Storyline Entertainment
Zadan/Meron Productions
E! Nears First Scripted Pilot Orders For Krista Vernoff/Diane Warren’s ‘Songbyrd’
Jun 25th
By NELLIE ANDREEVA
Deadline Hollywood
EXCLUSIVE: I’ve learned that E! is finalizing deals for its first two scripted pilots. The orders, which will be be cast-contingent, are going to dramas Songbyrd, from writer Krista Vernoff (Grey’s Anatomy), top songwriter Diane Warren and producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, and The Royals, from Lionsgate TV and the One Tree Hill team of creator Mark Schwahn and producers Brian Robbins & Joe Davola. Both projects were part of E!’s most recent scripted slate unveiled at the network’s upfront in April. Entering the scripted space had been a priority for E! under its new NBCUniversal leadership team led by Bonnie Hammer. Sibling cable channel Bravo has been on a similar path and recently produced its first scripted pilot, drama Rita. Songbyrd was originally developed at E! sibling NBC by Universal TV this past development season. It centers on Lauren Byrd, a character loosely inspired by hitmaker Warren. Lauren, writer of hit love songs, employs a small staff, including her sister, to enable and manage her eccentric, yet wildly successful process.But when her ex-fiance reveals himself to be less than the man she remembers, she realizes that she can no longer live in the past and must find a new, true inspiration for her sake and those around her. Uni TV is co-producing Songbyrd with Universal Cable Prods. Academy Awards producers Zadan and Meron executive produce with Vernoff, while Warren serves as a consulting producer.
E! Developing Scripted Projects From Diane Warren, Josh Schwartz, Kevin Spacey, Mark Schwahn, Ryan Seacrest & Gale Anne Hurd
Apr 23rd
By NELLIE ANDREEVA
Deadline Hollywood
Last April, E! announced its first scripted slate as the reality/entertainment news-driven cable network signaled plans to enter the scripted space under its new NBCUniversal leadership. As E! is gearing up to greenlight its first three scripted pilots by Memorial Day, at its upfront today the network unveiled its new slate of scripted projects that come from well-known writers and producers. Several of the projects were originally developed for broadcast networks earlier this season. Those include dramedies Songbyrd, featuring the songs and experiences of songwriter Diane Warren, from producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan; and Laurel Canyon, from producers Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage. Songbird, written by Krista Vernoff, was originally set up at E! sibling NBC; Laurel Canyon, penned by Karen Croner, was at ABC.
E!’s scripted slate also includes three projects inspired by literary classics. Expectations, inspired by Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, is from Oscar-winning writer Ron Bass (Rain Man) and producer Dan Jinks. Interestingly, there were two modern-day Great Expectations projects in development at the broadcast networks this season — one at the CW produced by Reese Witherspoon, and one at ABC produced by Debra Martin Chase — none of which went to pilot. The Royals, a take on William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, is written by One Tree Hill creator/exec producer Mark Schwahn who executive produces with fellow OTH executive producers Brian Robbins and Joe Davola. The Stand-In is described as a darkly psychological re-telling of Mark Twain’s The Prince & the Pauper, executive produced by Ryan Seacrest. Fortunate Son is written by Joey Falco and executive produced by Kevin Spacey and Michael De Luca, who also had a joint project on E!’s inaugural scripted slate last year. According to E!’s original plans, the network was looking to launch its first scripted series in 2013. Here are details about E! scripted shows in development, which include dramas produced by Gale Anne Hurd and Becky Hartman Edwards:
“Laurel Canyon”
In this drama from executive producers Josh Schwartz (The O.C., Gossip Girl, Chuck) and Stephanie Savage (The O.C., Gossip Girl, Carrie Diaries) and executive producer/writer Karen Croner (Admission, One True Thing), a young woman returns to her dysfunctional, extended family in Laurel Canyon with her son after hearing her rock-star legend father has passed away. Based on Croner’s experience of growing up in the Hollywood Hills, the project is from Schwartz and Savage’s Fake Empire in association with Warner Horizon Television. Fake Empire head of television Len Goldstein (The Carrie Diaries) also serves as executive producer.
“The Stand-In”
A darkly psychological re-telling of “The Prince & the Pauper” set behind the scenes of one of Hollywood’s most famous actresses, who, tired of the spotlight, runs away in search of a normal life. Desperate, her family secretly hires a look-a-like to step into the star’s glamorous world and high profile career — only to have the doppelganger slowly lose herself in the process of becoming someone else. From Executive Producers Ryan Seacrest, Nina Wass and Adam Sher, Ryan Seacrest Productions, Universal Cable Productions and writer Craig Chester.
