Schwentke always seems to be pondering the idea of making something based in fact. Case in point: he's now attached to make The Poison Kitchen for Constantin Film. Written by Ninja Assassin's Matthew Sand (a worrying sign, but we'll give him the benefit of the doubt for now), Kitchen traces the true story of the Muenchener Post, the Munich-based newspaper that traced the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party, and was ringing the alarm bells about their plans long before anyone else. Such was Hitler's anger at the paper's actions that he called it the Munich Pest and, once he rose to power in 1933, he sent storm troopers to destroy the editorial office and printing presses, and threw the staff into prison. "We've always wanted to do a movie about the ramp up to 1933: What happened in the early years, how did Hitler get to where he ended up and how did that work? That's really about this time, said Constantin's Martin Moszkowicz in a statement picked up by Variety. This isn't the first historical piece Schwentke has considered - he's still interested in real-life sub drama Shadow Divers. But the real world will have to wait until next year at the earliest, as he's busy getting ready to make R. I. P. D. , featuring Ryan Reynolds and Jeff Bridges as dead cops battling evil for Universal...

Pretty Little Liars' Ashley Benson Says a Disappointing Change Is Ahead for Hanna and Caleb

Tyler Blackburn, Ashley Benson Ashley Benson and her Pretty Little Liars character Hanna have one major thing in common: their taste in guys. "Caleb is definitely my type," she said when asked which of the PLL guys her high school self would want to date. "I like the grungy-looking guys and I love Johnny Depp, and he looks like Johnny Depp." While Hanna and Caleb (played by Tyler Blackburn) have recently reconnected, Benson hints that there might be trouble to come in paradise. "After Tuesday's episode there's a change that happens for them - it's very emotional." Bad news for "Haleb" fans? "Some might be disappointed," she adds. See photos of Ashley Benson TVGuide.com chatted with Benson at the signing of her Seventeen magazine cover where she shared some advice she wishes she had listened to when she was 17. "Be yourself," the 21-year-old actress said. "I tried to be like all of my friends and it didn't work out well. Now I'm finally comfortable being myself." Editor-in-Chief Ann Shoket added that Benson was the perfect choice as a cover girl because she's "the coolest chick on the coolest show. She's exactly the kind of girl you would want to call up on a Saturday afternoon and say let's go shopping, let's talk about boys." Watch a clip of Hanna and Caleb from Tuesday's episode airing at 8/7c on ABC Family.

Optimum ups Meese

LONDON -- Optimum Delivering, the U.K. arm of StudioCanal, has marketed Alison Meese to mind of U.K. purchases.Meese was formerly purchases manager. She steps in to the role formerly held by Berenice Fugard, who's going for a new position as purchases consultant to StudioCanal.The reshuffle was introduced by Optimum Boss Danny Perkins.Alison continues to be with the organization for several years, and it has always proven great insight and understanding in evaluating projects for all of us,Inch stated Perkins. "With this particular new structure, I am certain that we are well situated to carry on sourcing the most effective game titles for the organization release a within the U.K. and over the group."Both Meese and Fugard works carefully using their alternatives at StudioCanal's French and German procedures on multi-territory purchases, and also on obtaining projects for that company's worldwide sales arm.Isabelle Stewart continues to be marketed to purchases manager for max.From Sept. 1, Optimum and German arm Kinowelt will both change their names to StudioCanal, to be able to produce a single brand for that French company like a European studio. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com