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Wanda Sykes Signs First-Look Deal With NBC For Unscripted Series

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Thursday April 18, 2013 @ 11:00am PDTTags: Big Deals TV, Page Hurwitz, Universal Television, Wanda Sykes
Nellie Andreeva

Wanda Sykes and Page Hurwitz‘s Push It Prods. has signed a first-look deal with Universal TV’s Alternative Studio to develop and produce non-scripted projects. “We are very excited to be working with NBCUniversal,” said Hurwitz. Added Sykes, “Wait, I thought we were getting The Tonight Show.” Joking aside, Sykes would actually be qualified for that — she hosted and executive produced her own late-night talk show on Fox. She also co-created/executive produced and toplined the Fox comedy series Wanda At Large. Sykes, repped by WME and attorney Roger Pliakas, is among the top stand-up comedians, with her HBO specials earning multiple Emmy nominations. (She has won three sports Emmys for her work on Inside The NFL.) Hurwitz, repped by WME and attorney Marc Golden, has a history with NBC — she served as an executive producer on two NBC reality series featuring stand-up comedians, Last Comic Standing and Jerry Seinfeld’s The Marriage Ref. She also executive produced Rosie O’Donnell’s OWN daily talk show.

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Lou Wallach Inks Overall Deal With Universal Television’s Alternative Studio

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Thursday April 4, 2013 @ 3:55pm PDTTags: Lou Wallach, Universal Television
Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: Comedy Central executive-turned-producer Lou Wallach has signed an overall deal with Universal TV’s Alternative Studio. Under the pact, Wallach will develop, produce and consult on comedies of different formats, primarily for NBC but also possibly for other … Read More »

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Universal TV Inks Overall Deal With Producers Brian Bradley & Steven Cragg

By DOMINIC PATTEN | Monday March 25, 2013 @ 12:02pm PDTTags: Big Deals TV, Brian Bradley, Steven Cragg, Universal Television

Universal Television has signed an overall deal with Steve Cragg and Brian Bradley, the studio announced today. The two-year agreement between the producers and … Read More »

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Josh Bycel & Jonathan Fener Ink Overall Deal With Uni TV, Join ‘Assistance’ As EPs

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Wednesday March 6, 2013 @ 12:00pm PSTTags: Assistance, Jonathan Fener, Josh Bycel, Universal Television
Nellie Andreeva

Comedy writer-producers Josh Bycel and Jonathan Fener have closed an overall deal at Universal Television. Under the two-year pact,  the duo is joining the studio’s NBC comedy pilot Assistance as executive producers. They also will develop new projects. “We’ve been longtime fans of Bycel and Fener and are happy to have them as part of the Universal TV family,” said Universal TV EVP Bela Bajaria,. “They are both strong showrunners and developers, individually, as well as a team.” UTA-repped Bycel and Fener most recently worked on ABC’s Happy Endings, Bycel as executive producer and Fener as co-executive producers. The two also worked together as co-executive producers on Fox’s American Dad. Read More »

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Jack Burditt Signs Overall Deal With Universal TV

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Monday December 17, 2012 @ 4:57pm PSTTags: 30 Rock, Big Deals TV, Jack Burditt, Universal Television
Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: Universal Television has secured another key member of departing 30 Rock. Series executive producer Jack Burditt has signed a two-year overall deal with the studio behind the Emmy-winning NBC comedy, which ends its seven-season run January 31. Burditt joins 30 Rock creator/star/executive producer Tina Fey and star/producer Alec Baldwin, who also recently signed deals with Universal TV to remain at the studio following 30 Rock‘s end. “We are thrilled to continue our relationship at the studio with Jack after his invaluable contribution to 30 Rock,” Uni TV’s EVP Bela Bajaria said. “He’s a great showrunner and is a welcome addition to our roster.” Read More »

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Eva Longoria Signs First-Look Development Deal With Universal TV

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Thursday October 25, 2012 @ 11:20am PDTTags: Big Deals TV, Eva Longoria, Universal Television
Nellie Andreeva

