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EXCLUSIVE: ABC has ordered its first pilot this development season, and fittingly, it is from the network’s most prolific writer-producer Shonda Rhimes. The untitled project, about the life and work of a professional fixer and her dysfunctional staff, is based on the career of famous PR guru and crisis management consultant Judy Smith. It was written by Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice creator Rhimes, her first pilot script since the two-hour May 2007 Grey’s Anatomy episode that served as backdoor pilot for spinoff Private Practice. It was a quick turnaround for the new project, which hails from ABC Studios and Rhimes’ studio-based Shondaland banner. ABC brass read Rhimes’ script on Thursday and 24 hours later, they greenlit it to pilot. The early order comes weeks before the traditional start of the broadcast networks’ pilot pickup season. ICM-repped Rhimes will executive produce with her Shondaland partner, UTA-repped Betsy Beers. Judy Smith will serve as a co-executive producer and a technical consultant.
UTA-repped Smith, a former White House press aide under President George H. W. Bush, has been involved in some of the most controversial cases of the past 20 years. She has guided and counseled Monica Lewinsky, Michael Vick and Senator Larry Craig and has worked on the Iran Contra investigation, the prosecution of former D.C. Mayor Marion Barry for drug possession, the Clarence Thomas Supreme Court confirmation hearings, the Chandra Levy investigation and the Enron Congressional inquiry.
ICM-repped Rhimes and her Shondaland have 3 series on the ABC schedule this season: Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice and the Jenna Bans-created new medical drama Off the Map, which premieres on Jan. 12. Additionally, the company is developing a comedic divorce drama project with BAFTA-winning British writer Danny Brocklehurst (Shameless).
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So, who thinks it’s a coincidence that while this info is released from ABC the website for Smith’s company, Impact Strategies, is down?
No coincidences in Hollywood, are there?
Go, Shonda Rhimes, go! I have to doff my hat to Shonda whose journey is as inspiring as it is pioneering. May she have continued success with this next foray into TV Land.
It’s nice to see that she has range beyond Grey’s Anatomy. It’s also nice to see a black woman with clout in the universe of dramatic series. She’s a rare gem — and a shining one as well.
— bobby the saint
Umm Shonda does not have “range.” Private Practice is a spin-off and a copy of Grey’s Anatomy.
Don’t hate! How much range do you have? If we were looking at it just from a business perspective, how many times do you see carbon copies of what is deemed a hit/winner? It doesn’t matter if someone has done it already everyone tries to do it. Music, flavor, remakes, whatever. She’s hitting home runs so get on base, and then we can cheer for you.
Shonda Rwanda..who cares to see a show about a self aggrandized flack…
Bobby the saint, you must not work in the industry, or work somewhat close to Shonda. She is absolutely out of her mind. Bipolar, delusional, and sort of a wino. As in she drinks a lot of wine and just starts sh*t with whoever, whenever. But either way, she is an egomaniac with little regard for those who support her or want to work with her.
Mario Cookies, I am in the industry — but on the features side of things; I am a virgin to the ways of television and the people who inhabit that world.
But in my younger days (I’m in my 30s) I was in the world of political speechwriting/punditry, and if is one thing I learned it is this: a great politico may be a very, very warped individual (think Nixon — brilliant politician; sick dude between the ears!)
That revelation has served me well as I’ve jumped into Hollywood’s shallow end of the pool. In an ideal world I’d love to work for and with people who are — in no particular order — kind, magnanimous, brilliant, unselfish, talented, humble, sober, non-Bacchanalian, un-reptilian, straightforward, non-judgmental, tolerant, non-racist, non-sexist, non-homophobe and, yes, kind to animals.
Then my alarm clock went off, and I realized I’m in a money-grubbing, narcissistic Industry — mirroring the society all around it — and that if the people in my professional, working circles were talented and kind, I’d be luckier than a Leprechaun.
Let he or she who is without blemish cast the first stone. Doesn’t it say that in the Big Book?
Ms. Rhimes could be all the things you allege …. or she could be none. I do know that the battle to be a top show runner as she is in a mostly white, mostly male environment that worships the all might Nielsen rating must come with extraordinary pressures most people cannot even begin to fathom.
So no, I don’t take back my praise of Ms. Rhimes. If anything, what you say — if true — makes me appreciate her humanity even more.
People are complex species but I still like em, to paraphrase from Harold and Maude.
(Oh and Mario…. one more thing: if you have nothing nice to say about a person (even if you possess disparaging nightmare tales of their boorishness or hidden lives) isn’t that dirt best left off a public board, for good karma’s sake?
Think about it, my man.
Respectfully,
Bobby the Saint
Well said. And agreed.
Mostly all true. Well said.
Good stuff Saint.
@Bobby the Saint – I think I love you
So she’s exactly the same as everyone else in this town?
