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Carlton Cuse On ‘Bates Motel’s Twin Peaks’ & ‘Psycho’ Heritage

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Friday May 10, 2013 @ 10:25pm PDTTags: A&E, Bates Motel, Carlton Cuse, Vera Farmiga

Bates Motel Paley CenterDiane Haithman is a Deadline contributor.

During a Bates Motel panel discussion Friday, Carlton Cuse was blunt about borrowing from a classic. No, not Hitchcock’s Psycho; TV’s Twin Peaks. “We pretty much ripped off Twin Peaks,” joked Cuse, executive producer of the A&E series with Kerry Ehrin, in response to a question about the similarities from panel moderator Shawn Ryan. “If you wanted to get that confession, the answer is yes,” he continued, tongue in cheek. “I loved that show. They only did 30 episodes. Kerry and I thought we’d do the 70 that are missing.” Cuse appeared on the Paley Center panel “Inside Bates Motel: Reimagining A Cinema Icon” with Ehrin, Vera Farmiga (who portrays Norma Bates), Freddie Highmore (Norman), Max Thieriot (Norman’s half-brother Dylan), Nicola Peltz (popular teen Bradley Martin) and Nestor Carbonell (Sheriff Alex Romero). English actress Olivia Cooke, who plays Norman’s friend Emma Decody, who battles cystic fibrosis, was a no-show because of “visa snafus,” Ryan said. Once it was acknowledged that both TV shows are plenty creepy and set in the foggy Northwest, Cuse, Ehrin and the cast spent more time during the freewheeling discussion citing the similarities and differences of Bates Motel from Hitchcock’s iconic 1960 film.

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It’s Official: A&E Picks Up ‘Those Who Kill’ To Series For 2014 Premiere

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Tuesday April 9, 2013 @ 9:23am PDTTags: A&E, Those Who Kill
Nellie Andreeva

Previous: A&E’s Pilot ‘Those Who Kill’ To Get Series Order

James DarcyChloe SevignyA&E Network has … Read More »

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A&E’s Pilot ‘Those Who Kill’ To Get Series Order

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Monday April 1, 2013 @ 10:00am PDTTags: A&E, Chloe Sevigny, Those Who Kill
Nellie Andreeva

I have learned that A&E is finalizing a deal for series order to drama pilot Those Who Kill, starring Chloë Sevigny and James … Read More »

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A&E Gains 1st Amendment Victory In ‘Storage Wars’ Lawsuit

By DOMINIC PATTEN | Tuesday March 12, 2013 @ 3:47pm PDTTags: A&E, Original Productions, Storage Wars

Round 1 of the Storage Wars legal battle looks to have gone to A&E. In a hearing today, a judge threw out the unfair business practices claims of the series former star Dave Hester’s wide-ranging lawsuit against the network and producers of the reality show. LA Superior Court judge Michael Johnson ruled that the claim fell short under California’s anti-SLAPP law. The Judge also sided with the defendants that their First Amendment rights would be violated if he were to agree to Hester’s attorneys’ request for an injunction against Storage Wars for alleged staging of the show.

A&E had requested that the unfair business practices claim be striped from the five-claim suit and their Constitutional rights affirmed in their January 28 response to Hester’s initial December 11 complaint. Johnson told the downtown hearing that in granting the requested injunction he would essentially be telling A&E what they could and could not programming on their network, something he did not agree was right or warranted. Additionally, he demanded more information on the wrongful termination aspect of Hester’s complaint for the suit to progress in the courts. Hester and his lawyer Marty Singer now have 20 days to amend their initial complaint. Read More »

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A&E Says Former ‘Storage Wars’ Star’s Lawsuit “Meritless”

By DOMINIC PATTEN | Monday January 28, 2013 @ 4:44pm PSTTags: A&E, Hollywood lawsuit, Storage Wars

A&E says that it isn’t Storage Wars that’s fake but the lawsuit from Dave Hester. A month and a half after Hester called the hit reality series a staged “fraud on the public and filed suit against … Read More »

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A&E On ‘Bates Motel’ And ‘Psycho’ As Inspiration: TCA

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Friday January 4, 2013 @ 2:54pm PSTTags: A&E, Bates Motel, Psycho, TCA

Diane Haithman is contributing to Deadline’s TCA coverage.

