Fox has made a big-bucks, 13-episode commitment to "Action News," the
Kelsey Grammer-Patricia Heaton laffer from scribes Christopher Lloyd and
Steve Levitan.
To win the project, Fox agreed to pay sister studio 20th Century Fox
a license fee of $1.3 million-$1.4 million per episode. ABC and CBS both
expressed interest in the project, with the Eye dropping out of the
bidding first. NBC passed early on.
Besides big money and an episodic order, 20th also asked for certain
assurances about timeslots and scheduling. It's unclear if Fox agreed to
those requests.
Project reps the biggest commitment by a network to a comedy for the
2007-08 season. Deal appears to be on a par with what CBS paid Warner
Bros. TV last year for "The Class."
"Action News" will feature Grammer and Heaton as TV journalists and
former colleagues who reunite at a local TV station (Daily Variety, Jan.
23). Skein will be an ensemble workplace laffer and, in a rarity these
days, a traditional four-camera comedy.
There's no word yet on a director, but industry insiders note that 20th
had a positive experience working with Grammer as a helmer on a pilot
last season.
Most industry insiders figured "Action News" would end up at ABC or CBS.
But Fox Entertainment prexy Peter Liguori said he believes the quality
of the pilot script and the on-air talent involved make it a good fit
for the net.
"Funny is bang-on the Fox brand," he told Daily Variety. "You've got a
great script, proven writers and great leads with outstanding comedy
chops. To us, it's a triple threat."
Dana Walden, prexy of 20th Century Fox TV, said the Fox network won
"Action News" by making the best offer -- and not because it's owned by
the same company as the studio.
"There was no home court advantage on this one whatsoever," she said.
"Peter Liguori won it fair and square."
Walden said the talent involved in "Action News" made the project "a
pretty undeniable package."
"You've started with two incredibly talented showrunners and then you
add in two huge performers," she said. "It's a little bit of a
no-brainer."
"Action News" started taking shape in early fall. Levitan and Lloyd met
with Grammer in October, though he didn't sign onto the project until he
had read the script.
Once Grammer was aboard, "Martin Lesak (of Creative Artists) then
decided to get the script over to Patty," Walden said. That lead to
Heaton signing on, completing the mega-package.
"Action News" reps the first major sale for Levitan and Lloyd's
20th-based shingle.
Grammer continue to have an overall production deal at CBS Paramount
Network Television, where he exec produces skeins such as "Girlfriends"
and "Medium." Heaton is currently performing in Off Broadway show "The
Scene."
