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2ND UPDATE: Charlie Sheen Fired Selma Blair From ‘Anger Management’ Via Text, Show To Continue Production As Scheduled

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Tuesday June 18, 2013 @ 6:10pm PDTTags: Anger Management, Charlie Sheen, FX, Selma Blair
Nellie Andreeva

2ND UPDATE 6:10 PM: I’ve learned more details about Selma Blair‘s shocking dismissal from Anger Management. I hear Charlie Sheen “fired” her via text, in which he called the actress a “c–t”. And it was not the only abusive, expletives-filled text she had received from Sheen, who also serves as an executive producer on Anger Management. I also hear that Blair was not the only memCharlie Sheen Selma Blair Anger Management Feudber of the show’s cast and crew that was frustrated by Sheen’s work habits as I hear they would often sit and wait for hours for him to show up for work. Although it was Blair voicing her concerns that got Sheen to flip out and get her sacked. I hear Blair’s role as Charlie’s therapist will not be recast. Probably not coincidentally, I hear the series just sent out a notice about a new female regular who is expected to fill the void left by Blair. The producers likely will use Blair’s exit for another creative makeover following the recent tweaking following Anger Management‘s sagging ratings. But, while the show took an unplanned hiatus for the recent creative retool, it is now expected to stay in production as scheduled, with the writers making changes prompted by Blair’s departure on the fly. Anger Management is roughly halfway through its 100-episode order from FX. As for Blair, word is that she is being paid per her contract and no legal action is in the cards, at least not for now.

Related: FX Networks Brass Talk FX, FXX & FXM Synergy, FXNow, ‘Anger Management’

UPDATE TUESDAY 5:15 PM: What Charlie Sheen wants, he gets. After mounting a campaign to get his co-star on the FX comedy series Selma Blair fired over alleged comments questioning his work ethic, it’s mission accomplished for Sheen, who reportedly threatened to quit the show if Blair stayed. Anger Management producer Lionsgate just issued a statement, making Blair’s dismissal from the show official. “We are confirming that Selma Blair will not be returning to Anger Management, and we wish her the very best.”

Related: Charlie Sheen Hits Pause On Representation Relationship With Manager Mark Burg

PREVIOUS MONDAY PM:  The producers of FX‘s Anger Management and reps for Selma Blair are hunkered down today trying to patch things up following a scathing TMZ report posted in the middle of the night that series star and executive producer Charlie Sheen was dead set on firing his co-star over alleged complaints about Sheen she had made to other Anger Management producers. There is no official word on Blair’s status on the show with everyone involved keeping mum, but in a recent tweet posted on the show’s first day back from a monthlong hiatus for creative tweaking in light of the recent ratings slump, Blair was more than complimentary of Sheen: “Thanks for a great day back . You looked pretty darn handsome.” READ MORE »

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Randall Einhorn To Direct FX’s Tracy Morgan Comedy Pilot ‘Death Pact’

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Tuesday June 18, 2013 @ 10:30am PDTTags: Death Pact, FX, Randall Einhorn, Tracy Morgan
Nellie Andreeva

Wilfred director/executive producer Randall Einhorn, who helmed the pilot for the quirky FX comedy series, has signed on to direct another FX comedy pilot, Death Pact, starring Tracy Morgan. From writer-creators Rob Long … Read More »

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John Hurt To Co-Star In FX Pilot ‘The Strain’

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Monday June 17, 2013 @ 4:06pm PDTTags: Carlton Cuse, FX, Guillermo Del Toro, John Hurt, The Strain
Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: Oscar-nominated actor John Hurt has been tapped as the co-lead opposite Corey Stoll and Mia Maestro in FX‘s high-profile drama pilot The Strain, from Guillermo del Toro and Carlton Cuse, which is being eyed for a 13-episode pickup. The high-concept thriller, directed by del Toro  from a script he co-wrote with Chuck Hogan based on their vampire novel trilogy, tells the story of Dr. Ephraim Goodweather (Stoll), the head of the Centers for Disease Control Canary Team in New York City. He and his team are called upon to investigate a mysterious viral outbreak with hallmarks of an ancient and evil strain of vampirism. Hurt, who first worked with del Toro in his 2004 feature Hellboy, will portray Professor Abraham Setrakian, a holocaust survivor who immigrated to the U.S. after World War II and now runs a pawn shop in Spanish Harlem. As the outbreak spreads, he may be the only one with answers — if anyone will listen. Read More »

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FX Pilot Castings: Lauren Lee Smith In ‘The Strain’; Brett Gelman, Jenny Slate In Gurland