At today’s TCA panel on A&E’s new original scripted drama series Bates Motel, most questions had to do with how the series, from executive producers Carlton Cuse and Kerry Ehrin, would or would not pay homage to the movie Psycho. For the record, the producers say it won’t but various Psycho incarnations are used as inspiration to create an original story.

“We don’t really view any of that as canon,” Cuse said. He called a desire to avoid “homage” a reason why the story has a contemporary setting, rather than being set in the ’60s. He added that the story of how young Bates becomes a murderous adult “will not be what you expect it to be.” (He did confirm that the story would be serialized but “have a beginning, middle and end” and will not focus on a single individual mystery or story point.) Although Cuse rejects the idea of “homage,” he said that show producers used the original plans for the movie Bates Motel that stands on the Universal Studios lot to recreate the motel on location in Vancouver.

Related: A&E Sets Premiere Date For ‘Psycho’ Prequel Series ‘Bates Motel’: TCA

But not surprisingly, a question arose about whether post-Newtown is a bad time to introduce an entertainment series about a disturbed young man with a troubled relationship with his mother who eventually turns violent. Said Ehrin: “I think the only thing anyone thought about that was that it was horrible and sad. This show is not about violence, it’s about a mother and son.” She said that the story is trying to “explain” violence rather than promote it. Read More »

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A&E Orders ‘Rodeo Girls’ Reality Series From Weinstein Co: TCA

By DOMINIC PATTEN | Friday January 4, 2013 @ 12:46pm PSTTags: A&E, TCA, The Weinstein Company

A&E Network is getting into some reality TV steer wrestling and saddle-bronc riding. The network said today it has ordered a series from The Weinstein Company about female rodeo competitors. The series, which has the working title Rodeo … Read More »

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A&E Sets Premiere Date For ‘Psycho’ Prequel Series ‘Bates Motel’: TCA

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Friday January 4, 2013 @ 12:20pm PSTTags: A&E, Bates Motel
Nellie Andreeva

A&E Network‘s new drama series Bates Motel, from executive producers Carlton Cuse (Lost) and Kerry Ehrin (Friday Night Lights), will debut on Monday, March 18 at 10 PM. Bates Motel is a contemporary prequel … Read More »

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‘Pawn Stars’ Former Agents Sue A&E, History Channel & Michael Camacho

By DOMINIC PATTEN | Tuesday December 11, 2012 @ 7:06pm PSTTags: A&E, History Channel, Michael Camacho, Pawn Stars, UTA

UPDATE: In response, Michael Camacho tells Deadline: “I was in charge of unscripted television at UTA when his agency signed several of the principal characters of Pawn Stars. I have never met or spoken to the former agents or the clients and was unaware of any claim.”

The former agents of the stars of History’s Pawn Stars today sued the network, executives Nancy Dubac and Mary Donahue, A&E and former UTA agent Michael Camacho for allegedly poaching their clients. Citing $5 million in lost commissions and damages (read complaint here), Venture IAB claims that it set up Pawn Stars’ Richard B. Harrison, Richard K. Harrison, Richard C. Harrison and Austen Russell on the reality show. The agents say they signed the group as clients in 2007 and again in 2009. Pawn Stars debuted on History on July 19, 2009. It was not long after that things started to go sour between the staff of Las Vegas’ World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop and their agents. “In or about January 2010, the Harrisons and Russell terminated the Agency agreements, and thereafter entered into agency contracts with Michael Camacho and UTA. As a result of the intentional interference with the Agency Agreements, Plaintiff has lost millions of dollars of income,” says the complaint. Venture IAB claims it’s “entitled to 10% of all compensation received by the Harrisons and Russell” from Pawn Stars.