On the heels of Eva Longoria‘s collaboration with NBC and Universal Television on the upcoming dating reality series Ready For Love, the actress-producer has signed a first-look development deal with Universal TV for her UnbeliEVAble Entertainment. Under the pact, the Desperate Housewives alumna will serve as a non-writing executive producer on scripted and unscripted projects for the studio. Read More »

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ABC Buys Drama From ‘Revenge’ Writers, Comedy From Broken Lizard Duo Via Uni TV

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Tuesday October 16, 2012 @ 3:38pm PDTTags: ABC, Universal Television
Nellie Andreeva

NBC-affiliated Universal Television has set up two more projects at an outside network, ABC: drama Beneath from writers Dan Dworkin and Jay Beattie (The Event) and Uni TV-based producer Peter Traugott; and the comedy High Maintenance, from writers-actors Kevin Heffernan and Steve Lemme, who are also attached to co-star, and 3 Arts.

Beneath is described as a supernatural drama about the unusual changes that befall a town after an energy company comes drilling for natural gas and unleashes something far more powerful. ICM Partners-repped Dworkin and Beattie are writing the script and will executive produce with Traugott and Rachel Kaplan. Beneath expands Dworkin and Beattie’s relationship with ABC — the two serve as consulting producers on the network’s soap Revenge. It also marks Traugott’s first sale outside of NBC since he joined Uni TV last year and his return to ABC, where he did a lot of business as TV president of ABC Studios-based Brillstein Entertainment.

High Maintenance is based on Lemme’s college job experience as an elevator man in a luxury NYC highrise. Heffernan and Lemme, members of the Broken Lizard comedy filmmaking group behind such movies as Super Troopers and Beerfest, will write and act in the show, which centers on the staff at an upscale Manhattan apartment building. The duo, repped by UTA, 3 Arts and attorney Lev Ginsburg, will executive produce with 3 Arts. Heffernan & Lemme’s stand-up special Fat Man Little Boy will be released by Netflix later this year. Read More »

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Ricky Martin Signs Talent Holding Deal With Universal Television To Topline TV Series

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Monday July 30, 2012 @ 10:37am PDTTags: Big Deals TV, Universal Television
Nellie Andreeva

Ricky Martin NBCUniversal Television has signed a talent holding deal with singer Ricky Martin to develop and star in his first network television series as well as TV specials. “Ricky is an iconic superstar who is as talented … Read More »

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Universal Television Signs Deal With Comic Publishers Oni Press & Closed On Mondays

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Monday July 9, 2012 @ 12:42pm PDTTags: Big Deals TV, Universal Television

Universal TV Oni PressEXCLUSIVE: Universal Television today entered into a first-look deal with Oni Press and Closed On Mondays. It’s a multiyear agreement between the indie comic and graphic novel publishers and Universal TV. “Oni and Closed … Read More »

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Jason Katims Inks New Deal With Universal TV, Hires Michelle Lee As Development Exec

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Friday June 29, 2012 @ 5:31pm PDTTags: Big Deals TV, Jason Katims, Universal Television
Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: Jason Katims, the Emmy-winning writer-executive producer behind Friday Night Lights and Parenthood, has extended his relationship with the studio behind both series, Universal Television, in a new overall deal. Under the two-year pact, Katims will continue as … Read More »

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Veteran Showtime Executive Pearlena Igbokwe Eyes Universal TV Position

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Monday June 25, 2012 @ 11:24am PDTTags: NBC, Pearlena Igbokwe, Showtime, Universal Television
Nellie Andreeva

Pearlena Igbokwe Universal TelevisionEXCLUSIVE: Showtime‘s SVP Programming Pearlena Igbokwe may reunite with her former Showtime boss Bob Greenblatt at NBC. I’ve learned that Igbokwe is being considered for a new head of current programming position at Universal Television. The studio had been mulling the addition of a current executive in light of its increased volume: Uni TV is adding eight new series heading into next season on top of its returning ones.

