Fox, CW make pilot orders

Fox has purchased a comedy pilot from "Cougar Town" creator Bill Lawrence. Additionally, the CW has purchased drama pilot "First Cut" from "90210" co-executive producer Jennie Snyder Urman and CBS Television Galleries. Warner Bros. Television and Lawrence's shingle, Doozer, is behind "Like Father," just one-camera comedy series focusing on a parent-boy relationship that's loosely according to Lawrence's existence. It focuses on an engaged, charming father who's only 19 years over the age of his adult boy. Lawrence will executive produce with Shaun Ingold. They've two other comedy scripts being considered at ABC and CBS. "Father" joins a listing of comedy pick-ups at Fox including Take advantage of McElhenny's "Living Loaded" Mike Royce's "Little Brother," and Chernin Entertainment's "Ben Fox Is My Manny." "Cut" is really a dramatic series focusing on a lady medical student who's glad to depart her nerdy past behind for any new beginning within the adult professional world. However the recently minted physician finds out that, sadly and comically, existence in the hospital where she works is the same as senior high school. Urman executive produces with Serta Jinks ("Pushing Daisies"). She's another script in consideration at CBS. CW has acquired four drama aircraft pilots: Greg Berlanti super hero hour "Arrow" a "Beauty and also the Animal" reboot "Sex and also the City" prequel "The Barbara Journals, and Josh Schwartz thriller "Cult." Contact Andrew Wallenstein at andrew.wallenstein@variety.com

Round The Set: Praising NCIS' 200th Episode

NCIS Among Southern California's peculiar mid-winter prolonged high temps is keeping things cozy relating to this the month of the month of january mid-day, and so the setting isn't particularly favorable to sudden chills. But you'll find one lower the spine anyway if you are planning towards the NCIS set, since the whole damn soundstage is spook-affected. Darby Stanchfield is making among her rare looks round the series - rare because her character, Shannon Gibbs, got destroyed 2 decades ago. Which, if you're doing the mathematics, is more than ten years before NCIS even began. Nonetheless, she's an important specter inside the show's folklore, since the first wife Jethro (Mark Harmon) has not become over. Facing him now around the diner set, utilizing their equally deceased daughter beside her, this angelic redhead is trying to convince TV's most haunted hero that his existence is not so tragic. "Whenever we hadn't died, you will not ever may have become a realtor,In . she states, tearfully going onto mention the lives he's saved consequently of his family being wiped out. George Bailey, won't you please go back home? "Existence Before His Eyes" is Gibbs' It's a Wonderful Existence episode, through which he's one minute of mortal terror and imagines numerous alternate-reality situations that reveal what all the characters' lives might be like if he'd designed a few different options in route. This is actually the kind of out-there gambit that, inside the wrong hands, might be as much reason for shark-jumping as tear-jerking. But this risk might have only been attempted by having an occasion as special as NCIS' 200th episode. It's ironic the show would harp frequently and poignantly around the party's theme of roads not taken, if the exceedingly rare record milestone points to merely how handful of wrong turns NCIS has already established to be able to becoming TV's No. 1 scripted show. Not to dissuade any beginners from tuning in on February 7 - but, states Michael Weatherly, who plays Agent Tony DiNozzo, "It's likely to be this kind of reward for your fans who've seen all the episodes." Clearly, NCIS can pay for to accomplish one just for the fans - assuming that almost all the 20 million first-run audiences every week count because category, along with however millions more are tuning towards the apparently nonstop cable reruns. Anticipate seeing dead people, like Muse Watson's Mike Hotdogs, destroyed off within the finish of last season, but furthermore some longer-hidden former foils. "In my opinion they'll be amazed at seeing the facial skin someone like Ziva's brother Ari," states executive producer Gary Glasberg, mentioning with a theif who was simply escorted off this mortal coil in the start of Season 3. "It's a hard step to maneuver figures along who left this show by ceasing to exist," states Harmon, who's clearly very happy to have his old ally Watson back round the set, along with the speaking frenemy carried out by Michael O'Neill, who was simply also offed last season. "Not to imply that everybody who appears here's somebody that died," he highlights. As John Lennon would sing, some are dead and several live, in this particular otherworldly, doppelgänger-filled diner. Sean Murray is passing using the set with increased black colored, in different ways combed hair, top tips-off the regulars, like McGee, are dealing with alternate details in Gibbs' fantasia. "I like transporting this out type of surreal, dream-like stuff," states Murray. "The episode is about, let us say everything has been completed in an alternative way? Let us say Abby and McGee were married?" (Place a pause because all NCIS fandom gasps.) For "Tiva"? "Throughout my particular reality in the 200th episode," states Cote p Pablo, who plays Ziva, "I never increased being an NCIS agent." Like her predecessor (Agent Kate Todd) never got gunned lower - so no requirement of an Israeli-import alternative. Tony has a vague recollection of catching sight of Ziva seven in the past, "but the next time we meet is becoming, and I've been running different missions throughout Europe, which is old Ziva - noisy too as with the face area and sexual. It's a great scene, just between Michael and me, while using original tension once more. So that it poses the question: Might be the attraction inevitable? Plus it kind of is." Was NCIS' ascent to No. 1 much like inevitable, too? It absolutely was to former Guy From U.N.C.L.E. star David McCallum (Ducky). "After we'd experienced the atmosphere for a while and were within the Top 15, I mentioned, 'We're prone to No. 1.' And everyone mentioned, 'Yeah, yeah, yeah.' Now we've been No. 1 throughout the final three years.In . Other cast people had their doubts about ever reaching Season 2. "I didn't think NCIS would equal to much," confesses Weatherly. Because he was approached, "it made an appearance in my opinion a possibly derivative spin-in the CSI factor. I thought, hell, we'll create a few episodes. However wound up obtaining a feeling rapidly the softball softball bat coping with Harmon he will be a cagey veteran who made an appearance to know the direction through which we have to mind, constantly.Inch Pauley Perrette (Abby) was unsure about handling a military-designed show inside the wake of 9/11, because of the gung-ho aggression she saw within the u . s . states in those days: "I have strong political values, there should be plenty of thought when you're beginning a military show in war time. However think we've been incredibly responsible using this show." Many other fear involved the series' procedural structure as well as the stodginess have a tendency to includes that. "Weatherly which used to do our famous pinky-shake, where we mentioned it doesn't matter what, every episode, we're gonna bring the funny. Which we've.Inch For further while using cast of NCIS, understand this week's problem of TV Guide Magazine, on newsstands Thursday, The month of the month of january 19! Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