Related: A&E’s ‘Storage Wars’ Sued; Former Cast Member Calls Reality Show A “Fraud”

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A&E’s ‘Storage Wars’ Sued; Former Cast Member Calls Reality Show A “Fraud”

By DOMINIC PATTEN | Tuesday December 11, 2012 @ 11:53am PSTTags: A&E, Original Productions, Storage Wars

Storage Wars star Dave Hester today sued A&E and the producers of the reality show, calling it a staged “fraud on the public”. Represented by attorney Marty Singer in his suit (read it here), Hester is seeking more than $750,000 in damages and fees from the network and Original Productions for their actions and for firing him from the show. “When Plaintiff David Hester (“Hester”) complained to producers that A&E’s fraudulent conduct of salting and staging the storage lockers was possibly illegal, he was fired from the Series. As further evidence of Defendants’ outrageous conduct, they purported to rescind their written exercise of an option retaining Hester’s services this coming season,” says the 14-page complaint, which is suing for wrongful termination, breach of contract, breach of good faith and fair dealing, unfair business practices and declaratory relief.

Reality shows are often accused of sleight-of-hand manipulation of events, contestants and other participants, but Hester’s suit tarnishes Storage Wars almost from top to bottom. “Nearly every aspect of the Series is faked, even down to the plastic surgery that one of the female cast members underwent in order to create more “sex appeal” for the show, the cost of which was paid for by Original,” the suit claims. “Original regularly ‘salts’ the storage lockers that are the subject of the auctions portrayed on the Series with valuable or unusual items to add dramatic effect, even going so far as to stage entire storage units. Original also manipulates the outcome of certain auctions by paying for storage units on behalf of the weaker cast members who lack the both the skill and financial wherewithal to place winning bids,” it adds. Hester is seeking a jury trial.

Related: TLC Admits ‘Breaking Amish’ Bends Truth Read More »

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‘Duck Dynasty’ Season Finale Breaks A&E Ratings Records With 6.5 Million Viewers

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Friday December 7, 2012 @ 8:14am PSTTags: A&E, Duck Dynasty, TV Ratings
Nellie Andreeva

Duck Dynasty Ratings Season 2 FinaleThe ratings ascend of A&E‘s breakout hit Duck Dynasty continues, with the Season 2 finale Wednesday drawing a massive audience of 6.5 million to become A&E’s most-watched telecast ever. The episode also set new A&E records in adults 18-49 (3.9 million), adults 25-54 (3.8 million) and 18-34 (2.0 million). Among adults 18-49 and 18-34, Duck Dynasty was the top show on Wednesday night — cable or broadcast. “Duck Dynasty represents the best of A&E’s unique brand of storytelling, showcasing authentic and engaging characters,” said A&E president Bob DeBitetto. Read More »

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A&E’s ‘Duck Dynasty’ Hits Ratings Record, Beats ‘Nashville’& ‘Chicago Fire’ In 18-49

By DOMINIC PATTEN | Thursday November 15, 2012 @ 3:20pm PSTTags: A&E, Duck Dynasty, TV Ratings

Duck Dynasty hit new ratings highs last night, eclipsing cable and broadcast rivals. The A&E reality series pulled in 4.4 million total viewers for its 10:30 PM airing Wednesday, while its 10 PM show drew 4.3 … Read More »

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Chloë Sevigny To Star In A&E Pilot ‘Those Who Kill’

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Monday October 29, 2012 @ 10:00am PDTTags: A&E, Chloe Sevigny, Those Who Kill
Nellie Andreeva

A&E’s drama pilot Those Who Kill has landed Chloë Sevigny as one of the leads. The project, an adaptation of a Danish crime series based on the books by Elsebeth Egholm, revolves around a police detective and a forensic profiler who possess a deep understanding of the serial killers they hunt. In a rich cable casting deal, Sevigny will play female lead Catherine Jensen, the newly appointed Detective in the Boston Police Department’s Homicide Division who is intelligent, fearless, strong and determined. Joe Carnahan is directing Those Who Kill from a script by Glen Morgan. Imagine Television and Fox 21 produce, with Morgan, Carnahan, Brian Grazer, Francie Calfo, Peter Bose and Jonas Allen executive producing. Read More »

