News

Exclusive: Dan Ahdoot, who has starred in series such as Cobrai Kai, and Vali Chandrasekaran, an exec producer on Modern Family are behind a new Muslim-American comedy that is in development at ABC.

The Disney-owned broadcast network is working up the untitled comedy from 20th Television.

It is centered around Mohammad “Mo” Al-Hayati, a young Muslim-American doctor in rural red state America, who struggles to become a trusted pillar of his community despite not knowing anything about how real life works there. Or anywhere.

The series is loosely based on a chapter in Ahdoot’s upcoming book of essays – Undercooked: How I Let Food Become My Life Navigator and How Maybe That’s A Dumb Way To Live, which is being released by Crown Publishing early next year.

Ahdoot will write and exec produce with Chandrasekaran as exec producer.

Ahdoot is a comedian, actor and writer who has starred in Seeso comedy Bajillion Dollar Propertie,...

Exclusive: Superstore alumna Lauren Ash is joining another single-camera broadcast workplace comedy as a series regular: she has been cast as a lead opposite Gina Rodriguez on ABC’s Not Dead Yet.

Written by Casey Johnson and David Windsor based on Alexandra Potter’s 2020 book Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up, Not Dead Yet centers on newly single and feeling-old Nell Serrano (Rodriguez), a self-described disaster who works to restart the life and career she left behind 10 years ago. A once-successful journalist, Nell put her career on hold to help her fiancé get his restaurant off the ground. Following their breakup, she takes the only job she can get – writing obituaries – which at first seems like a step backward but ultimately might be exactly what she needs to move forward.

Ash will play a new character, Lexi, the daughter of a wealthy newspaper owner and recently appointed editor. Lexi...

Five top TV cinematographers will reveal secrets behind their projects when they join Gold Derby’s special “Meet the Experts” Q&a event with 2022 Emmy Awards nominees. They will participate in two video discussions to premiere on Thursday, August 4, at 4:00 p.m. Pt; 7:00 p.m. Et. We’ll have a one-on-one with our senior editor Christopher Rosen and a roundtable chat with all of the group together.

RSVP today to our entire ongoing Emmy contenders panel series by clicking here to book your free reservation. We’ll send you a reminder a few minutes before the start of the show.

This “Meet the Experts” panel welcomes the following 2022 nominees:

Atlanta (FX)

Synopsis: Earn and his cousin Alfred, based in Atlanta, try to make their way in the world through the rap scene.

Bio: Christian Sprenger won at the Emmys previously for “Atlanta” and had a nomination for “Glow.

Australian-born Rebel Wilson broke onto the scene in North America with breakout roles in movies like Bridesmaids and A Few Best Men. She has since gone on to appear in a string of comedic movies, including What to Expect When You're Expecting, Bachelorette, and Pitch Perfect, and took on her first leading role in the rom-com parody film Isn't It Romantic.

Related: 10 Funniest Women Stand-Up Comedians You Can See On Netflix Right Now 

While her small screen attempt in the sitcom Super Fun Night didn't quite pan out, getting cancelled by ABC after just one season, Wilson continues to make waves in movies. Her next project is a comedy film called Senior Year where her character awakes after a 20-year coma and returns to her old high school. That makes it a good time to look back at her top-rated movies, according to review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes.

“She-Ra and the Princesses of Power” alum Lauren Ash has inked an overall talent and development deal with NBCUniversal. Ash, formerly one of the stars of the critically acclaimed NBC comedy “Superstore,” will collaborate with NBCU Television and Streaming to find projects on the network’s entertainment platforms, which includes NBC, Bravo, E!, Oxygen, SyFy, Universal Kids, USA and Peacock.

“Lauren was the first actor we cast in ‘Superstore’ and she impressed us with her considerable talent during the show’s six-season run,” said Grace Wu, executive VP, entertainment content casting, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, in a statement. “With the show ending, we want to help Lauren find her next starring vehicle and we are absolutely thrilled that NBCU will continue to be her home.”

Under the terms of the deal, Ash will also write a half-hour comedy pilot with Universal Television.

“I could not be more excited that I...

Superstore actor Lauren Ash is staying in business with NBCUniversal after signing an overall deal that includes a commitment for her to write her own comedy pilot.

Ash has struck the cross-platform deal with NBCUniversal Television and Streaming to develop projects for NBC, Bravo, E!, Oxygen, Syfy, Universal Kids, USA and Peacock. The pilot commitment comes from Universal Television.

It is the studio’s latest cross-platform overall deal after a similar agreement with Meghan Trainor, who is also developing a comedy for NBC.