“Songbyrd”
From writer Krista Vernoff (Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, Shameless), a young, prolific songwriter of some of the best love songs struggles to find love in her personal life after her inspiration is revealed to be a lie. Featuring the songs and experiences of Grammy winner Diane Warren, who serves as consulting producer alongside Executive Producers Craig Zadan & Neil Meron (The 2013 Academy Awards, Chicago, Smash) and Vernoff. From Universal Television and Universal Cable Productions.
“Expectations”
From writer Ron Bass (Oscar winning writer of Rain Man, Sleeping with the Enemy), inspired by the classic Dickens work, a soap about a morally corrupt family in the diamond business set in New York City. Executive produced by Oscar winner Dan Jinks (American Beauty, Milk). From CBS Television Studios.
“The Shoreline”
The golden child of a small coastal town in South Carolina returns home to see that a major Hollywood prime time soap, The Shore Line Yacht Club, is the biggest employer in town. An enormous class divide separates the cast and producers from the townspeople, yet their lives are now continuously and irrevocably intertwined – for better or for worse. From writer Carolyn Ingber and executive produced by Becky Hartman Edwards (Switched at Birth, Parenthood). From Fox Television Studios.
“Dirty/Pretty”
From Keith Eisner (The Good Wife, Law & Order), Jason Markarian and John Mirabella, a dark comedy centering on a blue collar guy from south Boston who gets scouted to be a model in Miami. Life gets turned upside down when his two best friends join him and see his new life as a way to expand their criminal activities. Gale Anne Hurd/Valhalla Entertainment will act as Executive Producer. From Universal Cable Productions.
“Fortunate Son”
Framed for a drug deal by a friend from his hard-partying days, society golden boy Michael Baron becomes a criminal informant and is at the mercy of the police. He bounces between his privileged west side of Los Angeles existence and the case he is forced to work in the slums. But his dark past gives Michael some leverage over his fate, and he makes a dangerous deal that could clear his name. Or get him killed. From writer and Co-Executive Producer Joey Falco and Executive Producers Kevin Spacey, Michael DeLuca and Dana Brunetti. From Universal Cable Productions.
“The Royals”
Part fairy tale, part cautionary tale, this contemporary family ensemble is steeped in all of the regal opulence of the British Monarchy and framed by Shakespeare’s Hamlet. It’s a tale of men and women corrupted by power, wealth and desire while looking at the nature of celebrity from a Royals’ point of view. Executive produced and written by Mark Schwahn (One Tree Hill) and executive produced by Brian Robbins and Joe Davola (One Tree Hill, Smallville). From Lionsgate.
PRESS RELEASE: CRAIG ZADAN AND NEIL MERON RETURN TO PRODUCE THE OSCARS®
Apr 17th
CRAIG ZADAN AND NEIL MERON RETURN TO
PRODUCE THE OSCARS®
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – The acclaimed motion picture, television and theater producing team of Craig Zadan and Neil Meron will return to produce the Oscars for a second time next year, Academy President Hawk Koch announced. The Academy Awards® will air live on ABC on Oscar® Sunday, March 2, 2014.
“Craig and Neil have the overwhelming support of the Academy’s Governors to produce the Oscars again in 2014,” said Academy President Hawk Koch. “In order to establish continuity with this year’s enormously successful show, we felt it was important to give these consummate professionals the green light now to begin creating another great evening.”
“We are very honored to have been asked to return as Oscar producers for a second year,” said Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. “We look forward to creating a distinctive and entertaining show.”
“Craig and Neil have great relationships, a sense of showmanship, and a passion for our Academy,” said Academy CEO Dawn Hudson. “And they’re a pleasure to work with. All perfect qualities for our show.”
The February 2013 Oscars hosted by Seth MacFarlane, drew an average audience of 40.3 million total viewers and delivered a 13.0 rating among adults 18-49. The show was TV’s most-watched entertainment telecast in the last 3 years, and grew its overall audience for the 2nd straight year (+3%), surging 11% in adults 18-49 (13.0 rating vs. 11.7 rating) to its best numbers since 2010. In addition, the show scored gains year-to-year with adults 18-34 (+20% – 11.3 rating vs. 9.4 rating), hitting its highest number in 6 years – since 2007. Overall, it was the Oscars second-most-watched telecast since 2005.
Among the innovations that Zadan and Meron plan to bring back to the 2014 show is the Oscar Experience College Search, which allows young filmmakers to assist with bringing the Oscar statuettes on-and-off stage during the show.
