The WB Network has had a change of heart about another midseason series order. The network has withdrawn its six-episode order for a comedy series from Adam Sandler and Jack Giarraputo's Happy Madison Prods. and Sony Pictures TV about a 19-year-old man who finds himself elected mayor of a small town in New Hampshire. Instead, the WB has given Happy Madison and SPT a sizable commitment for a blind put pilot for a new project. Sources said the decision to scrap the project, tentatively dubbed The Mayor, was made by mutual agreement of the principals at Happy Madison, SPT and the network. Preproduction had begun on the show, which was given a midseason order when the WB announced its fall lineup in May, but sources said the network, studio and Happy Madison were unhappy with the creative direction of the series. The WB's reversal on The Mayor follows the decision to table the midseason order for the planned spinoff of its hit dramedy Gilmore Girls. That untitled project was scuttled by budgetary issues when the high cost of shooting the show on location in Venice, Calif. -- as intended by creator Amy Sherman-Palladino -- became prohibitive. Meanwhile, the network picked up Spelling TV's drama Summerland as a summer series with a 13-episode order. The Mayor was one of the first big pilot commitments the WB made last year (HR 10/4). The pilot was penned by Adam Resnick, who was to executive produce the series with Giarraputo and Doug Robinson. Newcomer Ben Feldman had been cast as the lead.
- 9/24/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The WB Network has officially picked up Spelling Television's drama Summerland for midseason. The project starring Lori Loughlin has received a 12-episode order, which will bring the total number of episodes produced to 13, including the pilot. The deal on Summerland came after almost two months of negotiations between the WB and the Paramount-based Spelling. Those negotiations started after the network and Warner Bros. Television decided to shelve its planned Gilmore Girls spinoff in June because of high production costs (HR 7/7). Based on an idea by Loughlin, Summerland centers on a single career woman and her friends who become a surrogate family to her sister's three kids after the sister and her husband are killed. The series is executive produced by Stephen Tolkin, Aaron Spelling, E. Duke Vincent and Brad Isaacs. Loughlin serves as a producer.
- 8/17/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.