Ash just wrapped NBC comedy Superstore, which ended its six-season run in March. She starred opposite America Ferrera and Ben Feldman as Amy Sosa’s best friend and ambitious Cloud 9 manager Dina in the Justin Spitzer-created series.

“I could not be more excited that I get to stay within the NBCU family as I embark on the next chapter of my career,” Ash said. “NBCU...

Hulu is taking adult animation fans down under with a series order for “Koala Man,” a new cartoon comedy from “Solar Opposites” and “Rick and Morty” co-creator Justin Roiland, the streaming service said Tuesday.

Here’s the official description for the eight-episode first season of the show: “An animated family comedy where the patriarch lives a not-so-secret identity of Koala Man, an Australian suburban superhero with no powers but a burning passion to snuff out petty crime and bring order to the community.”

Roiland is executive producing “Koala Man” alongside Michael Cusack, who created the series and voices Koala Man, and Benji Samit and Dan Hernandez, who are serving as showrunners on the project. Cusack, Samit and Hernandez will all write for the show.

The comedy hails from 20th Television Animation, a unit of Disney Television Studios, Princess Pictures and Bento Box. The series was put together by Bento Box...

Hulu is growing its adult animation slate with an eight-episode order to Koala Man, a family comedy about a powerless superhero in an Australian suburb created by and starring Aussie animator Michael Cusack and executive produced by Rick and Morty co-creator Justin Roiland and Pokémon Detective Pikachu co-writers Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit. 20th Television Animation is the studio.

Written by Cusack, Samit and Hernandez, Koala Man follows a family patriarch (Cusack) who lives a not-so-secret identity as the titular hero who possesses a burning passion to snuff out petty crime and bring order the community.

Cusack executive produces alongside Samit and Hernandez — who serve as showrunners — Roiland, Australian production company Princess Pictures and Bento Box. The series is also produced in LA and in Melbourne, where Princess Pictures and Bento Box’s Princess Bento Studio is based.

Koala Man expands Hulu’s relationship with Justin Roiland and 20th Television Animation,...

Exclusive: Danielle Moné Truitt has been cast as a series regular opposite Christopher Meloni, Dylan McDermott and Tamara Taylor in Law & Order: Organized Crime, NBC’s Law & Order: Svu spinoff series.

The drama, now filming in New York after a brief pause earlier this month due to a positive Covid test, will premiere April 1 at 10 Pm as part of a crossover with Law & Order: Svu at 9 Pm that same night.

In Law & Order: Organized Crime, Elliot Stabler (Meloni) returns to the NYPD to battle organized crime after a devastating personal loss. Stabler will aim to rebuild his life as part of a new elite task force that is taking apart the city’s most powerful criminal syndicates one by one. Meloni also is reprising his role as Stabler on Svu this season. No information about the other Organized Crime characters is being released.

Law & Order: Organized Crime...

Liza Lapira has signed on to the “Equalizer” reboot pilot currently in the works at CBS, Variety has learned.

She joins previously announced series lead Queen Latifah. In the new version of the series, Queen Latifah portrays Robyn McCall, an enigmatic figure who uses her extensive skills to help those with nowhere else to turn.

Lapira will star as Melody Chu, described as an edgy bar owner with a wry sense of humor and sunny disposition. Melody is a former colleague of Robyn’s, with whom she’s still great friends, and a highly decorated Air Force sniper in a previous life.

Lapira is no stranger to CBS, having previously starred in the comedy “9Jkl” and the drama “Battle Creek” at the network. Her other TV credits include “Cooper Barrett’s Guide to Surviving Life,” “Super Fun Night,” “Don’t Trust the B**** in Apt 23,” and “Dexter.” She also recently appeared...

Exclusive: ABC has put in development Text Me When You Get Home, a single-camera comedy based on Kayleen Schaefer’s book, from American Housewife writer-producer Lauren Caltagirone, Modern Family star Julie Bowen’s Bowen & Sons production company and ABC TV Studios, part of Disney TV Studios.

Written by Caltagirone, Text Me When You Get Home explores the unique and complicated bonds amongst women who grow up but never grow apart, even when your married friends completely forget what it was like to be single and try to set you up with a guy who has no neck.

Caltagirone executive produces with Bowen and Rachael Field for Bowen & Sons. ABC TV Studios is the studio.

Caltagirone is a producer on American Housewife, which is airing its fourth season on ABC. Repped by Artists First, Caltagirone also was a writer on American Woman, Impastor, Wet Hot American Summer, and Super Fun Night.

