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Exclusive: Former Daily Show executive producer Josh Lieb has sold two multi-camera comedy projects — one at NBC with actor-comedian Nick Thune and one at Fox that Jack Black’s company is producing. Both hail from Warner Bros Television. The Lieb/Thune comedy received multiple offers before landing at NBC with penalty. Lieb and Thune will write the script for the project, which centers on a heartbroken hipster who quits his job and city life and moves to a small Oregon town. Thune is attached to star, while Lieb would showrun behind the Fox project, which is in first position. Lieb will executive produce, Thune will co-executive produce. Thune, repped by Wme and 3 Arts, has starred in NBC comedy pilots for the past two seasons, Beach Lane in 2010 and I Hate That I Love You last year. Lieb’s Fox comedy, which has a script commitment, is co-produced by Wbtv, Jack Black...

Exclusive: Seinfeld alum Spike Feresten is returning to NBC with a new half-hour project starring a stand-up comedian. The untitled comedy, toplined by Nick Thune, revolves around a group of twentysomethings new to Los Angeles seen through the eyes of the newest arrival, played by Thune. Feresten created and is writing the project, which is being produced by Ums. He is executive producing with 3 Arts which manages both Feresten and Thune, while Thune serves as a co-executive producer. Wme-repped Thune, who has a Web series, Nick's Big Show, has appeared in such movies as Knocked Up and Unaccompanied Minors. He returns to NBC after starring opposite Matthew Broderick in the network's comedy pilot Beach Lane in the spring. CAA-repped Feresten worked on Seinfeld during the hit comedy's last 3 seasons. He recently hosted and executive produced a late-night talk show on Fox and, along with Dana Carvey, wrote, executive produced and...

Every year, the broadcast nets compile a wish list of stars they hope will make their way (or in some cases, their way back) to the small screen. Now that drama and comedy development has already begun for the 2011-12 season, here are some potential headliners for next year. And for more on powerful entertainers, pick up the latest issue of EW.

Kevin Bacon. It’s been 20 years since he played a brilliant med student in Flatliners, but who says Kyra Sedgwick’s husband couldn’t slap on some scrubs in a hip new hospital drama?

Susan Sarandon. She teased...

The Fall TV Season presentations for all the new network shows take place this week with the first announced today. Here's a full breakdown of which concepts have made the final list over on NBC.

While the Peacock has struggled in recent years, those were like a cakewalk compared to this past season as the network became a very public punching bag over the debacle of its 10pm Jay Leno show experiment, the Leno/Conan media wars, and ultimately the general failure of its shows which all struggled in the ratings - most visibly its two new medical dramas and the once proud "Heroes".

By the end of the season the only real success stories to talk about were the network's well-regarded but not spectacularly-rated Thursday night comedy block (Community, 30 Rock, Office), and "Chuck" which only just got renewed last season and is proving to be one of the network's...

Encouraging news (somewhat) for disappointed fans of the canceled Law & Order and Heroes: NBC will talk to the creators about producing either a two-hour movie or some kind of event to give the shows closure next season (unfortunately, there are no air dates yet). And though Parks & Recreation didn’t make the cut on Thursdays this fall – NBC chose instead to launch the new half-hour Outsourced at 9:30 to lead into the hour-long comedy Love Bites – NBC promised that Amy Poehler’s laugher will not only return by midseason but possibly earn the 9:30 p.m. berth behind The Office.

Update 3:20 Pm: The Matthew Broderick starrer Beach Lane pilot is now dead. Previous 3 Pm: NBC picked up romantic comedy Perfect Couples to series. It hails from Ums and writers Jon Pollack and Scott Silveri. Andy Ackerman directed the pilot. The pilot started making firm offers to writers yesterday. “Jon and Scott are hugely talented writer-producers and they’ve really delivered with Perfect Couples,” NBC’s scripted chief Angela Bromstad said. Perfect Couples chronicles the relationships of three couples. It stars Kyle Howard, Christine Woods, Dave Walton, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Hayes MacArthur and Olivia Munn. Perfect Couples joins recently picked up new [...]...