The Zadan/Meron Oscars displayed a signature style that incorporated a single concept for the entire evening which linked together the disparate elements of the Oscar show through music, especially classic movie themes and the frequent appearances by MacFarlane to announce the evening’s presenters. The 2013 show was also distinguished by the use of motion picture talent as performers in the show such as the dance numbers performed by Charlize Theron, Channing Tatum, Daniel Radcliffe, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
Zadan and Meron served as executive producers for the 2002 “Best Picture” winner “Chicago,” which won Oscars® in 6 of the 13 categories in which it was nominated. Their credits also include the features “Footloose” (2011), “Hairspray,” and “The Bucket List.” Zadan also produced the original “Footloose” (1984).
Zadan and Meron’s work in television includes the series “SMASH” and such movies as “A Raisin in the Sun” and “Steel Magnolias.”
For Broadway, they recently produced the Tony Award® winning revivals of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” and “Promises, Promises.”
Their work has amassed 73 Emmy® nominations; 12 Tony nominations; and seven Grammy® nominations.
The Oscars will be held at the Dolby Theatre™ at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.
PRESS RELEASE: OSCAR RATINGS
Feb 27th
February 25, 2013
Sunday, February 24, 2013 – Based on Nielsen’s True Fast National Ratings
ABC’s 2013 “The Oscars” is TV’s Most Watched Entertainment Telecast in 3 Years
ABC’s “The Oscars” is Up Year to Year in Viewers and Adults 18-49 to its
2nd-Most-Watched Telecast Since ’05, and Spikes to a 6-Year High in Adults 18-34
Television’s Biggest Awards Show, ABC’s “The Oscars” Paces Well Ahead
of the 2013 “Grammy Awards” and the 2013 “Golden Globes”
“The Oscars’” Online Usage and Social Activity Surges Year Over Year
“The Oscars” (8:30-11:40 p.m.)
ABC’s broadcast of “The Oscars” drew an average audience of 40.3 million Total Viewers and delivered a 13.0 rating among Adults 18-49, based on Nielsen’s “Fast National” ratings. The 2013 “Oscars” is TV’s most-watched entertainment telecast in 3 years – since 3/7/10.
“The Oscars” grew its overall audience for the 2nd straight year (+3%) and surged 11% in Adults 18-49 (13.0 rating vs. 11.7 rating) to its best numbers since 2010. Overall, it was the “Oscars’” 2nd-most-watched telecast since 2005. In addition the Seth MacFarlane-hosted show scored big gains year to year with Adults 18-34 (+20% – 11.3 rating vs. 9.4 rating), hitting its highest number in 6 years – since 2007. In addition the show posted strong double-digit year-to-year growth across all key Men: M18-34 +34%, M18-49 +16% and M25-54 +11%.
TV’s biggest awards show, ABC’s “The Oscars” towered over other awards shows this year, outdrawing the 2013 “Golden Globe Awards” by 20.6 million viewers and 103% in Adults 18-49 (19.7 million/6.4 rating in AD18-49) and the 2013 “Grammy Awards” by 11.9 million viewers and 29% in Adults 18-49 (28.4 million/10.1 rating in AD18-49).
With the “Oscars Red Carpet Live” pre-show, “The Oscars’” telecast and “Jimmy Kimmel Live: After the Oscars,” ABC’s “Oscar” programming on Sunday reached 80.748 million unique television viewers across the U.S. – unduplicated Viewers 2+ watching 6-minutes or more during the broadcast.
“Oscar.com” and “Oscar App”
“Oscar.com <http://Oscar.com> ” and the “Oscar App” generated substantial year-over-year growth. The number of visitors to “Oscar.com <http://Oscar.com> ” since the nomination announcement (15.8 million) surged 28% over 2012, and the “Oscar App” was downloaded 432,000 times, representing a 16% jump over last year. On “Oscar” Sunday alone, 4.6 million people visited “Oscar.com <http://Oscar.com> ” or used an “Oscar App.” Overall users consumed over 33.4 million minutes of digital content on Sunday.
Social Activity (SocialGuide)
According Social Guide there were 6.4 million tweets with 1.6 million unique users, as overall “Oscar” activity outpaced last year by 68% (6.4 million vs. 3.8 million).