Showtime has picked up to pilot Big Deal, a half-hour single-camera comedy co-created by and starring Emmy-nominated Saturday Night Live alumna Vanessa Bayer. The Big Sick helmer Michael Showalter will direct the pilot for the project, from Annapurna TV, which had been in development at Showtime for a year.

Emmy-winning former Inside Amy Schumer head writer Jessi Klein serves as showrunner on Big Deal, which Bayer co-created with former SNL writer Jeremy Beiler.

Big Deal is a grounded comedy in which a woman (Bayer) overcomes childhood leukemia to achieve her lifelong dream of landing a job as a QVC host.

Bayer’s character is inspired by the comedy actress’ own personal story as a survivor of childhood leukemia, which she was diagnosed with in her freshman year of high school.

Bayer, Beiler and Klein executive produce Big Deal with Showalter and Jordana Mollick via Showalter Semi-Formal Prods., which has had...

Liza Lapira (Unbelievable) has joined the cast of Dante Basco feature directorial debut The Fabulous Filipino Brothers.

Written by Basco and his brothers Darion Basco and Dionysio Basco, the feature is set in the brothers’ hometown of Pittsburg, Calif., a working-class suburb of Oakland. Starring Basco and his brothers (including Derek Basco), the dark romantic comedy weaves together four vignettes, narrated by their sister, Arianna Basco.

The story follows the brothers and their shenanigans. One of them ventures off to a cockfight for reciprocity while one flies to old Manila where an old flame is rekindled. Another brother delves into the hidden sensuality of Filipino cuisine, while the last brother, struggles to heal deep wounds and finds love in an unexpected package. All this, leading to a shotgun wedding in the backyard of the family house.

In addition to appearing in Lisa Cholodenko’s Netflix limited series Unbelievable with Toni Collette,...

Exclusive: Prolific writing-producing duo Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit have signed a multi-year overall deal with 20th Century Fox TV. Under the pact, Hernandez and Samit will develop, write and produce animated and live-action series for network, cable and streaming platforms.

The deal brings Hernandez and Samit back to where their career began in 2013, on 20th TV-produced 1600 Penn.

“Dan and Benji are rising stars whom we’ve wanted to work with for years on the animation side, so the fact that they are making 20th their exclusive home is really exciting,” said Marci Proietto, Evp of Animation, 20th TV. “We love their enthusiasm, their creativity, their material and the fact that they immediately saw the potential to produce for so many different platforms under the Disney umbrella. They’ll start by reuniting with Josh Gad on Central Park as well as continue to develop projects of their own both in animation and live action.

Jess Gabor (The Twin) and Luis Guzmán (Code Black) are set for recurring roles in the upcoming ninth season of Showtime’s Shameless. In addition, Bob Saget (Fuller House) has been tapped for a guest-starring role.

In Season 9, political fervor hits the South Side and the Gallaghers take justice into their own hands. A few highlights: Frank (William H. Macy) sees financial opportunity in campaigning and decides to give voice to the underrepresented South Side working man. Fiona (Emmy Rossum) tries to build on her success with her apartment building and takes an expensive gamble hoping to catapult herself into the upper echelon. Lip (Jeremy Allen White) distracts himself from the challenges of sobriety by taking in Eddie’s niece, Xan (Amirah Johnson). Ian (Cameron Monaghan) faces the consequences of his crimes as the Gay Jesus movement takes a destructive turn.

Gabor will play Kelly Keefe, the tough-as-nails daughter of...

CBS has opted to evict 9Jkl, cancelling the dysfunctional family sitcom after one season, TVLine has learned.

Royal Pains vet Mark Feuerstein starred as Josh Roberts, a recently divorced actor who moved back into the New York apartment sandwiched between his overbearing parents (Ray Donovan‘s Elliott Gould and Alice‘s Linda Lavin) and his brother/sister-in-law (About a Boy‘s David Walton and Super Fun Night‘s Liza Lapira); Matt Murray (Rookie Blue) and Albert Tsai (Dr. Ken) co-starred.

Premiering last October, 9Jkl debuted to 8.3 million viewers and a 1.6 in the 18-49 demo, demonstrating weak retention out of The Big Bang Theory.

The broadcast networks have nearly 20 shows debuting this fall, including the maiden space voyage of Fox’s Orville, NBC’s look at Brave heroes and ABC’s Ten Days with Kyra Sedgwick. To help you prep for it all, TVLine is offering First Impressions of the not-for-review pilots.

Next up on our list….