Aaron Sorkin is so out of his mind, the only thing he didn’t bring to the airport that time was a handgun.
If I were a black woman in America, I’d have some serious demons as well. She work in an industry where the beauty standard makes Ryan Gosling and Ryan Reynolds get nosejobs, Johnny Depp has hair transplants, along with pretty much every other actor.
It’s a sick town. People with issues are usually the gifted ones. Not sure about SR, as Grey’s isn’t really my cup of tea, so I’ve never even watched it. I’ve heard it’s sappy as hell, and not in a good way. But you’ve got an axe to grind, so I’m going to defend her.
Get over yourself.
Really well said.
Seriously, Cookies?
God, I hope not. The woman is a mega-success, filthy-rich! I mean what’s the reasoning behind her behavior? Making others miserable? Ah, yes…That age old question.
Obviously your drink of choice is hateraide…
Okay, so she’s insane. You think Chuck Lorrie is a saint? He’s a crazy loon and every writer who works with him knows what a bi-polar nutjob he is. The point is, he, like Shonda Rhimes, has gotten shows on the air that have been popular and have raked in tons of cash for the their respective studios and networks. That’s the bottom line in this town, and sadly, the only thing that matters.
What does that have to do with her having the success that she is having? None of that is good but it sounds like you have taken it to a place that is unnecessary which would say something about you.
Will this air on the 11PM-12AM Wednesdays on ABC now?
Wonder why her dysfunctional tenure at NBC isn’t mentioned?! Who else but Smith would have the hubris to be proud of having a client roster full of clients (except for Chandra Levy) convicted of outrageous crimes.
You left out either because you didn’t know or chose not to include Smith’s stint as head of corp comm at NBC, which did not turn out well.
not only was judy a failure at NBC,she was a complete joke! As is Shondra becoming… So over rated and egotistical…it all went to her head…”OFF THE MAP”…in the toilet. That’s the word around ABC.
Good for Shonda. But is all a little too much? Sure. “Private Practice” continues to hang in there. But it really never became the dramedy that “Grey’s Anatomy” once was. And when does “Off the Map” make its premiere? I’m a little concerned about writers juggling so many projects at once. It’s important that somebody like her remain with her projects as showrunner and not let somebody else take over.
Off The Map is NOT written by Rhimes. Jenna Bans created it and writes it. People can think what they want about SR but if I see one more person talk out of their ass and say that she’s writing Off The Map I’ll scream.
Lovely. From New York Magazine…
….Nearly two weeks after the Daily News reported that hired PR gun Judy Smith was behind the childish attacks against Caroline Kennedy after she backed out of contention to replace Hillary Clinton in the Senate, the New York Times concurs, and adds more detail…
http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2009/02/yep_it_was_judy_smith.html
Shonda, Danny Devito might be good in this show. Mario, Ever heard that old saying that there is a fine line between genius and insanity? Mayby it’s true ! As for myself, someday all filmmakers will kneel before me and whisper, “YOURS,… Is,……SUPEr…ior.
It’s good to be Shonda Rimes.
Judy was part of the team that came with Washington attorney Billy Martin. I worked with her when Billy briefly repped Wesley Snipes.
I found her to be upfront and quite bright. It’s a messy business that Judy works in, and there’s a lot of change. Don’t be too harsh on her if you haven’t met her.
This sounds like a crackin’ good show. @ least it’s not just another straight medical/police procedural. To get inside people’s dirty laundry (can’t wait to see which stories from Smith’s actual career they use) & how the spin needed to clean it comes about will make for very interesting stories indeed.
Seems there are two or three other pilot scripts being considered about characters that are referred to as “Fixers.” Pierce Brosnan is producing and starring in one and NBC has one actually called “The Fixer.”
There’s also a crisis management one at Showtime that Anthony Edwards and Mark Ruffalo are producing, and one at HBO involving Jane Fonda and Paula Weinstein.
Dayum!!
Shonda isn’t the showrunner on Off the Map. When you reach this level, you cede a modicum of control to your lieutenants anyway. That doesn’t mean you lose the soul of the show. She is probably still in the room when the writers break the story at the beginning of the season.
It’s Hollywood. Who cares about politicians? Judy who? Give us Howard Bragman instead.
I hear top crisis PR expert Mike Paul, known as the Reputation Doctor, is also working on a show and several production companies are fighting over landing him. My sources tell me is the real deal and has been called “The Master of Disaster” by Business Week and “Mr. Fixit” by Sports Illustrated for his work with corporate clients, celebs, athletes and more reputations in crisis over the years. Look for the Reputation Doctor TV show to be on air sooner than later.
not if commenting on a deadline about a similar show being picked up is the selling strategy
I must say, the Reputation Doctor sounds a lot better than the premise for the ABC show with a fixer and a dysfunctional staff. I looked up Mike Paul and he seems interesting.