Holliday Grainger & Emile Hirsch To Star In Lifetime/History’s ‘Bonnie & Clyde’ Mini
Feb 12th
Deadline Hollywood
Holliday Grainger and Emile Hirsch will play the infamous bank-robbing couple Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow in Bonnie & Clyde, Lifetime/History’s four-hour miniseries directed by Oscar-nominated helmer Bruce Beresford and produced by Sony Pictures TV and Craig Zadan and Meron’s Storyline Entertainment. They join Oscar winners Holly Hunter and William Hurt, who were recently cast in the project. Written by John Rice and Joe Batteer, the mini is based on the true story of Clyde Barrow (Hirsch), a charismatic convicted armed robber who sweeps Bonnie Parker (Grainger), an impressionable, petite, small-town waitress, off her feet, and the two embark on one one of most infamous bank-robbing sprees in history. Hunter will play Bonnie’s mother Emma Parker; Hurt plays Frank Hamer, the Texas Ranger credited with tracking down and killing Bonnie and Clyde. Originally set up at History, Bonnie & Clyde will now air simultaneously on two A+E Networks, History and Lifetime, the latter of which has taken lead on the mini’s development and production.
Carrie Underwood Cast As Maria In NBC’s Live Broadcast Of ‘The Sound Of Music’
Nov 30th
Deadline Hollywood
Carrie Underwood is following into Julie Andrews’ footsteps. In her first major acting gig, the Grammy winner has been tapped to star as Maria von Trapp in NBC’s live broadcast of The Sound Of Music. It’s based on the original Broadway musical and is executive produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, producers of NBC’s Smash and the 2013 Academy Awards. The three-hour event will air near the holidays in 2013. “Speaking for everyone at NBC, we couldn’t be happier to have the gifted Carrie Underwood take up the mantle of the great Maria von Trapp,” said NBC’s chairman Bob Greenblatt. “She was an iconic woman who will now be played by an iconic artist.” Added Zadan and Meron, “It’s a particular joy to us as producers to see this amazing artist stretch into new territory with this classic musical.”
The Sound Of Music, set in pre-WWII Austria, is based on the romantic true story of Maria von Trapp, an aspiring nun who leaves the abbey to become a governess for the widower Captain von Trapp’s seven children and finds herself falling in love with her employer and questioning her religious calling. It premiered on Broadway in 1959, where it broke box office records and won the Tony for Best Musical. The 1965 film version won the Best Picture Oscar. The Sound Of Music features a libretto by Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse and a score by Richard Rodgers (music) and Oscar Hammerstein II (lyrics) that includes “My Favorite Things,” “Do-Re-Mi,” “Edelweiss,” and “So Long, Farewell.”
Following her winning run on Fox’s American Idol, Underwood has amassed more than 15 million albums sold worldwide, 16 No. 1 singles (seven of which were co-written by her) and five Grammys. She has dabbled in acting before with a guest spot on the CBS comedy How I Met Your Mother and a role in the 2011 feature Soul Surfer. Underwood, repped by XIX Entertainment and CAA, also toplined her own holiday variety TV special for Fox in 2009, and has co-hosted the CMA Awards for the past five years.
Lifetime’s ‘Steel Magnolias’ Draws 6.5 Million Viewers
Oct 9th
Lifetime’s ‘Steel Magnolias’ Draws 6.5 Million Viewers
by Lesley Goldberg
Hollywood Reporter
The Queen Latifah starrer from “Smash” executive producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron ranks as the network’s third-most-watched telecast ever.
The telepic, starring Queen Latifah, Phylicia Rashad and Alfre Woodard, collected 6.5 million total viewers, ranking as the female-skewing cable network’s third-most-watched telecast ever.
The remake from Latifah and Smash executive producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron posted Lifetime’s best delivery since 2006′s Life is Not a Fairy Tale: The Fantasia Barrino Story, and the No. 1 cable movie among total viewers since 2007 (excluding miniseries).
The Sony Pictures Television pic averaged 3.2 million adults 25-54, ranking as Lifetime’s best demo showing for a movie in 17 years since 1995′s Almost Golden: The Jessica Savitch Story and a cable best since 2006.
Among women 25-54, Steel Magnolias stands as Lifetime’s most-watched movie in network history, with 2.5 million viewers, a cable best since 2004. In the advertiser-coveted adults 18-49 demo, its 3 million viewers ranks as a cable best since 2007.
Likely helping the network’s cause was an injunction from the producer of the original Sally Field, Julia Roberts and Dolly Parton feature film, which was thrown out on Friday.
Krista Vernoff, Diane Warren, Craig Zadan & Neil Meron Team For Music Dramedy At NBC
Oct 4th
Krista Vernoff, Diane Warren, Craig Zadan & Neil Meron Team For Music Dramedy At NBC
By Nellie Andreeva
Deadline Hollywood
EXCLUSIVE: Smash executive producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron are developing another hourlong series for NBC in which music plays a key part. The duo is executive producing a dramedy written/executive produced by Grey’s Anatomy alumna Krista Vernoff. It will feature the music catalog of songwriter Diane Warren, who serves as a consulting producer.
