In 2008, a comedy about the behind-the-scenes of the TV industry, Back To You, co-created/executive produced by Steve Levitan, was canceled by Fox. The broadcast network then-aligned with Levitan’s longtime studio home, 20th Television. Shortly thereafter, another comedy co-created/executive produced by Levitan, Modern Family, was sold to a rival network, ABC, where it went to series and became an instant hit.
In 2023, a comedy about the behind-the-scenes of the TV industry, Reboot, created by Levitan, was canceled by Hulu, the streamer aligned with his studio 20th TV. Shortly thereafter, another comedy, Erin Foster’s Nobody Wants This, which Levitan executive produces, sold to a rival streamer, Netflix, where it went to series and became an instant hit.
The parallels are not lost on industry observers as Nobody Wants This, in which Levitan doesn’t have hands-on creative involvement, shot to No. 1 on Netflix’s weekly Top 10 for English series last week in a strong start that has earned the comedy a quick Season 2 renewal.
Meanwhile, another 20th Television series, CBS' Tracker, came back strong Sunday with 8.3 million Live+Same Day linear viewers for its Season 2 premiere, ranking as the No. 1 entertainment program of the week across broadcast and cable in total viewers. >>>Hits For Disney+ & ABC, Too |
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Gary Oldman Back On Stage - Slow Horses star Gary Oldman is stepping back on stage in April 2025 after an absence of nearly four decades. He'll star in Samuel Beckett’s celebrated one-man play Krapp’s Last Tape for a limited season at the British theatre where the actor began his professional career in 1979. >>>Baz Bamigboye's Column
Jennifer Westfeldt Finds 'Sweet Spot' - Amazon MGM Studios has put a feature rendition of Amy Poeppel’s novel The Sweet Spot into development with Kissing Jessica Stein‘s Jennifer Westfeldt adapting and set to co-star in the female-driven ensemble. >>>Producing, Too
Obamas Take 'Pride' - Netflix is in early development on Pride, a movie based on the 2018 YA novel by Haitian American author Ibi Zoboi. The project, a modern — and timely — retelling of Jane Austen’s classic Pride and Prejudice, comes from President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground and the company behind the book, Alloy Entertainment. >>>'The Bear' Writer Adapting
Doc Talk: James Carville - Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville's definitive role convincing the party establishment that Joe Biden needed to step aside is explored in the new documentary Carville: Winning Is Everything, Stupid, directed by Matt Tyrnauer. The award-winning filmmaker and his protagonist join the latest episode of Deadline’s Doc Talk podcast. >>>Listen Legendary's Newest Mission - Legendary Entertainment is set to adapt a series of military thriller novels after landing the film and TV rights. The company has acquired the rights to the Tier One series, written by Brian Andrews and Jeff Wilson. >>>8 Books So Far
ElectionLine: Spain's Vanessa Jaklitsch - ElectionLine’s A View From Abroad series, in which we speak with media figures who are not from America but keep a close eye on its politics, this week features a Q&A with Vanessa Jaklitsch, the chief U.S. correspondent of Spain’s Telemadrid TV. >>>Q&A
In Brief - Meriel Sheibani-Clare signs with Artists First... Radar Pictures in works on feature take of Into the Lion’s Mouth... Jason Patric signs with More/Medavoy Management... Kino Lorber promoted Monica Bloom to Chief Marketing Officer |
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More than 20 years after making her screen debut in Camp, a beloved romp about the universal experience of being a theater kid, Anna Kendrick is unpacking the sexism of Hollywood through the true-crime genre with her directorial debut.
While discussing her new movie Woman of the Hour, premiering Friday on Netflix, the Oscar nominee tells Deadline that although she was “actively shoving down” the urge to direct writer Ian McDonald‘s Black List script, Kendrick was so drawn to the “heartbreak” in his depiction of “Dating Game Killer” Rodney Alcala‘s victims, she got “really sick at the idea” of anyone else helming the film. >>>Read The Interview |
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Exclusive
Chloë Grace Moretz, Anthony Ramos, Manny Jacinto, Isabel May, Lukas Gage and Billie Lourd are headlining the Joey Power directed and written romantic comedy, Love Language from Caviar. Cameras will roll in mid-October in Chicago.
Exclusive
Judy Greer is joining season 2 of The Last Thing He Told Me, the sequel to the Apple series from Josh Singer, bestselling author Laura Dave, executive producers Reese Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter, and star/EP Jennifer Garner.
Exclusive
Emmy Award winner Ben Schwartz has joined the 20th Century feature Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice as part of the ensemble cast, which includes Vince Vaughn, James Marsden, Eiza Gonzalez, Keith David, Jimmy Tatro and Arturo Castro. |
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BY THE NUMBERS
8.3M - Live+Same Day linear viewers for the Season 2 premiere of CBS' 'Tracker' |
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More News 🏈 NFL owners Tuesday approved a sale of 10% of the Las Vegas Raiders to an ownership group that includes seven-time Super Bowl champ Tom Brady, who personally holds a 5% stake.
⚖️ A day after four John Does and two Jane Does filed the latest assault lawsuits against Sean “Diddy” Combs, the performer now says “the government should be required to identify its alleged victims” in his sex trafficking case.
✊ It’s been many months since SAG-AFTRA and the major video game companies sat down for in-person bargaining talks on a new contract. That’s about to change. The actors union, which launched a strike in late July against several companies, said today that it will resume negotiation for its Interactive Media Agreement on Wednesday, October 23.
🤝 Japanese media giant Toho is acquiring Gkids, the North American distributor of prestige animated films like the Oscar-winning The Boy and the Heron.
💰 Paramount Global’s board approved new grants of restricted stock valued at $3 million for each of its co-CEOs, Chris McCarthy, George Cheeks and Brian Robbins. |
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On the Radar
Wed - PaleyFest New York begins, Kamala Harris' Fox News sitdown
Thurs - New York Comic Con begins; Netflix reports third-quarter earnings
Fri - S.W.A.T. S8 premiere
Sat - Michael Keaton hosts SNL; Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony
Sun - Obama headlines Harris fundraiser in L.A.
Mon - MIPCOM begins |
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Road Warriors - George Stephanopoulos, Bruce Springsteen and Steven Van Zandt attend the Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band New York premiere at the Museum of Modern Art. |
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