HBO, 'Entourage' producers developing series

HBO is developing a female-centric comedy from the makers of "Entourage."

Executive producers Mark Wahlberg and Stephen Levinson of Leverage are near a deal with the premium network for a show about a group of female friends working and finding romance in Los Angeles.

The project has the two power producers teaming with newcomers Leah Rachel and Emily Montague, who developed the concept with Rachel writing.

Although it would be easy to assume the show is a female version of "Entourage," sources said the script is evolving and will not be as Hollywood-centric as the long-running comedy.

HBO has several comedy projects in development including James Gandolfini's American version of the French-Canadian series "Taxi 0-22" and the "Tilda" pilot, about a Hollywood blogger.

Wahlberg, Levinson and Rachel are repped by WME. Wahlberg is managed by Leverage; Rachel is managed by Dan Farah and attorney Greg Slewett.

"Tower Prep" TV Series

Prepped Productions Inc.
Prod: Peter Lhotka
DOP: Philip Linzey
PD: Mark Freeborn
PM: Jim O'Grady
PC: Rhonda Legge
LM: Greg AstopA
LM: Karen Lo, Chris WilsonCast:
Drew Van Acker, Ryan Pinkston, Elise Gatien, Dyana Lui
SPFX Coord::
Dan Keeler
Casting: Stuart Aikins
Extras: Kit Hayward
Sched: Apr 07/10 - Aug 06/10
TEL: 983-5233 FAX: 983-5244

Los Angeles location production drops in '09

Film permits off 30%, reality TV down 49%
By Carl DiOrio

Jan 14, 2010

The industry erosion continues: On-location production in the Los Angeles area slid 13% in the fourth quarter, yielding a 19% plunge in such shoots in 2009.

Production permit service FilmLA on Thursday unveiled yearly stats showing the sharpest decline since tracking began in 1993. The non-profit group recorded 37,979 permitted production days in 2009, compared to 47,117 in 2008.

"This annual report reinforces the need for the positive steps being taken by the Los Angeles City Council and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to attract more filming to the city," FilmLA president Paul Audley.

City officials recently pledged to step up efforts at easing bureaucracy for locally based productions and to investigate other means of reversing so-called runaway production.

Film production increased in the fourth quarter by 14%, and 21% more commercials were shot on location, but the bigger category of TV shoots were off 33%. Some 35% fewer TV dramas received on-location permits in the latest quarter than a year ago, while sitcom activity fell 11% and on-location reality shoots were off a big 49% and TV pilots 41%.

For the year, film production fell 30%, television 17%, commercials 12% and miscellaneous other categories 21%.

FilmLA said the declines would have been worse if not for California's recent tax-based production incentives.

Source: www.hollywoodreporter.com

NEW TV PILOTS -

untitled KELSEY GRAMMER pilot
Tuesday, March 31 and Friday, April 3 at 6:00pm
Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank, CA
A new ABC comedy about a hotshot Wall Street executive (Kelsey Grammer) who loses his job and is forced to move back with his wife (Melinda McGraw) and kids to his hometown and reconnect with his family.

CANNED
Tuesday, April 7 at 6:00pm
CBS Studio Center, Studio City, CA
A new comedy for ABC about a group of friends who all get fired on the same day. Starring Stephanie Lemelin, Amanda Bynes and Tim Peper.

HAPPINESS ISN'T EVERYTHING
Tuesday, April 7 at 5:00pm and Tuesday, April 14 at 5:00pm
Sony Pictures Studios, Culver City, CA
A new comedy for CBS created by Mitch Hurwitz ("Arrested Development") that centers on adult siblings who can't keep their noses out of each other's business. Richard Dreyfuss will play the loving but pushy patriarch, with Jason Biggs and Ben Schwartz as his sons.

untitled SHERRI SHEPHERD pilot
Thursday, April 9 at 6:00pm
CBS Studio Center, Studio City, CA
A new comedy for LIFETIME about a married woman who discovers her husband has been cheating on her and has an illegitimate child - only to agree to let the child and her mother move in with the family. Starring Sherri Shepherd ("Less Than Perfect," "The View")

untitled JEFF STRAUSS pilot
Thursday, April 16 at 6:00pm
CBS Studio Center, Studio City, CA
A new comedy for ABC which examines marriage and parenthood seen through the eyes of three couples. Starring Jonathan Silverman, Janet Varney and Matthew Lillard. Additional cast information TBA.

WAITING TO DIE
Friday, April 17 at 6:00pm
Sony Pictures Studios, Culver City, CA
Two simple guys who are happy with their lives - no matter how bad it might look from the outside. A new comedy for CBS. Cast information TBA

ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE
Tuesday, April 21 at 6:00pm
CBS Studio Center, Studio City, CA
A new comedy for CBS about a San Francisco movie critic who finds herself accidentally pregnant after a fling with a much younger man, and the unconventional family that ultimately results. Starring Jenna Elfman, Grant Show, Jon Foster and Ashley Jensen.

