McConaughey, Witherspoon Debut ‘Mud’: Did Fest … 
Will Smith’s ‘MIB3′ Beats … 
Cannes Podcast: Pete Hammond On ‘Lawless’, … 
Over-Achievers Of This Year’s Upfront 
Aussie Pay-TV Shakeup Impacts Hollywood 
USA: ‘Rebounding’ & ‘Modern … 
Interview: Philip Kaufman At Cannes With ‘Hemingway … 
R.I.P. Television Mogul Lee Rich 
Cannes Biz Shines Despite Wind & Rain 
Full 2011-2012 TV Season Series Rankings 
2011-12 Season Network Rankings: Fox Still On Top But Down, … 
HLN Set To Air Daytime Emmy Awards 
Grant Bowler Cast As Richard Burton Opposite Lindsay Lohan … 
UPDATE: Dish Network And Broadcasters Ask Courts To Decide … 
Cannes Surprise Screening: Change Of Plans On Juan Antonio … 
Kevin Hart In Talks To Join Kevin James In ‘Valet … 
Anthony Hopkins Up For ‘Red 2′ Villain; Can … 
Cannes Conflicted Over ‘The Paperboy’ As … 
RATINGS RAT RACE: ‘American Idol’ Posts … 
Ghost Of 2004 Hovers Over L.A. Screenings As Int’l … 
On The Road To Awards Season? Kerouac Book Finally Makes It … 
ABC has added two more comedy pilots to it slate — the Reba McEntire starrer Malibu Country and Prairie Dogs, from That ’70s Show alums Jackie and Jeff Filgo. Both projects are produced by ABC Studios. The orders bring the number of in-cycle ABC comedy pilots so far this season to 10.
Malibu Country is a multicamera comedy starring the country star/actress as Reba who, after her “good ol boy” rock star husband cheats on her and burns through most of their money, divorces him and moves her family from Nashville to the only asset she has left — a little house in Malibu. There she’ll try to reignite her own singing career and keep herself and her three kids from being corrupted by the materialistic and rarefied Malibu world she now calls home. The project, which had a put pilot commitment, reunites McEntire with key auspices of her successful 2001 WB sitcom Reba. Former Reba showrunner Kevin Abbott wrote Malibu Country and executive produces with McEntire and former Reba executive producers McEntire, Mindy Schultheis & Michael Hanel. Also exec producing the sitcom are McEntire’s manager Narvel Blackstock; Dave Stewart, formerly of the Eurythmics; and Laura Ziskin Prods’ Pam Williams. ABC has been bringing back to the fold veteran TV comedy stars including Tim Allen, who stars in freshman comedy series Last Man Standing, executive produced/showrun by Abbott, and Kirstie Alley, who is toplining off-cycle pilot The Manzanis.
Prairie Dogs, written/executive produced by Jackie Filgo & Jeff Filgo, centers on Neil, an uncool cubicle worker (“prairie dog”) at one of the coolest companies in the world, who becomes the victim of identity theft. When he discovers the thief has created a much more fulfilling, kick ass life with his identity than he ever has, he engages the charismatic conman to help him change his life.
TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.
Loading ...
Now, Prairie Dogs actually sounds original and fresh, what a notion!!
I hope it gets picked up, I want to watch it. And no, I’m not related to anyone connected with the show.
The plot of Prairie Dogs is also the plot of the Friends episode “The One With the Fake Monica”. How do I know that? Because I had no social life in high school.
Is ABC gonna let someone else get Levitan project? Why would they do that?
I was thinking the same thing. so stupid for them to let fox or nbc pick it up
Wow! Does not ever give their name…you are EXACTLY right. It wasn’t just a Friends episode with identity theft… It was this!
Then again courtenay cox has two “original” pilots in development…a formerly overweight person working in the restaurant biz (hello? Monica’s character). And one about group of “friends” in their 40′s. People pilfer.
