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CBS has given pilot orders to 2 projects written and executive produced by power showrunner duos, which had put pilot commitments — Partners, from Will & Grace creators David Kohan and Max Mutchnick, and an untitled half-hour from Greg Malins and Greg Berlanti. Both projects hails from Warner Bros. TV where the writer-producers are based. Additionally, the network has given the green light to Friend Me, also written by a team, Alan Kirschenbaum and Ajay Sahgal, produced by CBS TV Studios.
Partners is a personal story of two lifelong friends and business partners. Architects Charlie and Louis’ friendship has lasted longer than either of their romantic relationships and almost seems like a weird marriage. When Charlie decides to propose to his girlfriend, Louis’ neurotic attempts to be supportive nearly result in the breakup of his own relationship. Described as a show about “4 people in 3 relationships”, the comedy reflects the real-life longtime friendship between Kohan, who is straight, and Mutchnick, who is gay. Because of that connection, the idea has been near and dear to their hearts. This the third time they are tackling it and the third time the project has gone to pilot. Its first incarnation was at CBS with a 2007 pilot starring Jay Mohr and Brian Austin Green and the second was at ABC with Alan Tudyk, Josh Cooke and Ty Burrell toplining a pilot in 2008. However, Kohan and Mutchnick, repped by Scott Schwartz, felt there were script, casting and other issues in both cases. The two had moved on when last year CBS approached them about revisiting the idea about a show based on their relationship but getting it right this time.
The untitled Malins/Berlanti project centers on Nick who has a health scare and realizes Wendy, his best friend and business partner of 15 years, is ‘the one’. Now he has to figure out how to break it to her. WME-repped Malins and Berlanti are the writers/executive producers. This marks the fourth pilot order for Berlanti this year. He also has dramas Guilty at Fox, Arrow at the CW and Golden Boy at CBS, which he is executive producing but not writing.
Friend Me, from CBS Studios and studio-based Tannenbaum Co., centers on twenty-something best friends, Evan and Rob, who move from their hometown of Bloomington, Indiana to Los Angeles to begin their exciting new lives working at Groupon. Evan is having trouble breaking his old slothful habits and rather than go out after work to explore LA and meet new people, prefers to play online poker with his buddies back home. Rob has different plans and is determined to drag Evan, kicking and screaming, along with him. Yes, Dear co-creator Kirschenbaum and Ajay Sahgal are executive producing with Kim and Eric Tannenbaum.
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Okay, so on Friend Me, a big chunk of the show is…a guy sitting at his computer playing online poker? And weren’t most of those sites shut down by the government?
There aren’t two more hostile guys in this entire business than Dave and Max. They’re angry and manipulative, usually out of fear and lack of talent. Its not a surprise everything since Will and Grace has crashed and burned. Watch out.
You obviously have not worked with them because you wouldn’t be saying that if you have. I have done every show and pilot with them and have not worked for a better pair of producers. Are you even in the business or just a wannabe who think his voice needs to be heard !
Quit Jamba Juice and get a real job !
Couldn’t agree more. When I worked with them their display of arrogance and blatant cruelty to others was staggering.
I just want to know if they have any OTHER ideas. I mean, haven’t they done this show (Will & Grace), or this pilot idea at least three times already?
Everybody who says they’re hostile are correct. Max is one of the meanest people I’ve ever met in this business. And he’s very funny, that’s true. But I’d even throw him and Dave in the evil – may have a contract with the devil – category.
Yeah for them! I truly mean that.. only.. where are the shows for women? as an actress.. where are the shows about us women and for us women to play? Where we can be the leads versus the supporting?
Let’s see some of those pilots and show come to light!
thank you for your time ;0)
I take it 2 Broke Girls is not your cup of tea. Nor is Mike & Molly (lots of female actresses in that).
Yes, where ARE the TV comedies for women?
Two Broke Girls
The New Girl
Up All Night
Suburgatory
The Middle
Chelsea
Mike & Molly
30 Rock
Parks & Rec
That’s gotta be over half of all the comedies on network TV. These are all shows with women as the lead. And all but Mike & Molly were created by women writers. But thanks for you input.
A correction to my earlier post, Parks and Rec was not created by a woman writer. But still…
You forgot Whitney.
And the Sarah Silverman and Roseanne pilots for NBC.
Not to mention the whole ABC primetime line-up outside of Tim Allen’s Last Man Standing.
Enough with the victimhood, ladies.
Not a comedy: add Hary’s Law to list? And what’s that show’s name with the redhead that remember’s everything?
Oops… make that Harry’s Law with RR not one R
Wow another comedy based on the “strange” non-sexual (yeah right) relationship/friendship between Kohan and Mutchnick. Yawn.
