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A+E Rebuild: BBC’s Jana Bennett To Run Bio And LMN … 
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Full 2012-2013 TV Season Series Rankings 
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3RD UPDATE: UTA Wins The Black List 2008 Derby
2ND UPDATE: Below is full index and expanded Top 10.
Universal film executive Franklin Leonard’s THE BLACK LIST 2008 “was compiled from the suggestions of over 250 film executives, each of whom contributed the names of up to ten of their favorite scripts that were written in, or are somehow uniquely associated with, 2008 and will not be released in theaters during this calendar year. This year, scripts had to receive at least four mentions to be included on THE BLACK LIST. All reasonable effort has been made to confirm the information contained herein. THE BLACK LIST apologizes for all misspellings, misattributions, incorrect representation identification, and questionable ’2008′ affiliations. It has been said many times, but it’s worth repeating: THE BLACK LIST is not a ‘best of’ list. It is, at best, a ‘most liked’ list.”
But I’ve noticed that it’s also a “big dick” measuring contest for the Hollywood agencies and their motion picture lit departments. Problem is, some screenwriters think this list isn’t on the up-and-up and accuse junior studio execs and assistants along with self-interested agents and managers of getting together to push their own clients on projects even if already abandoned. So get off the ledge if you’re not on THE BLACK LIST.
67 Mentions (First Place)
THE BEAVER by Kyle Killen
61 Mentions
THE ORANGES by Jay Reiss & Ian Helfer
44 Mentions
BUTTER by Jason Micallef
42 Mentions
BIG HOLE by Michael Gilio
40 Mentions
THE LOW DWELLER by Brad Ingelsby
39 Mentions
FUCKBUDDIES by Liz Meriwether
34 Mentions
WINTER’S DISCONTENT by Paul Fruchbom
29 Mentions
BROKEN CITY by Brian Tucker
24 Mentions
I’M WITH CANCER by Will Reiser
22 Mentions
OUR BRAND IS CRISIS by Peter Straughan
21 Mentions
INGLORIOUS BASTERDS by Quentin Tarantino
20 Mentions
UNTITLED VANESSA TAYLOR PROJECT by Vanessa Taylor
16 Mentions
GALAHAD by Ryan Condal
THE WEST IS DEAD by Andrew Baldwin
15 Mentions
MANUSCRIPT by Paul Grellong
THE TUTOR by Matthew Fogel
14 Mentions
THE DESCENDANTS by Nat Faxon & Jim Rash
SUNFLOWER by Misha Green
GOING THE DISTANCE by Geoff LaTulippe
13 Mentions
THE AMERICAN WAY by Brian Kistler
NOWHERE BOY by Matt Greenhalgh
RAINDROPS ALL AROUND ME by Reed Agnew & Eli Jorne
SEQUELS, REMAKES & ADAPTATIONS by Sam Esmail
12 Mentions
A COUPLE OF DICKS by Mark Cullen & Robb Cullen
GAY DUDE by Alan Yang
THE MANY DEATHS OF BARNABY JAMES by Brian Nathanson
UNDERAGE by Scott Neustadter & Michael Weber
11 Mentions
CODE NAME VEIL by Matt Billingsley
EVERYTHING MUST GO by Dan Rush
THE FOURTH KIND by Olatunde Osunsanmi
FOXCATCHER by E Max Frye & Dan Futterman
THE PHANTOM LIMB by Kevin Koehler
10 Mentions
THE APOSTLES OF INFINITE LOVE by Victoria Strouse
THE F-WORD by Elan Mastai
UP IN THE AIR by Jason Reitman
9 Mentions
BACHELORETTE by Leslye Headland
JONNY QUEST by Dan Mazeau
THE KARMA COALITION by Shawn Christensen
KEIKO by Elizabeth Wright Shapiro
KNIGHTS by Nick Confalone & Neal Dusedau
TWENTY TIMES A LADY by Gabrielle Allan & Jennifer Crittenden