@noonies Don’t feel bad. I own all 10 season of ‘Friends’ on DVD. That episode was the first thing I thought of when I read the synopsis of ‘Prairie Dogs’ as well. ‘Malibu Country’ could’ve tried a little harder to separate itself from ‘Reba.’ It’s virtually the same setup. I did love ‘Reba,’ though, and a lot of the same people are involved, so maybe it’ll be worth it.
@noonies… I must have no social life now because I just watched the Friends episode you speak of this past weekend from my DVD boxset. “The One With the Fake Monica” is the first thing that I thought of when I read this description as well!
You’re joking about Dave Stewart from the Eurythmics exec producing Reba’s sitcom, right? You just wanted to see if we were really reading every sentence, right?
I know you should never examine a sitcom premise too closely, but Malibu Country drives me nuts. If the only asset you have is a very expensive piece of real estate (with high taxes and extremely high insurance), then you SELL it, and move somewhere cheaper. My widowed sister with two girls to raise is facing just that situation. So many people in this country are in terrible shape, and it’s Hollywood callousness to throw something so financially absurd in their faces. Given who Reba’s fan base is, I expected more sensitivity.
For all involved, I hope this show’s a monster hit. But I also hope that before it airs, the premise gets tweaked: maybe it’s a guest house she’s been offered rent-free, maybe it’s a long-term house-sitting gig, maybe some devoted fan left it to her in his will, with the provision that she couldn’t sell it. All of these are equally far-fetched, but at least they won’t leave the critics and the audience screaming, “Sell the damn thing!”
It’s entertainment, not a teaching lesson. Shows, especially comedies are meant to entertain viewers, if they want to know what they SHOULD do in a situation like this, watch PBS, also nothing in sitcoms has to make sense.
I’m not asking for the show to turn into a primer on financial planning; I’m asking for the premise to be tweaked just enough that it’s not salt in the wound to a country that’s suffering through a recession and a housing crisis.
As for “nothing in sitcoms has to make sense,” not quite: You’ve got to have a core of something that’s recognizable for comedy to work. What Reba will have is a Mom trying to give her kids good values. I just wish it didn’t have to have such an insulting jumping off point.
Can I point it that it might be the worst time ever to sell a house?
This new Reba show is almost similar in scope to that of her previous sitcom from the WB 10 years ago. It may or may not pan out but it is somewhat fresh in stature. can’t be any worse than what some other networks have on now they label as comedies…look at NBC’s recent junk for example.
Normally I would say neither one of these shitstorms would pass focus groups, but after the Whitney and Are You There, Chelsea, who really knows…!
Both are dreadful and it seems that ABC took pity on Reba and the Fligoes.
Smart idea by ABC to pickup Reba and putting her in a multi-cam which can hopefully air in a block with Last Man Standing.
If ABC was smart they would form a comedy block with Tim Allen, Kristi Alley, Reba, and John Belushi multi cam sitcoms. They could possibly recreate the mid 90′s success they had with Tim Allen, Roseanne. Right now they start with Last Man Standing / Tim Allen and flow into Cougar Town, now that’s a stupid move, both shows are incompatible, and seems like a stop gap until they can get these other shows going.
@isb: If ABC can get John Belushi to star in a sitcom, I’ll be impressed. And just a little spooked.
And it’s Kirstie Alley not Kristi. I know, it was late when you posted!
I too would love to see a John Belushi multicam sitcom, but I bet we get stuck with Jim.
Yes, and don’t look at just the one-liner. Kevin Abbott can run a show and tell a story, so it’ll be a good series if it gets on. Good luck to everyone involved!
Hahahahahaha. I wanted to come up with a witty reply to this but i just can’t. It’s just too ridiculous.
Malibu Country? Makes total sense she loses everything EXCEPT a little house in Malibu. She’s a country gal
She could sell it, it’s MALIBU, and stay in Nashville. What a hum drum show this will be. Last man standing is another non funny show.
Jim Belushi $£#%!!! WHY!!!!!!? Kirstie Alley!!!? Why are they bringing back the band.