Dear god: Can I please have some of Ajay Sahgal’s luck with getting pilots made? Thanks! Love, worked my ass off on staff of many shows unlike Ajay
Way too many comedy pilots guys !!! Give us some good dramas too. DALLAS looks like it will be great on TNT, more shows like that. Could go for a continuation of DYNASTY on The CW IF IF IF done right.
Or how about this some original night time dramatic sagas?
I am so excited for the Berlanti/Malins project! This guy can’t be stopped!
Oh great – yet ANOTHER version of Kohan/Mutchnick gay/straight friendship. When will people realize that lightning doesn’t strike twice – especially with these guys. Pass.
when are the new, original voices going to be heard?
ever?
open your eyes, minds and doors.
will there EVER be an outlet for untried, not repped, new voices?
EVER?
As someone who has been working for many years as a writer and trying to break into the pilot club — I’ll tell you the answer is unfortunately no.
There are many ways in. And in this day and age, you don’t need a Panavision film camera to produce professional level material.
Look at Lena Dunham. She spent $25,000 on “Tiny Furniture” and now has a series starting at HBO where she writes, directs, produces, and stars.
No one is going to open the door for you. You have to open it for yourself. If you are worth the risk, prove it. Go rent a Canon 7D, gather up all those talented new voices you reference, and make something fun and brilliant.
If nothing else, this business loves being spoon fed a well executed, great idea.
Of course, the “well executed, great” part of that equation is entirely up to you.
Alan K and Ajay are two funny guys. Good move CBS.
Max and David are two GREAT guys. Don’t be jealous of their success…just try to pursue your own.
Who ARE you people that hide behind fake names and just bitch about others? If you’re gonna post something nasty, at least own up to it.
Great. Congrats to all. These are great. Great move tbs. Great guys. Great people. Great great. And great.
Thanks, great.
Anonymous– Try working your ass off on your pilots Dip Shit.
Is there a story line in the Kohan-Mutchnick pilot where the gay character clings for dear life to the last few strands of hair he has on his head?
Boring, snoring idea. Good on Komut getting another pilot but that’s as far as it’ll go. And for the record, they’re monsters to work for…yes I’ve worked for them. Monsters, especially the “gay one.”
When I did a series with them as an actor their behavior was intolerable. In all my years I have never seen such entitlement and sheer rudeness. And yes, especially the gay one.
Agree completely. Karma will catch up to “the gay one” or perhaps it already has, which is why he is so intolerable and rude. He has to live with himself. Awful human being.
Partners (TV Series 1995–1996):
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112118/
I was thinking the same thing. It was a great, funny show. Too bad it only lasted the one season.
I do like the concept of gay man/straight man relationships. That should be explored more like in the woefully short-lived “Some of My Best Friends” with Jason Bateman and Danny Nucci back in 2001.
Or Whitney or Chelsea or new girl. Someone complaining about no female comedies is insane
GREG MALIN$, congratulations dude. You’re gonna kill it. This is your year. SUIT UP!
Dear bitter writers,
Wanna get you pilot shot? Write a better script. It’s that simple.
TO: “Comment by From someone who has worked with them ! — Friday January 27, 2012 @ 6:56pm PST”
You moron! Your Jamba Juice remark is disgusting. You sound like some idiot that was brought into this business by your daddy since you never worked a regular job. Tell us how you got into show business? Through your wonderful writing? I have nothing to do with the post of “From someone who has worked with them!” I do not know Mutchnick and Kohan. I just think your remark labels you as a wannabe who didn’t seem to land a “real job” without the help of someone. You are a joke, you dumb schmuck!
great, just what the world needs, another max and dave comedy. don’t worry everyone, this show will also fail and (here’s where the don’t worry part comes in) they’ll get another comedy pilot about with the same characters next year, the year after and probably the year after that. this is a perfect example of why the big 4 networks are failing. yes, failing. but its not my business so if execs want to give their friends (and spouses in some cases) pilots then more power to them. entertainment, for those that succeed in it, is a very small and close industry. friends help friends succeed. if you’re an outsider you have such a small chance of being included that’s its not worth it. every year there’s one (at the most) that gets in due to his (or her) fresh writing. but that’s all folks. that’s all.
i hate that malins and berlanti had to share a headline with kohan and mutchnick. what a rip off for two dudes that should be seeing all “congratulations and good luck,” instead they have to deal with the wrath of two yahoos that seemed to have pissed off the entire industry at one time or another. whattajoke.
Max is one of the kindest, most generous people I know.
Please stop posting mean comments. Open up Final Draft and do something useful.
And everybody who says their hostile are correct. Max is one of the meanest people I’ve ever met in this business. And he’s very funny, that’s true. But I’d even throw him in the evil category.