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Wednesday June 12, 2013 @ 4:01pm PDTTags: Andrew Gurland, FX, The Strain
Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: CSI alumna Lauren Lee Smith has landed a regular role in FX‘s high-profile drama pilot The Strain, from Guillermo del Toro and Carlton Cuse, which is being eyed for a 13-episode pickup. The … Read More »

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David Yates To Direct FX Drama Pilot ‘Tyrant’

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Wednesday June 12, 2013 @ 3:30pm PDTTags: Big Deals TV, David Yates, FX, Tyrant
Nellie Andreeva

David Yates, director of the last four Harry Potter movies, has signed on to helm high-profile FX drama pilot Tyrant, from Homeland executive producers Howard Gordon and Gideon Raff and Six Feet Under alum Craig … Read More »

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2013 Critics’ Choice TV Awards: ‘Big Bang Theory,’ ‘Behind The Candelabra,’ ‘American Horror Story,’ ‘Breaking Bad’

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Monday June 10, 2013 @ 10:30pm PDTTags: Critics' Choice Awards, Critics' Choice Awards 2013, FX, HBO

The third annual Critics’ Choice Television Awards were doled out tonight by the Broadcast Television Journalists Association at the Beverly Hilton, hosted by Parks & Recreation‘s Retta. HBO nabbed 4 wins including double honors for Best Movie/Miniseries Behind The Candelabra and star Michael Douglas, while FX notched quadruple wins including two acting awards for American Horror Story: Asylum‘s Zachary Quinto and Sarah Paulson and AMC‘s Breaking Bad nabbed Best Drama and Best Actor for Bryan Cranston. HBO’s Game Of Thrones shared Best Drama honors with Breaking Bad in one of the night’s three ties. Full list of winners: Read More »

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Produced By Conference: Kurt Sutter Updates ‘Sons Of Anarchy’ Prequel Status

By DOMINIC PATTEN | Saturday June 8, 2013 @ 3:37pm PDTTags: FX, Kurt Sutter, Produced By Conference, Sons of Anarchy

Rarely at a loss for words, Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter has spoken before about doing a prequel to the FX series. Today at the Produced By conference, he told me a little bit more about where things stand with the possible look at the formation of SAMCRO. Sons Of Anarchy prequel“Right now, it is just conversations,” Sutter said after appearing on the Hit The Ground Showrunning panel. Confirming that the series, if it happened, would be with SOA’s current home of FX, Sutter said that the show wouldn’t be coming for a few years. “I want to let the property rest for a year or so after Sons is over before jumping in,” he noted. SOA is heading into its sixth season with the expectation that the biker club series will go for a least one more cycle after that. Beyond that timeline, a lot about the prequel is still up in the air. “I don’t know if it will be a series or a limited series of say 10 to 13 episodes,” Sutter said. “I don’t want to do it as a movie – tonally, I don’t see it as a movie.” Read More »

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FX Drops ‘Brand X With Russell Brand’, Picks Up Live-Action Project With Brand

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Thursday June 6, 2013 @ 11:00am PDTTags: Brand X With Russell Brand, FX, John Landgraf
Nellie Andreeva

FX won’t be ordering more episodes of Brand X With Russell Brand, FX Networks CEO John Landgraf said at a press conference today. The network will stay in business with the actor, picking up a … Read More »

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John Landgraf Upped To CEO Of FX Networks & FX Prods.

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Tuesday June 4, 2013 @ 12:00pm PDTTags: FX, John Landgraf
Nellie Andreeva

FX Networks and FX Prods. President and General Manager John Landgraf has been promoted to CEO. I hear as part of the promotion, Landgraf has signed a new multi-year contract to remain at the helm of the two, soon to be three FX-branded networks as well as sibling FX Prods., which he launched. “John’s integrity, creativity and leadership have made FX a home for fearless writers, actors and directors,” said Peter Rice, Chairman and CEO, Fox Networks Group, to whom Landgraf will continue to report. “He has also formed a close-knit team of exceptional executives who are together enjoying an amazing run of creative and business success.” As CEO, Landgraf will have oversight over all aspects of entertainment and business operations for FX Networks, which is comprised of FX, FXM (formerly Fox Movie Channel), the soon-to-launch comedy focused FXX, as well as FX Prods. In addition to FX Networks and FXP, Landgraf will be responsible for FX Networks’ digital video-on-demand platform, FXNOW. Read More »

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Judy Greer To Star In FX’s Andrew Gurland Comedy Pilot

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Friday May 31, 2013 @ 10:15am PDTTags: Andrew Gurland, FX, Judy Greer
Nellie Andreeva

