Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: E! Entertainment, which has been ramping up its first scripted development slate, has bought an hourlong project from Hollywood PR veteran Howard Bragman. Inspired by Bragman’s real-life experiences, the untitled project centers on 30-years-old Jake Levy, a rising star publicist who, after hitting his peak at his NYC firm, makes a drastic move and launches out onto his own. Bragman co-founded leading entertainment PR agency Bragman Nyman Cafarelli in 1989. Sixteen years later, following BNC’s acquisition by Interpublic Group, Bragman left to launch his own boutique PR firm Fifteen Minutes.

Matthew Lieberman (In Plain Sight) will write the script for the untitled Howard Bragman project, now in development. Bragman and Lieberman will executive produce with Prospect Park’s Josh Barry and Lee Kernis of Brillstein Entertainment Partners, which reps Bragman. Universal Cable Prods is producing in its first collaboration with new NBCUniversal corporate sibling E!.

The deal for the dramedy comes on the heels of E! unveiling its first slate of scripted projects at its upfront presentation in April. The slate features hourlong projects from John Wells, Kevin Spacey, Michael De Luca, Phillip Noyce, Emily Whitesell and Josh Reims. It is part of the channel’s strategy of introducing scripted programming to the the channel — known for its celebrity news and reality programs — under new boss Bonnie Hammer.

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