The Show | 9Jkl (Mondays at 8:30/7:30c, premiering Oct. 2)

The Competition | NBC’s The Voice, ABC’s Dancing With the Stars, Fox’s Lucifer and The CW’s Supergirl

Related Read Our First Impressions of ABC’s Ten Days in the Valley, CBS’ S.W.A.T., The CW’s Dynasty,...

TV trends come and go, but who would’ve thought that, with all the focus on inclusion in the past few years, there would now be an uptick of, as IndieWire’s Michael Schneider puts it, “white dudes in crisis” on TV?

To fill the diversity void, the networks have added actors of color to supporting roles. It’s heartening to see that this has created a more realistic picture on TV of what the world looks like, such as the marriage between Zach Braff’s and Tiya Sircar’s characters on “Alex Inc.” representing the growing number of mixed-race marriages in America. Unfortunately, it’s also disappointing to see so many of these favorite actresses get shunted from one supporting role to the next.

Read More: The 4 Worst New Fall Show Titles and How We’d Fix Them

It’s time for many of these actresses to move out...

As the calendar year comes to a close, network comedies will air their fall finale episodes before the winter hiatus. Tomorrow, NBC’s new workplace comedy “Superstore” will air a one-hour, two-episode holiday-themed fall finale. In the first episode “Seasonal Help,” Amy’s (America Ferrera) husband Adam (guest star Ryan Gaul) is hired by big box store Cloud 9 for seasonal help, exposing Amy in ways she didn’t expect. In the second episode “Black Friday,” the employees come down with a case of food poisoning but Amy suspects it might be morning sickness. Watch an exclusive clip from the first episode below.

Read More: ‘Superstore’ Season 2 Trailer: Cloud 9 Employees Unite to Strike

Starring Ferrera (“Ugly Betty”) and Ben Feldman (“Mad Men”), “Superstore” follows the lives of employees working at a super-sized megastore. It co-stars Colton Dunn (“Key and Peele”), Nico Santos, (“Mulaney”), Nichole Bloom (“Shameless”), Mark McKinney (“Kids...

While all eyes were on the big winners during Sunday night's Emmy Awards, we couldn't help but be totally taken with the pint-sized cuties making seriously memorable statements themselves. It turns out the biggest names of the night might have been the shortest attendees: The Stranger Things Castvia Giphy Fact: Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo and Caleb McLaughlin are full-blown stars who aren't above delivering a handful of peanut butter sandwiches to their peers at the Emmys. The trio dressed in their Stranger Things garb and biked down the aisles to do so. Sofia Vergara's TV Son A photo...

Pixels actor Josh Gad has hatched a new weight-loss comedy over at Paramount Pictures. Entitled Heavy Duty, the concept is said to be based on Gad’s own idea, with a screenplay now in the works from Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit (1600 Penn, Super Fun Night).

Revolving around the story of Josh Gad’s Average Joe, Heavy Duty has our rotund character enroll for a dramatic weight scheme, believing that shedding a few pounds will help him lead a much more exciting and extraordinary life. But Gad’s protagonist soon finds that he’s out of his depth when he’s left facing an unexpected test alongside his fellow, plump underachievers.

Gaining the backing of Disruption Entertainment, Gad’s feature will be produced by Mary Parent and Cale Boyter on behalf of the company, while Drew Pearce (Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, Iron Man 3) is attached to executive produce. No...

© Getty Images

Paramount Pictures today announced the comedy Heavy Duty, based on an original idea by Josh Gad (Frozen, The Wedding Ringer).

Gad will star in the film based on the script written by Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit (“1600 Penn,” “Super Fun Night”).

Disruption Entertainment’s Mary Parent and Cale Boyter will produce with Gad. Drew Pearce (Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, Iron Man 3) will executive produce.

Heavy Duty is the story of an ordinary guy who believes losing weight will help him live a more extraordinary life. He signs up for a wellness retreat with a group of fellow underachievers, only to face an unexpected test when things go awry.

Gad’s upcoming projects include Sony’s animated film Angry Birds and Disney’s live-action Beauty And The Beast. He is attached to star opposite Will Ferrell in Russ & Roger (Stx) and opposite Chadwick Boseman in the indie film Marshall,...

Paramount Pictures today announced that the comedian (Frozen, The Wedding Ringer, Broadway’s The Book Of Mormon) will star in "Heavy Duty,” a comedy based on Gad’s original idea and scripted by Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit (1600 Penn, Super Fun Night). Disruption Entertainment's Mary Parent and Cale Boyter will produce with Gad. Drew Pearce (Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, Iron Man 3) will executive produce. Pic is the story of an ordinary guy who believes losing…...