8 Mentions
CLEAR WINTER NOON by John Kolvenbach
FIERCE INVALIDS HOME FROM HOT CLIMATES by Eric Aronson
ROUNDTABLE by Brian K Vaughan
7 Mentions
THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF THE MONOGAMOUS DUCK by Neeraj Katyal
THE GARY COLEMAN –EMMANUEL LEWIS PROJECT by Dan Fogelman
THE LAYMAN’S TERMS by Jeremy Bailey
THE MALLUSIONIST by Robbie Pickering & JaceRicci
PLAN B by Kate Angelo
WHAT IS LIFE WORTH? By Max Borenstein
6 Mentions
ACOD: ADULT CHILDREN OF DIVORCE by Ben Karlin & Stu Zicherman
BAD TEACHER by Lee Eisenberg & Gene Stupnitsky
THE BIRTHDAY PARTY by Charles Randolph
CHILD 44 by Richard Price
EASY A by Bert Royal
GIANTS by Eric Nazarian
GRAND THEFT AUTO by Jason Dean Hall
HELP ME SPREAD GOODNESS by Mark Friedman
INFERNO: A LINDA LOVELACE STORY by Matt Wilder
LONDON BOULEVARD by William Monahan
MEMOIRS by Will Fetters
SHRAPNEL by Evan Daugherty
YOUR DREAMS SUCK by Kat Dennings & Geoffrey Litwak
5 Mentions
AFTER HAILEY by Scott Frank
THE BLADE ITSELF by Aaron Stockard
BROTHERHOOD OF THE ROSE by Adam Cozad
FRESHLY POPPED by Megan Parsons
GAZA by Frank Deasy
GREETINGS FROM JERRY by John Killoran
GROWN MAN BUSINESS by Justin Britt-Gibson
THE HERETIC by Javier Rodriguez
HOW TO BE GOOD by Cindy Chupack
MAN OF CLOTH by Josh Zetumer
SLEEPING BEAUTY by Julia Leigh
THE SPELLMAN FILES by Bobby Florsheim & Josh Stolberg
STOP HUNTINGDON ANIMAL CRUELTY by Adam Sachs
A TALE OF TWO CITIES by Beau Willimon
UNLOCKED by Peter O’Brien
WHAT WOULD KENNY DO? by Chris Baldi
THE ZERO by Stephen Chin
4 Mentions
RONIN by Chris Morgan
BALLAD OF THE WHISKEY ROBBER by Rich Wilkes
THE BEAUTIFUL AND THE DAMNED by Hanna Weg
A BITTERSWEET LIFE by Mark L Smith
BOBBIE SUE by Russell Sharman, Owen Egerton, & Chris Mass
BOBISM by Ben Wexler
DEADLINE by Soo Hugh
THE DEBT by Jane Goldman & Matthew Vaughn
THE ENDS OF THE EARTH by Chris Terrio
HEARTSTOPPER by Dan Antoniazzi & Ben Shiffrin
THE HOW-TO GUIDE FOR SAVING THE WORLD by BenDavid Grabinski
I KILLED BUDDY CLOY by Nick Garrison & Chase Pletts
JAR CITY by Michael Ross
A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY by Susan Walter
THE MOST ANNOYING MAN IN THE WORLD by Kevin Kopelow & Heath Seifert
MOTORCADE by Billy Ray
THE MURDERER AMONG US by Lori Gambino
ONCE UPON A TIME IN HELL by Brian McGreevy & Lee Shipman
SAMURAI by Fernley Phillips
THE SCAVENGERS by Nate Edelman
SERIAL KILLER DAYS by Mark Carter
SHERLOCK HOLMES by Tony Peckham
SWINGLES by Duncan Birmingham & Jeff Roda
‘TIL BETH DO US PART by Jon Hurwitz & Hayden Schlossberg
UNTITLED CHANNING TATUM PROJECT by Doug Jung
UPDATE: My immense thanks to EW for giving me the TOP 10 on The Black List coming out tomorrow since the magazine did a deal with Franklin Leonard for its coming issue which will have a big takeout all about Leonard and the list on newsstands Friday. Here‘s the EW link for the feature online:
1. The Beaver by Kyle Killen
It’s About: Walter Black, a depressed toy manufacturer, loses his family and his business. But then Walter tries on a hand puppet—a chatty British rodent called “The Beaver”—and his personality is transformed. It’s all good at first, but things turn ugly when the puppet won’t let go. It’s Like: Liar Liar fused with the horror movie Magic. Status: Steve Carell is attached to play Walter.