100 QUESTIONS FOR CHARLOTTE PAYNE
Tuesday, April 21 at 5:00pm and Friday, April 24 at 6:00pm
CBS Studio Center, Studio City, CA
A new comedy for NBC about a young woman navigating life with friends in New York. The show begins each week at a dating service, where Charlotte is asked a question that then segues into that episode's storyline. Starring Sophie Winkleman and Chris Moynihan.

untitled JUSTIN ADLER pilot
Wednesday, April 22 at 6:00pm
The Culver Studios, Culver City, CA
A new comedy for NBC from writer/producer Justin Adler ("Samantha Who?", "Big Day", "Sons And Daughters") described as a family show with adult siblings. Starring Nick D'Agosto and Michael Rosenbaum.

BIG D
Thursday, April 23 at 6:00pm
Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank, CA
In this new CBS comedy set in Dallas, Deanna Dunagan plays a Texan Southern belle who welcomes her son back home from New York and meddles in his wife's life. The matriarch's daughter is a tad sensitive and thrives on drama. Co-starring Missi Pyle, Ben Koldyke and Chris Parnell.

The ANITA RENFROE Presentation
Thursday, April 23 at 6:00pm
Sony Pictures Studios, Culver City, CA
Anita Renfroe stars in a new family sitcom centered around the thought that family comes first, by any means necessary. Anita has a unique brand of estrogen flavored comedy and blend of sass, edge and slightly offbeat takes on All Things Female. Renfroe, who some have described as "this generation's Erma Bombeck" is a featured comedian on ABC's "Good Morning America."

THIS LITTLE PIGGY
Friday, April 24 at 6:00pm
CBS Studio Center, Studio City, CA
A new comedy for ABC that centers on two adult siblings who are forced to live with their eldest brother and his family in their childhood home after falling on hard times. Starring Andrea Parker. Additional cast information TBA

BROTHERS
Tuesday, April 28 at 5:00pm
Sony Pictures Studios, Culver City, CA
New FOX comedy about a retired football player who returns to his hometown and starts working to reconnect with his family - especially his brother, who is confined to a wheelchair following a car accident. Starring Daryl “Chill” Mitchell, Michael Strahan and Carl Weathers.

ACE IN THE HOLE
Wednesday, May 6 at 6:00pm
CBS Studio Center, Studio City, CA
A new comedy for CBS that stars Adam Carolla as a husband and father who works as a driving instructor.

ACTORS HEADING TO NW STUDIOS - FAST TRAK1

1: Start out going SOUTH on 13TH AVE S toward S WALKER ST. 0.1 mi
2: Turn LEFT onto S COLLEGE ST. 0.1 mi
3: Turn RIGHT onto 14TH AVE S. 0.1 mi
4: Turn RIGHT onto BEACON AVE S. 0.6 mi
5: BEACON AVE S becomes S HOLGATE ST. 0.3 mi
6: Turn RIGHT onto 4TH AVE S. 0.2 mi
7: Stay STRAIGHT to go onto ramp. 0.1 mi
8: Turn RIGHT onto S ATLANTIC ST/EDGAR MARTINEZ DR S. 0.0 mi
9: Merge onto I-90 E. 0.4 mi
10: Merge onto I-5 N via EXIT 2B on the LEFT 110.7 mi
11: Take the WA-543 N exit, EXIT 275, toward TRUCK CUSTOMS/H STREET. 0.3 mi
12: Stay STRAIGHT to go onto WA-543 N (Crossing into *CANADA* BRITISH COLUMBIA). 0.9 mi
13: WA-543 N becomes PROVINCIAL ROUTE 15 N/PACIFIC HWY. 12.6 mi
14: Take the ROUTE 1 WEST ramp toward VANCOUVER. 0.4 mi
15: Merge onto PROVINCIAL ROUTE 1 W/TRANS CANADA HWY W toward VANCOUVER. 5.3 mi
16: Take the HWY-7 E exit, EXIT 44, toward PORT COQUITLAM/PORT MOODY. 0.8 mi
17: Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto LOUGHEED HWY/PROVINCIAL ROUTE 7 E. 2.1 mi
18: End at Lougheed Highway Coquitlam, BC V3C

Where to report

CBS Studio Center 4024 Radford Ave., Studio City
100 Questions For Charlotte Payne
Ace In The Hole
Canned
Rita Rocks
The Bill Engvall Show
This Little Piggy
Untitled Jeff Strauss Pilot
Untitled Sherri Shepherd Pilot

CBS Television 7800 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles

Hollywood Center Studios 1040 N. Las Palmas, Hollywood
The Suite Life On Deck

Paramount Studios 860 N. Gower St. Hollywood

Raleigh Studios-Manhattan Beach 1600 Rosecrans Ave., Manhattan Beach
America’s Funniest Videos

Sony Pictures Studios 3970 Overland Ave., Culver City
Brothers
Happiness Isn’t Everything
The Anita Renfroe Presentation
Waiting To Die

The Culver StudiosCulver City
Untitled Justin Adler Pilot

Warner Bros. Studios 4210 W. Olive Ave., Burbank
Big D
The Big Bang Theory
Two And A Half Men
Untitled Kelsey Grammer Pilot

ON HIATUS

According To Jim
Gary Unmarried
New Adventures Of Old Christine
Roommates
Rules Of Engagement
Sonny With A Chance
Surviving Suburbia
'Til Death
Wizards Of Waverly Place