Josh Gad will star in the comedy Heavy Duty for Paramount. The film will be based on an original idea from Gad, with a screenplay by Dan Hernandez and Benji Samt, the writing team behind 1600 Penn and Super Fun Night. The story centers on an ordinary guy who believes losing weight will help him live a more extraordinary life. He signs up for a wellness retreat with a group of fellow underachievers, only to face an unexpected test when things go awry. Gad, who is best known for his voice work in the Disney mega-hit Frozen and roles in such

read more...

Pitch Perfect alum Elizabeth Banks and Max Handelman are attached to produce John Riggi’s untitled holiday pitch for Universal, according to Deadline.

Centering around Mrs. Claus in the build-up to the festive season, Riggi’s original story reportedly centers on Santa’s significant other, as she juggles life, marriage and keeping check on who’s been naughty or nice. Perhaps best known for his work on NBC’s hit comedy sitcom 30 Rock, Riggi has been nominated for the Writers Guild award, all the while picking up an Emmy.

Even on paper, combining the producing talents that helped shepherd Pitch Perfect into a global phenomenon – particularly Banks, who helmed the musical sequel – and the scribe that contributed to 30 Rock sounds overly promising, and Universal may very well be onto a winner with what will likely be its marquee 2016 holiday release.

Then again, that only leaves time for a quick turnaround...

Don’t let the title of Fox’s newest comedy fool you: Cooper Barrett’s Guide to Surviving Life has little to no idea how to survive much of anything — at least not yet.

RelatedJane Kaczmarek, Alan Ruck Recruited to Play Cooper Barrett‘s Parents

The oddball sitcom, which premiered Sunday, follows a trio of twentysomethings in the uncertain decade following college, and the hijinks that ensue as they attempt to strike out on their own.

The Parker Lewis Can’t Lose/Hangover-inspired hybrid takes place in present day, where our eponymous life guide Cooper (Jack Cutmore-Scott, Kingsman: The Secret Service...

When Jeffrey Walker was offered the chance to direct his first feature, Ali.s Wedding, he hesitated initially, feeling intimidated by the milieu of a Muslim immigrant who is torn between his upbringing and the Australian way of life. But as he got deeper into the screenplay by Osamah Sami and his frequent collaborator Andrew Knight, he saw a universal theme in the romantic comedy based on Sami.s experiences. .I got a real feel for the characters and their journey,. says Walker, who started shooting in Melbourne today with a cast of familiar and new faces. Sami plays Ali, the affable son of a Muslim cleric (Don Hany) who had migrated to Australia from Iraq. In an attempt to live up to the expectations of his community and his father, Ali tells a series of well-intentioned lies, which result in him pretending to be a medical student based on forged exam marks.

Eva Longoria and America Ferrera’s long-awaited TV returns have a date: Monday, Jan. 4.

That’s when NBC will officially premiere the actresses’ latest series: Superstore (starring Ferrera) at 8/7c, and Telenovela (starring Longoria) at 8:30.

In advance of the new year, the Peacock net will offer sneak peeks of the new comedies. Two episodes of Superstore will air on Monday, Nov. 30, at 10 following The Voice. A week later, Telenovela will follow The Voice in the same slot.

PhotosNovember Sweeps Preview: Scoop on Castle, Vampire Diaries, The Blacklist, Quantico, Gotham, NCIS and More

Telenovela stars Longoria as Ana Sofia, the...

If Cooper Barrett’s Guide To Surviving Life has a chapter on “maturity,” it’s probably not one of the longer ones (“Title of Amy’s sex tape!”), as evidenced by this poster for the new Fox comedy.

RelatedFox’s Grandfathered, The Grinder Receive Order for 6 Additional Scripts

Check it out, then read on for more:

Premiering in February 2016, Cooper Barrett’s Guide stars Jack Cutmore-Scott (Kingsman: The Secret Service) in the title role, playing a sad sack who 1) doesn’t have the job he wants, 2) is hopelessly in love with his neighbor (Being Human‘s Meaghan Rath), 3) has a...

Writers Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit (Super Fun Night) have sold a comedy project to NBC from Sony TV and Will Gluck’s studio-based Olive Bridge Entertainment. The untitled half-hour (aka Sickos), is based on Hernandez’s first few years of marriage. It follows a group of new ER residents, who not only work together, but also live together in the “doctor dorm” next door to the hospital. Hernandez and Samit will write the script and executive produce with Olive Bridge’s…...