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Michael Bay & James Wong Get Pilot Order At A&E For Supernatural Crime Drama

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Tuesday September 11, 2012 @ 2:00pm PDTTags: A&E, Big Deals TV, Michael Bay
Nellie Andreeva

James WongMichael BayA&E has given a cast-contingent pilot order to Occult, a drama produced by Transformers helmer Michael Bay and written by veteran genre writer, The X-Files alum James Wong. The project, which draws parallels to X-Files and Fringe, centers on a FBI agent who returns from administrative leave after going off the deep end while investigating his wife’s disappearance. Eager to be back on the job, he is paired with an agent with her own complicated backstory who specializes in the occult. Together, they will solve cases for the newly formed occult crimes task force. Wong executive produces with Bay and his partners at Platinum Dunes Andrew Form and Brad Fuller. There is no studio attached yet. Read More »

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A&E’s ‘Gene Simmons Family Jewels’ Cancelled After Seven Seasons

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Wednesday August 15, 2012 @ 4:36pm PDTTags: A&E
Nellie Andreeva

The changing of the guard in A&E’s unscripted lineup continues. Following the cancellation of Dog The Bounty Hunter in May after eight seasons, the cable network is ending another veteran docu-reality series that helped put it on the map, … Read More »

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Joe Carnahan To Direct A&E Pilot ‘Those Who Kill’

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Friday July 27, 2012 @ 1:04pm PDTTags: A&E, Joe Carnahan, Those Who Kill
Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: Feature writer-director Joe Carnahan (The Grey, The A-Team, Smokin’ Aces) has signed on to direct the pilot for A&E’s drama pilot Those Who Kill. Carnahan also will executive produce the pilot, an adaptation of a Danish crime … Read More »

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NBCU’s Stake In A&E Valued At $2.8B For Sale To Hearst, Disney: Report

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Friday July 6, 2012 @ 12:31pm PDTTags: A&E, Disney ABC, Hatfields & McCoys, History

The value of Comcast and NBC Universal‘s 15% stake in A&E Television Networks has risen following the success of the Hatfields & McCoys. When Comcast disclosed in an SEC filing early in May … Read More »

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A&E’s ‘Breakout Kings’ Cancelled After Two Seasons

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Thursday May 17, 2012 @ 3:45pm PDTTags: A&E, Breakout Kings
Nellie Andreeva

Breakout Kings CancelledEXCLUSIVE: I’ve learned that A&E has just cancelled drama Breakout Kings two weeks after the show’s second season ended its run. The series was co-created/executive produced by Matt Olmstead and Nick Santora. Olmstead just signed … Read More »

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A&E Renews ‘Storage Wars’, ‘Storage Wars: Texas’ And ‘Shipping Wars’

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Thursday April 12, 2012 @ 2:41pm PDTTags: A&E, Storage Wars
Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: A&E Network in staying on the “war”path. The cable network has ordered new 26-episode seasons of its flagship series Storage Wars and hot freshmen Storage Wars: Texas and Shipping Wars. All three will launch this summer. The season 2 premiere of Storage Wars last summer became the A&E’s most watched series telecast of all time with 5.1 million total viewers and the highest-rated in adults 18-49 and 25-54 with 2.9 million viewers in each demo. The series’ second season averaged 4.7 million total viewers, up 68% from Season 1, with Storage Wars ranking as A&E’s No.1 series of all time and the No. 3 non-fiction show on cable among adults 25-54.  Spinoff Storage Wars: Texas premiered this past December with 4.1 million total viewers and 2.1 million adults 25-54 for the most-watched original series launch in the network’s history in both categories. A month later, Shipping Wars debuted to solid 3 million total viewers. Read More »

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