TNT Plans Dramatic Increase in Original Programmin

[staypuftman2004]

TNT Plans Dramatic Increase in Original Programming, Setting the Stage for a Major Primetime Shift

TNT Has 14 Series in the Works from Top Talent, Including Ridley Scott, Mark Burnett, Steven Bochco, Robert Redford and John Sacret Young

TNT is planning a significant boost in original programming, with 14 series in development and a plan to change most of the network's weekday, primetime schedule to originals by 2010. TNT's aggressive plan includes a mixture of scripted dramas, unscripted programs and the network's award-winning telecasts of the NBA. Under the new strategy, TNT will continue to showcase popular movies on Friday nights and weekends.

"This dramatic expansion of our original programming slate is an important and exciting step in the evolution of our network," said Michael Wright, senior vice president in charge of the Content Creation Group for TNT and sister networks TBS and TCM. "We've had great results with our early efforts because of the amazingly talented people who have been bringing their best work to us. We look forward to continuing that success. We're especially excited to add unscripted series to our lineup, which opens a whole new world of storytelling opportunities."

TNT has several new series in development. They join two recently greenlit projects RAISING THE BAR (working title), from executive producer Steven Bochco (NYPD Blue), and LEVERAGE, from executive producer Dean Devlin (Independence Day). Both projects are expected to premiere in TNT's lineup later this year. TNT is also considering TRUTH IN ADVERTISING, from Greer Shephard and Michael M. Robin, executive producers of THE CLOSER.

Scripted series in development include THE GENIE CHRONICLES, a fantasy-adventure from DreamWorks Television, producers of TNT's Into the West; GENERATIONS, a family drama from executive producer Robert Redford and writer/executive producer John Sacret Young (The West Wing, China Beach); TECHNOPHOBIA, from executive producer Mark Frost (Twin Peaks); an untitled project from the Hoosiers team of Angelo Pizzo and David Anspaugh; and an untitled drama based on characters created by crime novelist Tess Gerritsen.

For the first time, TNT is also branching into unscripted series, with several projects in development from such talents as Ridley Scott, Tony Scott, Mark Burnett, Mark Wolper, former NBA star Kenny Smith and Gay Rosenthal.

TNT's current original programming successes include ad-supported cable's #1 series of all time, THE CLOSER, starring Golden Globe winner Kyra Sedgwick. That series will return for its fourth season this summer. The network's highly successful SAVING GRACE, featuring Oscar winner Holly Hunter, also will return for a second season this summer. SAVING GRACE premiered in 2007, claiming ad-supported cable's largest audience of the year for a new series launch.

The following is a slate of TNT's new projects in production or development:

Greenlit for Production

RAISING THE BAR (working title)

TNT has ordered 10 episodes of this series from the mastermind of legal dramas, Emmy winner Steven Bochco. The series follows the lives and cases of young lawyers who have been friends since law school but now work on opposing sides. Mark-Paul Gosselaar (NYPD Blue) stars as an idealistic public defender who will stop at nothing to help those who cannot help themselves. Gloria Reuben (ER) plays his passionate and protective boss. Jane Kaczmarek (Malcolm in the Middle) plays the imperious judge who hears their cases. The series also stars Teddy Sears (Ugly Betty), Melissa Sagemiller (Sleeper Cell), Currie Graham (Boston Legal), J. August Richards (Conviction) and Jonathan Scarfe (Into the West). It was created by Bochco and lawyer/writer David Feige (author of the book Indefensible). RAISING THE BAR comes to TNT from ABC Studios and Bochco Media, with Bochco serving as executive producer. It is slated to premiere later this year.

LEVERAGE

TNT has ordered 13 episodes of this suspenseful, action-packed drama series starring Oscar winner Timothy Hutton (O