“Pitch Perfect 2 is a sweet, funny bit of fluff that never hits a sour note!” said Jim Batts in his review for one of the best movies of 2015.

The fabulous Bellas of Barden University are back to compete in the World Championships of A Cappella after a scandal threatens their legacy in Pitch Perfect 2.

The high-spirited sequel to the movie that sparked a worldwide phenomenon is coming to Digital HD on September 1st and Blu-ray™, DVD and On Demand September 22 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.

Pitch Perfect 2 is packed with more original musical arrangements, memorable one-liners and offbeat romance as the original’s most beloved characters fight to regain their former glory on a worldwide stage facing off against the toughest competition on the planet. Hysterical behind-the-scenes bonus features, never-before-seen deleted footage, all-new musical performances and a hilarious gag reel make Pitch Perfect 2 a must own on Blu-ray™ and DVD.

Stan and Warner Bros International Television Distribution have struck an exclusive multi-year licensing agreement that will add hundreds of hours of content to the streaming service.

This will include five first-run TV shows, movies, catalogue titles and 10 seasons of Friends. ..

New shows premiering exclusively on Stan in August include iZombie, the hit drama from the creator of Veronica Mars; Constantine, based on the popular DC Comics character; and Season 3 of psychological thriller The Following, starring Kevin Bacon.

Stan is a joint venture between Nine Entertainment Co and Fairfax Media..

iZombie Season 2 will also be fast-tracked to Stan in October, day and date with Us broadcast.

The deal also includes exclusive Svod rights to all 236 episodes of Friends in remastered HD.

Stan Content and Product Director, Nick Forward, .said: .Our partnership with Warner Bros is the most significant since launch in terms of bringing outstanding, exclusive premiere shows and some of...

The fabulous Bellas of Barden University are back to compete in the World Championships of A Cappella after a scandal threatens their legacy in Pitch Perfect 2. The high-spirited sequel to the movie that sparked a worldwide phenomenon is coming to Digital HD on September 1st and Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand September 22 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Pitch Perfect 2 is packed with more original musical arrangements, memorable one-liners and offbeat romance as the original's most beloved characters fight to regain their former glory on a worldwide stage facing off against the toughest competition on the planet. Hysterical behind-the-scenes bonus features, never-before-seen deleted footage, all-new musical performances and a hilarious gag reel make Pitch Perfect 2 a must own on Blu-ray and DVD.

Beca (Anna Kendrick), Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) and the Barden Bellas are back to pitch slap the world! After a scandal threatens to derail their last year at Barden,...

In his feature debut Jeffrey Walker will direct Ali.s Wedding, a romantic comedy based on a true story for Matchbox Pictures.

Scripted by actor Osamah Sami and Andrew Knight, the plot follows Ali, the son of a Muslim cleric, who is caught between his sense of duty to his family and following his heart.

The film is inspired by Sami.s first marriage which lasted precisely one hour and 48 minutes.

Shooting is due to start in Melbourne in the first week of November, produced by Sheila Jayadev and Helen Panckhurst. No casting has been confirmed yet.

"Jeffrey is one of Australia.s most exciting directors and we are thrilled to be working with him on Ali.s Wedding," Jayadev tells If. "With his extensive experience in directing comedy both in Australia and the Us, he will create a fresh, contemporary and hugely entertaining film."

Osamah has just launched his memoir Good Muslim Boy,...

With the 2014-2015 television season winding down, many television fans and channels are looking ahead to the new series that will make their debut over the next television season. Fox is no different, having announced their renewals, cancellations, and new series pickups over the last week, and the network has now released trailers for a number of their new series.

First up is the trailer for the new animated series Bordertown.

From Family Guy’s Mark Hentemann comes Bordertown, a new animated comedy about two families living in a Southwest desert town on the U.S. – Mexico border. The series takes a satirical look at the cultural shifts occurring in America, where the U.S. Census forecasts that by 2017, ethnic minorities will become the majority. Set against this increasingly diverse backdrop, the comedy explores family, politics and everything in between with a cross-cultural wink. Bordertown centers on two clans: the Buckwalds and the Gonzalezes.

Fox is taking a shot at what seems to be part of the old school renewal genre largely capitalized on by TV Land. Grandfathered, a new fall show starring John Stamos, has all the hallmarks of a show looking to revitalize the general sensibilities of a bygone era of television sit-coms.

With apparently much in common with any of the original efforts on TV Land, and similar vehicles elsewhere (Last Man Standing), the show seems to be after a lighter brand of comedy with a lot of theoretically heartwarming moments.