Judy Greer is set as the female lead opposite Nat Faxon in FX‘s untitled Andrew Gurland comedy pilot. The half-hour comedy is about the lengths to which two best friends are willing to go to … Read More »

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Tracy Morgan To Star In FX Comedy Pilot

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Thursday May 30, 2013 @ 1:27pm PDTTags: Death Pact, FX, Tracy Morgan
Nellie Andreeva

Tracy Morgan FX Comedy Pilot StarEXCLUSIVE: After his scene-stealing turn on 30 Rock, the NBC series’ co-star Tracy Morgan is toplining his own single-camera comedy project, this time on cable. FX has given a pilot order to Death Pact, from writer-creators Rob Long (Cheers) and Tad Safran (The Long Weekend) and producers Eric and Kim Tannenbaum. In Death Pact, Morgan stars as a formerly lazy, pot-dealing assistant high school coach who returns to his hometown as a decorated war hero. He runs across three down-on-their-luck friends and former students and sucks them into his new radical self-help philosophy, which involves harsh consequences for failure. The pilot, produced by FX Prods, will film this summer in New York or New Jersey. “Needless to say anything starring Tracy Morgan could be off-the-charts hilarious and we’re betting this one is,” said FX’s EVP Original Programming Nick Grad. “Rob Long, Tad Safran, Eric Tannenbaum and Kim Tannenbaum have delivered a terrific starring vehicle for Tracy. We look forward to casting the other three co-stars and getting started with production. This is going to be fun.”

The edgy FX should be a suitable home for Morgan’s sensibility, as showcased in his not-always politically correct stand-up. At the cable network, he would join other stand-up comedians including most notably Louis CK. Since 30 Rock ended its run in January, Morgan has been focusing on his stand-up with his international Excuse My French tour. Before his seven-season stint on 30 Rock, which earned him an Emmy nomination, Morgan spent seven years on Saturday Night Live. FX Networks is ramping up comedy development and production as the company is preparing for the launch comedy-focused channel FXX, which will join flagship FX. Read More »

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Adam Bernstein To Direct FX’s ‘Fargo’

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Wednesday May 29, 2013 @ 11:00am PDTTags: Adam Bernstein, Fargo, FX
Nellie Andreeva

Emmy-winning veteran TV helmer Adam Bernstein (30 Rock, Breaking Bad) has signed on to direct the premiere hour of FX’s first limited series Fargo, executive produced by Joel and Ethan Coen. A 10-episode limited series inspired … Read More »

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FX Drama ‘The Bridge’ Gets Premiere Date

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Thursday May 23, 2013 @ 12:19pm PDTTags: FX, The Bridge
Nellie Andreeva

FX‘s newest original drama series The Bridge will debut on Wednesday, July 10 at 10 PM. Based on the European series Bron, which was set on the border of Denmark and Sweden, The Bridge is a crime … Read More »

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Billy Crystal-Starring Comedy From Matt Nix & Larry Charles Lands At FX With Pilot Order

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Wednesday May 22, 2013 @ 11:30am PDTTags: Big Deals TV, Billy Crystal, FX, Larry Charles, Matt Nix, The Comedians
Nellie Andreeva

The hot cable comedy project, which has Billy Crystal attached to star, co-write and executive produce, Burn Notice creator Matt Nix co-writing/executive producing and Curb Your Enthusiasm and Borat‘s Larry Charles directing/co-writing and executive producing, has been picked up by FX with a pilot order. Titled The Comedians, the single-camera comedy, which was taken out earlier this month, is produced by Fox TV Studios, marking the first FX pilot to not come out of the in-house FX Prods.

In The Comedians, Crystal plays a superstar veteran comedian who is reluctantly paired with a younger, edgier comedian for a late-night comedy sketch show. It is based on the 2004 Swedish series Ulveson And Herngren, starring comedians Felix Herngren and Johan Ulveson as they put together a sketch program. Charles is set to direct the pilot, which is said to be in the documentary style he perfected on another cable comedy starring a veteran stand-up comedian, HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm. Charles, Nix and Crystal are co-writing with comedy writer-producer Ben Wexler, who previously worked with Nix on Nix’s Fox dramedy The Good Guys. The four executive produce with Nix’s manager, producer Mikkel Bondesen and Henrik Bastin, both of Fabrik Entertainment (formerly Fuse), which, like Nix, is under a deal at FtvS. Carl Molinder and John Nordling of Stockholm-based Efti AB, which is behind the original series, also executive produce. Fabrik’s Kristen Campo co-exec produces. Read More »

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HBO, FX Lead Critics’ Choice TV Awards — But Where Are ‘Mad Men’, ‘Modern Family’?