The hour long dramedy centers on a 30-something songwriter who has written the most epic love songs of our time, despite, or perhaps due to the fact that she is painfully unlucky in love. While the logline understandably draws parallels to Warren, the central character is original and not based or inspired by her though the plot represents a fictionalized version of Warren’s career. Warren’s songs are expected to be organically integrated into the narrative with music used in a very different way than the Broadway-themed drama Smash. Warren’s catalog includes such songs as LeAnn Rimes’ How Do I Live, Celine Dion’s Because You Loved Me, Toni Braxton’s Unbreak My Heart and Aerosmith’s I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.
Zadan and Meron have been friends with Warren for over a decade and have been looking to collaborate with her again after she wrote a song for their 1999 ABC musical Double Platinum. The duo first took a stab at developing a dramedy about a successful female songwriter with love life problems using Warren’s songbook in 2005, when the project was set up at ABC through Touchstone TV with Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein as writers. I hear the NBC project represents a brand new approach and take on the premise, informed in part by Zadan and Meron’s newly accumulated musical series experience with Smash. For them, the dramedy stems from their first-look deal with Universal TV. It represents their second sale at NBC this season, along with soap White House Confidential written by Sri Rao. Zadan and Meron are also busy producing next year’s Academy Awards and executive producing several high-profile long-form TV projects, Lifetime’s upcoming Steel Magnolias remake as well as the currently-casting Anna Nicole Smith biopic for Lifetime and the Bonnie & Clyde miniseries for Lifetime and History.
Craig Zadan and Neil Meron Producing White House Drama Project For NBC
Sep 10th
Craig Zadan and Neil Meron Producing White House Drama Project For NBC
By Nellie Andreeca
Deadline Hollywood
EXCLUSIVE: Producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron have set up the first project through the first-look deal they signed with Universal TV and NBCUni’s international TV production division in July. NBC has bought an hourlong drama from the duo and former General Hospital head writer Sri Rao. Tentatively titled White House Confidential, the project is described as an upstairs-downstairs-type soap set in the White House, told from the point of view of a young female doctor who has a secret from her past.
It’s been a busy last two months for Zadan and Meron, who inked the NBCUni deal for series and specials, signed on to produce a live Sound Of Music TV special for NBC, and renewed their long-form deal at Sony TV, putting several more TV movies in the works including biopics of Anna Nicole Smith and Warren Jeffs at Lifetime and a Bonnie & Clyde miniseries at History. Last month, the duo were named producers of the upcoming 2013 Academy Awards. Zadan and Meron executive produce series Smash, Lifetime’s Drop Dead Diva and the cable network’s upcoming Steel Magnolias remake.
Craig Zadan, Neil Meron Named Producers Of 85th Academy Awards
Aug 23rd
Craig Zadan, Neil Meron Named Producers Of 85th Academy Awards
Beverly Hills, CA – Acclaimed motion picture, television and theater producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron will produce the 85th Academy Awards, Academy President Hawk Koch announced today. This will be the duo’s first involvement with the Oscars. The 85th Academy Awards will air live on Oscar® Sunday, February 24, 2013.
“Craig and Neil are forward thinkers who bring a unique perspective to the Oscar show,” Koch said. “Their enormous collective talent, coupled with their love of film, serves our show perfectly.”
“We are very excited to collaborate with Hawk and everyone at the Academy to produce this year’s Oscars,” said Zadan and Meron. “We hope to utilize our experience in producing features, TV and theater to bring something fresh and special to this incredible awards show. When we filmed ‘The Bucket List,’ we made our own personal bucket list, and producing the Oscars was #1. It’s truly a great honor.”
“Craig and Neil have great talent relationships and bring an infectious energy to the production,” said Academy CEO Dawn Hudson.” They are creative producers in the best sense of the word.”
Zadan and Meron served as executive producers on the 2002 Best Picture winner “Chicago,” which won Oscars® in 6 of the 13 categories in which it was nominated. Their credits also include the features “Footloose” (2011), “Hairspray” and “The Bucket List.” Zadan also produced the original “Footloose” (1984).
Zadan and Meron’s work in television includes the series “SMASH” and such movies as “A Raisin in the Sun” and the upcoming “Steel Magnolias.”
For Broadway, they recently produced the Tony Award® winning revivals of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” and “Promises, Promises.”
Their work has amassed 73 Emmy® nominations; 12 Tony nominations; and seven Grammy® nominations.
The 85th Academy Awards will be held at the Dolby Theatre™ at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.