2. The Oranges by Jay Reiss and Ian Helfer
It’s About: Two New Jersey families are thrown into comic turmoil when the prodigal daughter returns for Christmas and falls in love with her parents’ best friend. It’s Like: The Graduate engaged to Meet the Parents. Status: Anthony Bregman (Thumbsucker) and MRC will produce. Julian Farino (Entourage) is negotiating to direct.
3. Butter by Jason Micallef
It’s About: Destiny, a black foster child, faces off against Iowa’s reigning dairy diva, the beautiful but venal Laura Pickler, in an epic butter-carving competition for the ages. It’s Like: Election swirled with Best in Show. Status: Jennifer Garner is in talks to play Laura, while DreamWorks is in early negotiations for the project.
4. Big Hole by Michael Gilio
It’s About: Lee, an old, grumpy ex-cowboy, loses $30,000 to a fraudulent sweepstakes company and sets out to punish those responsible. Lee’s son, the local sheriff, is charged with stopping him. It’s Like: Falling Down splattered with No Country for Old Men. Status: Project is set up with Aversano Films (Failure to Launch).
5. The Low Dweller by Brad Ingelsby
It’s About: Charlie “Slim” Hendrick, a don’t-eff-with-me ex-con, returns home to find that his sweetie has moved on and his bitter brother has gambling debts. When a disfigured, dog-loving thug beats his sibling to death, Slim seeks vengeance. It’s Like: Unforgiven, only less geriatric. And much less forgiving. Status: Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way and Tony and Ridley Scott will co-produce.
6. F***buddies by Liz Meriwether
It’s About: Emma and Adam have the best relationship ever! They’re twentysomething pals who, you know, do it. A lot. But then Adam goes and falls in love with Emma and ruins everything. Can their perfect non-union survive? It’s Like: When Harry Met Sally… for the Juno generation. Status: Ivan Reitman’s company is developing it.
7. Winter’s Discontent by Paul Fruchbom
It’s About: After the death of his wife of more than 50 years, irrepressible horndog Herb Winter sets out, at age 75, to find sexual fulfillment with another woman. Or, if possible, several. It’s Like: Superbad set in a retirement community. Status: The film is set up at Sony. No director or star is attached.
8. Broken City by Brian Tucker
It’s About: The New York mayor asks private eye Billy Taggart to find out if the mayor’s wife is cheating on him. She is, with the campaign director of the mayor’s political rival, no less, who soon turns up dead. Did Billy’s investigation lead to murder? It’s Like: A modern L.A. Confidential peppered with Glengarry Glen Ross patois. Status: Being developed by the producing team behind Juno.
9. I’m With Cancer by Will Reiser
It’s About: Adam, a 25-year-old single Jewish dude, is diagnosed with spinal cancer. Hilarity ensues. Seriously. It’s Like: The 40 Year-Old Virgin with chemo. Status: Seth Rogen will produce and has signed on to play Adam’s best bud.
10. Our Brand Is Crisis by Peter Straughan
It’s About: A team of American political operatives moves to Bolivia to take on a flailing presidential campaign. Loosely based on the 2006 documentary of the same name. It’s Like: Primary Colors picked The Motorcycle Diaries as a running mate. Status: George Clooney’s company will produce it.
Black List 2007′s Best Liked Screenplays
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
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Fritz Lang script, THE MURDERER AMONG US (4 votes) is first rate. One of the better avail scripts in town right now.
99% of these scripts are writers writing from the outside in, no the inside out. Tripe, all of it. Doesn’t anyone have a story to tell?
I liked the BEAVER but BUTTER was my fave. It’s the only one of the top 5 I can see doing Juno business. And Garner is a great choice. If she nails it she’ll get awards. LOW DWELLER is good too.
Black lists, Red lists… we’re in the Age of Obama now, let’s stop labeling lists by their color.
If EASY A has only six mentions… I will assume that the others aren’t worth my time.
That Bert Royal guy can write.