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Wednesday May 22, 2013 @ 6:00am PDTTags: Critics' Choice Television Awards, FX, HBO, The Big Bang Theory

Last year, the Broadcast Television Journalists Association might have helped fuel Homeland‘s surprise Emmy win by awarding its top drama prize to the then-rookie Showtime series. But with today’s announcement of nominees for its 3rd annual Critics’ Choice TV Awards, the group might make more noise with what it spurned than what it honored. HBO and FX lead the network tally with 21 and 19 noms, respectively, and CBS’ The Big Bang Theory and FX’s American Horror Story each drew six to top all programs. However, a look at the Best Comedy and Best Drama races reveal some surprising omissions. Missing from the BJTA’s comedy series hopefuls are three-time defending Emmy champ Modern Family (supporting actress Sarah Hyland is the show’s lone nominee), along with recently wrapped perennial 30 Rock and, perhaps most glaringly, HBO’s hipster darling Girls. And conspicuously absent from the drama series combatants is four-time Emmy winner Mad Men, which also earned only a single nom, for lead actress Elizabeth Moss.

Related: EMMYS: Why The TV Academy Reversed Its Decision On Merging Longform Categories

Instead, vying for the Critics’ Choice Award for best drama are Homeland, HBO’s Game Of Thrones, PBS’ Downtown Abbey, CBS’ The Good Wife and AMC’s Breaking Bad — all of which also were nominated in the category last year — along with FX’s freshman The Americans. Up for best comedy are Modern Family‘s Wednesday night companion The Middle, landing its first major awards recognition, as well as Big Bang Theory, FX’s Louie, Fox’s New Girl, NBC’s Parks and Recreation and HBO Veep. (No sign of last year’s winner Community, led by new showrunners Moses Port and David Guarascio.) Netflix’s House Of Cards made an entrance into the awards circles with two acting noms, including one for star Kevin Spacey.

The awards will be handed out June 10 at the Beverly Hilton — not coincidentally during Emmy voting season. Parks and Rec‘s Retta will host. See the complete list of nominees, along with the breakdown of noms by show and network, after the jump: Read More »

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FX Ups Julie Piepenkotter To EVP Research, FX Networks

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Tuesday May 21, 2013 @ 2:15pm PDTTags: FX, Julie Piepenkotter

LOS ANGELES, May 21, 2013 – Veteran research executive Julie Piepenkotter has been promoted to Executive Vice President of Research for FX Networks, it was announced today by FX Networks President and General Manager John Landgraf, to

… Read More »

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Ang Lee Departs FX Pilot ‘Tyrant’

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Monday May 20, 2013 @ 4:15pm PDTTags: Ang Lee, FX, Tyrant
Nellie Andreeva

UPDATE 4:15 PM: Here is Ang Lee’s statement about his departure from Tyrant.

It is with disappointment that I must confirm I have withdrawn from my commitment to direct the upcoming FX pilot Tyrant.

It is one of

… Read More »

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Mia Maestro Set As Female Lead In FX Pilot ‘The Strain’

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Monday May 20, 2013 @ 3:45pm PDTTags: FX, Mia Maestro, The Strain
Nellie Andreeva

Breaking Dawn‘s Mia Maestro is set to star opposite Corey Stoll in FX‘s high-profile drama project The Strain, from filmmaker Guillermo del Toro and veteran showrunner Carlton Cuse. The Strain, an adaptation of del Toro’s vampire novel trilogy, formally has a pilot order, but is being eyed for a 13-episode series pickup. The Strain is a high-concept thriller that tells the story of Dr. Ephraim Goodweather (Stoll), the head of the Centers for Disease Control Canary Team in New York City. He and his team are called upon to investigate a mysterious viral outbreak with hallmarks of an ancient and evil strain of vampirism. Actress-singer Maestro, repped by ICM Partners and 3 Arts, plays Dr. Nora Martinez, who works so closely with Ephraim, they finish each other’s sentences and stumble into an affair. A brilliant biochemist, Martinez cares more about people than the diseases that threaten them, but she will soon be forced to embrace a new identity as a ruthless warrior. Read More »

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Big Box Office Means Big Win For FX

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Tuesday May 7, 2013 @ 1:56pm PDTTags: FX, Iron Man 3

The huge opening for Iron Man 3 over the weekend gives FX Networks 10 titles that have been the highest-grossing pics at the U.S. box office during the first 18 weeks of 2013. FX has commercial TV premiere … Read More »

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