Stamos plays an over-the-top, aging bachelor who owns a restaurant, and is focused on his business and his free lifestyle. His world is turned upside-down when he learns he not only has a son he never knew about, but he’s suddenly a grandfather as well.

There’s a fair amount of potential, but this brand of comedy could easily go wrong,...

Dana Walden and Gary Newman, Chairmen and CEOs, Fox Television Group, today unveiled the Fox primetime slate for the 2015-2016 television season to the national advertising community during its annual Programming Presentation at the Beacon Theatre. Here's what the CEO's had to say in a joint statement.

"Building on the phenomenal momentum created by Gotham, The Last Man on Earth and, of course, Empire, we're infusing next season's schedule with new ambitious dramas, smart comedies, aspirational unscripted series and big live events and specials - all from the best creators in the business. And our strategy with these bold creative swings is simple: schedule them strategically, market them relentlessly and create events that break through and captivate viewers across every platform."

Tuesdays are all-new this fall on Fox, with new comedies Grandfathered and The Grinder, followed by killer comedy-horror series Scream Queens. The new comedies kicking off an all-new Tuesday are Grandfathered and The Grinder.

Erstwhile Reaper Bret Harrison will play brother to Jenna Elfman in the Fox pilot The Perfect Stanleys, replacing onetime 90210 resident Brian Austin Green.

“Brian Austin Green had to withdraw from the project due to a viral infection from which he is expected to make a full recovery,” 20th Century Fox TV said in a statement to our sister site Deadline.

RelatedPilot Season ’15: Scoop on This Fall’s (Possible) New Shows, Who’s In Them

Penned by Dana Klein (Friends), the multi-cam family comedy is told from the point-of-view of Ellen, a working mom (Elfman) who is in constant competition with her perfect,...

Brian Austin Green (The Wedding Band) and Super Fun Night alumna Liza Lapira are set to co-star opposite Jenna Elfman in Fox's untitled Dana Klein comedy pilot, from 20th Century Fox TV and Kapital Entertainment. Written/exec produced by Klein and directed by Pam Fryman, it is told from the point of view of Ellen (Elfman), a working mom who is in constant competition with her perfect, stay-at-home sister-in-law Amy (Lapira). Green plays Amy’s husband Jack Stanley, an…...

Super Fun Night alum Lauren Ash has booked a series regular role on NBC comedy pilot Superstore. Written by former The Office writer-producer Justin Spitzer and directed by Ruben Fleischer, Superstore is about a group of employees at a big box store and examines love, friendship and the beauty of everyday moments. Ash, repped by Innovative Artists and Brillstein Entertainment Partners, will play Dina, the store’s assistant manager who lives and breathes her job. Ash…...

The Barden Bellas return to the big screen in Pitch Perfect 2 on May 15 (mark your calendars!), and while we got a small taste of the cast showing off their pipes (and, uh, Rebel Wilson's nether regions) in the latest trailer, it simply wasn't enough to give us our full Bellas fix. So we spent some time searching YouTube (it's a tough job) and found some bonus musical moments from the film's stars, including Wilson, Anna Kendrick and Brittany Snow. Close your office door, turn up the volume and a-ca-enjoy! Anna KendrickIn the Pitch Perfect 2 trailer, the Bellas...

Josh Casaubon

Down Dog, Season 1, Episode 1: “Pilot”

Written by Robin Schiff

Directed by Brad Silberling

Released January 15, 2015 by Amazon

Writer Robin Schiff, while perhaps best known for her work on Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion, has also been a noticeable presence on television, writing for shows such as Party of Five, Are you there, Chelsea?, and Super Fun Night. Amazon’s latest round of pilots sees Schiff delve into creating her own show, as she writes the pilot for Down Dog, about a yoga instructor who finds his life suddenly thrown into turmoil. Unfortunately, the pilot stumbles out of the gate and never recovers, as a combination of conflicting messages about the lead character and unmemorable or reductive secondary characters make this potential show one with little to no promise.

The episode seems oddly confused about how to feel about the lead character and his actions, which...

Jeffrey Walker is in New York directing the first four episodes of a comedy executive produced by Amy Poehler and commissioned by streaming service Hulu.

Difficult People stars Julie Klausner and Billy Eichner (both of Funny or Die and Billy on the Street, which airs in Oz on The Comedy Channel) as best friends whose irreverent behaviour lands them in awkward situations.

The series is the first collaboration between Hulu, a joint venture of Disney, 21st Century Fox and NBCUniversal, and Universal Cable Prods.. The project had been in development at NBCUniversal.s USA Network. Klausner wrote the pilot and is co-exec producing with Poehler and Dave Becky (Louie).