Five bucks says every whiny comment here is from someone who knows for sure his screenplay would set the world on fire… you know… as soon as he gets around to writing it. But then for sure! And in the meantime, it’s an outrage that Hollywood is keeping him out.
Not everybody is going to love every script on this list, or agree with the ranking. Taste does matter, you know. But scripts that are on here are good, the writers are good. Professionals vote on this, there may be some political maneuvering but nobody got dozens of votes votes because they sent the right people a fruit basket.
The Oranges was fucking awful. Honestly, who enjoyed that?
Best script I’ve read in the past few months is Rob Zombie’s T-REX. No joke! But I don’t think many have read it around town. The copy I read was watermarked with my bosses name.
@ anhonestAnswer:
Um, some of these are in production. Hence, they HAVE sold. Duh.
I would guess that there’s more confusion over the ranking of the scripts than there is anger about being left of entirely. There is no rhyme or reason to this, not that it’s completely arbitrary either.
It just seems that there are too many slam-dunk scripts that set the town on fire towards the bottom of the list. But there is a lot of crap at the top and in the middle. Sure, some of those projects need momentum, some writers have big manager/agents who trade and coerce voters, but people should forget about the actual totals, they’re indicative of nothing.
Emma and Adam have the best relationship ever! They’re twentysomething pals who, you know, do it. A lot. But then Adam goes and falls in love with Emma and ruins everything. Can their perfect non-union survive?
There was an episode of “Scrubs” that did this better, and in a shorter time span too.
Not much in the way of classy scripts in that lot is there?
No wonder Hollywood movies are such shit when these turds are considered the best.
Clearly shit really does rise to the top.
Meanwhile, when does the non Jewish version of this list come out?
Such anger and vitrol. Let’s look at the positive:
Good thinking by the people who put the list together, they have people coming to them asking for favors. Wish I would have thought of it.
Good for the writers who got on the list. Most of these writers are working without a spotlight, so any kudos are nice.
Good for the producers whose projects are on the list. It is hard to get a movie made so anything can help.
Good for so many people to spew such anger on this board anonymously. Just means that those of us who treat people well and succeed at this film game will continue to do so. Stay angry and unemployed.
Remember to look on the bright side!
Where’s the edge? The dark stuff? Scary thrillers? Everybody wants to laugh at melting butter or redo “No Country” these days.
Guess it’s time to move to Korea.
This list might have actually been relevant a few years ago, but this has become more about lobbying from reps and producers than anything else (as well as proof that Hollywood execs are far more willing to repeat praise for something they’ve heard about than check it out for themselves). The “please vote for my script for The Black List” calls this year got pathetic. If the list is going to have any integrity, Franklin should keep the group of voters small and secret year to year.
Isn’t F–kbuddies just Zack and Miri Make A Porno without the porno?
Also, Rory said that “There was an episode of ‘Scrubs’ that did this better…” In fact, the entire series of “Scrubs” is about this topic and has done it better.
the hater nation is in full force. passed over writers, clearly.
you might not agree with all the picks, but anyone who has read these scripts knows there are def some with edge and darkness.
We’re supposed to feel BAD that these are in limbo? Sorry, but most of them sound awful.
All awful, and it distressing to see how many times Juno is mentioned. Its without doubt the most overated film of the last few years
kudos to franklin for being the visionary to start this list. but next year, i agree, he should refine the list of people who get to vote.
also, people love to hate on the black list – but many writers lives have been changed for the better by being included on the list…
stop the hate.
an honest answer – listen, as an executive i can say that most of the people voting on the black list are execs NOT assts – and this red list you speak of, is something you have clearly made up. sad.
I love how bitter how everyone is here. Myself included. So much easier to bag on other people’s work than actually try to create something yourself.
Phantom Limb is the best script of the year.
Maybe these scripts just need better logline writers.
From a marketing perspective, I think that “The Low Dweller” has the most commercial premise and it would be easy to put together a big campaign around it; a movie about a beaver hand puppet? Not so much, especially in the red states. The execution on “The Low Dweller” needs some improvement but the idea is solid – could live without the cliche of giving the thug a puppy to humanize him but ehh, can’t have everything.