CES: Vizio shows 'CinemaWide' sets

SchindlerVizio is betting clients have finished black bars after they watch free movies online in your house.The Tv manufacturer, recognized for its lower-listed screens, is showing its CinemaWide kind of sets at CES today, eschewing the 16:9 widescreen for just about any 21:9 aspect ratio, loved by filmmakers.Consequently, audiences watching Blu-ray movies round the new TV line will dsicover films full screen, without any typical black bars towards the top and bottom."We're trying to provide clients whatever they see inside the theater inside their home," John Schindler, V . p . of products at Vizio told Variety. "We're trying to create all the benefits of by visiting the theater to your residence.InchAll CinemaWide sets will feature Vizio's 3d technology (which utilizes passive polarized glasses, instead of the active shutter technology liked by other TV producers). They'll offer integrated Wi-Fi, a Bluetooth remote, keyboard and USB multimedia ports.The street includes three models, a 50-inch and 58-inch version that will debut inside the first half of 2012, getting a 71-inch model (featuring full array TruLED backlighting) scheduled for your partner of year.The business has not completed prices for your set, but states it'll be specific within an affluent audience and also have a greater cost point than its other Televisions. Vizio is within the technique of selecting retail partners to help market the CinemaWide to clients.One thing's certain: Vizio's new screen won't assuage theater owners' fears that enhanced entertainment systems are encouraging more clients to stay home rather than mind for his or her local megaplex to check out movies.While it's being situated just like a movie lover's TV, the CinemaWide may also be Vizio's push to reclaim viewer's attention within the second screen.Because of its extra width (the set includes a 2560 x 1080 resolution), people can observe a Tv series in typical widescreen ratio and possess a credit card applicatoin open alongside it, permitting them to speak to pals, browse websites or access the a lot of Internet-based programs Vizio offers on its sets."We should increase the risk for Internet simpler for that customer,Inch states Schindler. "Most of the programs (available) are programs to do whenever you view television. Instead of getting that tablet and carrying it out there, you can now take action whenever you view television. You're really searching at one screen."Vizio states internal focus groups also provide learned that clients were more vulnerable to embrace 3d using CinemaWide, an additional benefit for just about any set which will be marketed to cinema fans. Still, Schindler values that 3d is not the choice cycle driver the was wanting it may be.Element in the problem, according to him, was your choice by producers to use individually, resulting in too several types of 3d Televisions."In the event you request the normal consumer why they haven't recognized it, they'll say 'I don't really need 3D' which is definitely an chance for people to conquer,In . according to him.InchWe should increase the risk for glasses awesome and classy We must behave as a company to operate a vehicle the very best standard. This doesn't work if there is not only one standard for clients. Once we avoid that, we will not drive adoption." Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Matt Damon Won't Direct Movie He Co-Wrote with John Krasinski

In October, "THR" reported that the actor, currently in theaters with "We Bought a Zoo," would direct an untitled Warner Bros. drama that he co-wrote with actor John Krasinski. (Author Dave Eggers was also involved in coming up with the story.) Damon was also going to star in the the drama which was described as being in the vein of "Erin Brockovich"and was one of the producers on it.Sources now confirm to "THR" that Damon has dropped out as director due to what are being called "scheduling issues." It's unclear how this move, first reported by Vulture, will impact the project. The "THR" source says Damon is still on track to act in the movie but declines to provide specifics.At the time the movie was announced, Warners, which houses Damon and Ben Affleck's Pearl Street shingle, was quite high on the project and was eying a spring production start. Story details were kept vague but the plot was known to center on a salesman (Damon) who arrives in a small town only to have his life changed. Krasinski was also due to star in it and was one of the producers. His involvement is said to remain unchanged. The Hollywood Reporter

Start looking at Jeremy Renner in Bourne

The very first official image has showed up in the Bourne Legacy, also it provides for us an initial take a look at Jeremy Renner as Jason Bourne's alternative - arse-kicking super-spy Aaron Mix.Putting on a dark leather jacket and gray t-shirt, it appears as if Mix continues to be raiding Bourne's wardrobe while he's been away. Tut-tut.In most honesty, the look does not inform us an excessive amount of about what to anticipate in the film, suffice to express that Renner gets the steely-eyed concentration of your average Treadstone operative lower to some art work.The film isn't a reboot by itself, rather another story told inside the parameters from the existing Bourne world. The film is going to be directed by Tony Gilroy, who ought to be a dab hands at maintaining continuity, considering that he was film writer around the first three films.Renner is going to be became a member of by Rachel Weisz, Albert Finney, Joan Allen and Oscar Isaac, with Edward Norton on villain responsibilities. The Bourne Legacy is launched in United kingdom movie theaters on 17 August 2012.