After that the Los Angeles-based Walker will make his feature directing debut on The Cartographer, based on the Australian novel by Peter Twohig, produced by South Pacific Pictures. John Barnett.

The Water Diviner.s Andrew Anastasios and Andrew Knight are writing the screenplay.

The premiere of VH1’s new original series Hindsight on Wednesday took viewers on a time-traveling journey – but did you enjoy the trip down ’90s memory lane?

Before you chime in with your thoughts, a recap of the pilot: Becca (White Collar‘s Laura Ramsey) is about to get married for the second time to quintessential nice guy Andy (Super Fun Night’s Nick Clifford). He’s sweet, responsible and thoughtful. “But did he set me on fire? Well, I was warm,” Becca’s voiceover reveals. She finds herself reminiscing about the past, including her hunky, unpredictable ex-husband Sean (Legend of the Seeker...

Hindsight is knowing McNerdy becomes McDreamy… and it’s also the title of VH1’s charming new original scripted series.

The time-traveling drama (which premieres Wednesday at 10/9c) follows Becca, (played by Laura Ramsey, White Collar) a bride about to enter her second marriage, who mysteriously ventures back to the morning of her first nuptials (to Legend of the Seeker‘s Craig Horner) in 1995.

In TVLine’s exclusive sneak peek, Becca’s bestie Lolly (Sarah Goldberg, Elementary) has a hard time believing her friend has come from the future — and an even more difficult time understanding how Becca could be...

It doesn’t take much to get a TV show canceled — a lack of viewership and no trophies on the mantle usually gets it done in the current environment. TheWrap set out to find the average rating for each network’s slate of axed series in 2014, finding some inconsistencies — or at least measurable surprises — along the way.

Also Read: 11 TV Shows Canceled by Controversy – From ‘Honey Boo Boo’ to ‘Politically Incorrect’ (Photos)

Over the 2014 calendar year, CBS had the highest threshold for cancellation, with its cut shows averaging a 1.6 rating in the advertiser-sought 18-49 demographic per Nielsen’s “most current” data,...

Beginning in September and throughout the fall, TVLine asked you to grade each of the new pilots — from Fox’s Utopia, which was first (and worst?) out of the gate, to NBC’s recently unveiled State of Affairs. As the numbers started coming in, did you prove to be prescient with your predictions or wildly off the mark?

Last year, American Horror Story: Coven, The Blacklist, Masters of Sex, Almost Human (R.I.P.) and S.H.I.E.L.D. populated your Top 5, while Super Fun Night, We Are Men and Dads brought up the very rear.

This year,...

We finally had our first network cancellation of the fall season last week, when ABC dropped the ax on "Manhattan Love Story." Had the Alphabet waited one more week, we'd have made it through the first season in a while where all the new fall shows got to debut before one was canceled. But that was not to be, and instead we have our final new network fall show (with plenty more on the bench for midseason, or whatever the broadcast nets are willing to call it these days) coming up this week, along with a new cable comedy. Both, oddly, feature Jack McGee in a supporting role (the result of cable and network shows often filming on different schedules), and that — along with the fact that I don't feel strongly about either one at this stage — is enough excuse to put them together in the same post for a...

ABC’s Selfie was looking good (all things being relative) this Tuesday, rising 12 percent and a tenth to draw 3.8 million total viewers and a 1.1 demo rating (per finals) opposite the World Series.

Manhattan Love Story, however, felt little love, sliding 7 and 22 percent to 2.7 mil/0.7.

Agents of Shield (4.4 mil/1.6) slipped 6 percent and a tenth, hitting an all-time demo low (yet earning an “A” grade from TVLine readers), while Forever (5 mil/1.2) ticked up a tenth.

Elsewhere, opposite professional baseball’s “autumnal classic”….

CBS | NCIS (17.1 mil/2.4) dropped a handful of eyeballs and a tenth in the demo, while NCIS: New Orleans (16.1 mil/2.4) rose...

Forget Super Fun Night. Fox is looking to pack as much fun into the weekends as it can with comedy 48 Hours Until Monday. The single-camera comedy hails from The Mindy Project Ep Charlie Grandy and landed at Fox with a script plus penalty commitment, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. 48 Hours is a show about one husband's desperate struggle to not let every weekend go completely to hell.  See more Faces of Fall 2014 Grandy will pen the script and executive produce the Universal Television comedy via Peter Traugott and Rachel Kaplan's studio-based Tbd Productions banner. In

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