Igbokwe, a beloved executive at Showtime, just left the pay cable network after 20 years as her contract was up this month. She was replaced by Imagine TV veteran Robin Gurney, who recently left the production company and is reuniting with her former Imagine TV boss David Nevins at Showtime. I hear that, after spending virtually her entire career at Showtime, Igbokwe had been looking for new opportunities. “It was very bittersweet for her to leave and plenty of tears were shed on her last day,” one insider said. “Pearlena is a wonderful executive, and equally important, she is a high-quality, kind person filled with integrity.” Read More »

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DJ Nash Inks Overall Deal With Universal TV, Joins ‘Up All Night’ As Exec Producer

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Wednesday May 30, 2012 @ 2:12pm PDTTags: Big Deals TV, Universal Television, Up All Night
Nellie Andreeva

DJ Nash Universal TVEXCLUSIVE: Comedy writer-producer DJ Nash has signed an overall deal with Universal TV. Under the two-year pact, Nash will develop new projects and serve as an executive producer on the studio’s Up All Night, working alongside … Read More »

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Liz Brixius Signs Deal With Universal TV

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Tuesday April 24, 2012 @ 3:39pm PDTTags: Big Deals TV, Liz Brixius, Nurse Jackie, Universal Television
Nellie Andreeva

Liz Brixius Nurse JackieEXCLUSIVE: Nurse Jackie co-creator Liz Brixius has signed an overall deal with Universal Television. The rich two-year pact reunites Brixius with former Showtime entertainment president Bob Greenblatt, who developed and put Nurse Jackie on the air … Read More »

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Comedy Writer Matt Hubbard Signs Overall Deal With Universal Television

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Monday April 23, 2012 @ 10:33am PDTTags: Big Deals TV, Universal Television
Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: Emmy-winning comedy writer-producer Matt Hubbard (30 Rock) has closed an overall deal with Universal Television. Under the two-year pact, he will develop and supervise new projects for the studio. “Matt is a unique, funny and sophisticated writer,” Universal TV … Read More »

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Writer Michael Oates Palmer Signs Overall Deal With Universal Television

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Thursday April 19, 2012 @ 5:08pm PDTTags: Big Deals TV, Universal Television
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 … Read More »

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Universal Television Ramps Up Talent Roster As Part Of Rebuilding Effort

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Tuesday March 27, 2012 @ 1:55pm PDTTags: Big Deals TV, Universal Television
Nellie Andreeva

Universal Television has closed about a half-dozen overall deals over the past few weeks, with several more in the works. The completed pacts include renewals for Peter Berg & Sarah Aubrey’s production company Film 44 and writers Alexandra Cunningham and … Read More »

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Writer-Producer Michael Pennie Signs Deal With Universal TV

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Tuesday March 27, 2012 @ 10:37am PDTTags: Big Deals TV, CAA, Raising Hope, Universal Television
Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: Comedy writer-producer Michael Pennie has signed a new two-year overall deal with Universal Television. Pennie first inked a deal at the studio (then UMS) in 2010 when he was coming off a stint as a co-executive producer on the … Read More »

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‘Parenthood’ Co-Executive Producer Sarah Watson Inks Overall Deal With Universal TV

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Monday March 26, 2012 @ 5:19pm PDTTags: Big Deals TV, Universal Television
Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: Parenthood Co-Executive Producer Sarah Watson has signed a two-year overall deal with Universal Television, the studio behind the NBC dramedy. This marks the first overall pact for Watson, who has been on Parenthood since day one, rising through the … Read More »

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‘Luther’ Creator Neil Cross Signs Overall Deal With Universal Television

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Monday March 26, 2012 @ 2:25pm PDTTags: Big Deals TV, Luther, Neil Cross, Universal Television
Nellie Andreeva

Neil Cross LutherEXCLUSIVE: British novelist-screenwriter Neil Cross, creator of the BBC series Luther, is coming to American television. In his first formal U.S. TV pact, Cross has signed a two-year overall deal with Universal Television to develop new … Read More »

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