Nellie Andreeva

Writer-producer Michael Oates Palmer (The West Wing) has signed a two-year overall deal with Universal Television. The pact, which starts in June, comes on the heels of Palmer developing two hourlong projects at Universal TV’s sister network NBC — American Exile, a contemporary take on the Casablanca love triangle, with McG’s Wonderland and Warner Bros. TV, and The Hurt, a medical drama with the Shepherd-Robin Co and WBTV. The latter was originally set up at FX. Additionally, ICM-repped Palmer recently turned in his script for Skinny Dip, a half-hour adaptation of Carl Hiaasen’s novel for HBO with Michael Keaton attached to produce and potentially star. Palmer’s series credits also include AMC’s Rubicon and ABC’s Cupid. This is the latest of a slew of overall deals at Universal TV, which has been aggressively beefing up its talent roster this spring, heading into next development season.

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