Plus Andy Rooney is old, Doug Reinhardt strips down to benefit your testicles, just how gay is Spongebob Squarepants, and is Idol still wooing Sir Elton?

Some folks are claiming you can tell which shows NBC intends to order by checking to see if they’ve reserved the Twitter name. Among the unannounced shows where NBC has invested 30 seconds of time and no money, you can see that Matthew Broderick’s Beach Lane may be happening.

Fox has announced that So You Think You Can Dance isn’t just shaking things up with all-stars for partners this season, they’ve also shuffled the judging panel around to have Nigel Lythgoe, Adam Shankmann, and Mia Michaels as the permanent judges, no doubt after too many lawsuits about Mary Murphy’s screaming damaging viewers televisions.

NBC has caused speculation by signing up for a number of new Twitter accounts. According to The TV Addict, the accounts are named after shows currently on the network's development slate, sparking rumours that the pilots have been picked up. Summer Glau's The Cape, David E. Kelley's Kindreds and Jerry Bruckheimer's Chase all have pages named after them. They are joined by The Rockford Files, The Strip and Matthew Broderick's Beach Lane. All of the Twitter accounts begin (more)...

Patton Oswalt's loss is Nick Thune's gain this week on Beach Lane, the NBC comedy pilot which did some mysterious last minute cast shuffling last week after a table read. Comedian Thune, best known for his parts in Knocked Up and Unaccompanied Minors, will assume Oswalt's former role of an irresponsible millionaire heir given the job of running his struggling small-town newspaper. Matthew Broderick will co-star as a celebrity journalist enlisted to help. [Deadline]...

Exclusive: Comedian Nick Thune has landed the co-lead opposite Matthew Broderick on NBC’s comedy pilot Beach Lane. He replaces Patton Oswalt who was originally cast in the role but let go after the table read. Beach Lane stars Broderick as a celebrity author is hired by an irresponsible millionaire heir (Thune) to run his struggling small-town newspaper. Trio In the Running For NBC's 'Beach Lane' Trio Cast in the NBC Pilot 'Beach Lane' TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.

Filed under: TV News Daily

Seems as though Patton Oswalt can't get a break anywhere these days.

First, the comedian and actor ('The King of Queens,' 'Ratatouille,' 'Big Fan') had his bid for a Broadway debut shelved after a staged revival of Terrence McNally's 'Lips Together, Teeth Apart' fell apart.

And now, just days after the news that he and Kristen Johnston ('3rd Rock From the Sun') were ushered on board the Matthew Broderick comedy 'Beach Lane,' the Hollywood Reporter is saying Oswalt may be out of that show as well.

Continue reading Patton Oswalt Leaving 'Beach Lane' Already?

 

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· In this new still from The American, George Clooney is on the run from...priests? Well, who can blame him.

· Amanda Seyfried needs some hot wings, guys. "I'm not going to deny that I don't think about [my weight] every day, it's always on my mind," Seyfried told AOL Stylelist. "I have to stay in shape because I'm an actress. It's f**ked up and it's twisted, but I wouldn't get the roles otherwise."

· Nick Thune, Michael McMillian, and John Forest are all angling for the role vacated by Patton Oswalt in NBC's Beach Lane.

· Wizards of Waverly Place star David Henrie was popped by cops for trying to start a fight at Universal CityWalk. How embarrassing! No one wants to be known for going to Universal CityWalk.

· What's it like to play Scattergories with Michael Jackson? Just ask B.J. Novak.

Patton Oswalt has taken a stroll away from starring in "Beach Lane."

The comedian was set to star as lazy millionaire heir James in the series, but following a table read Tuesday (April 13), he's no longer going to take the role, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

It's not certain if that means he's leaving the show altogether or if he'll take another part.

In "Beach Lane," the character James is tasked with running a struggling newspaper in the Hamptons. He hires a famous writer (Matthew Broderick) to help him save it. Kristen Johnston has also been cast in the multi-camera series.

Deadline claims that there are already three names lined up to possibly take over the James role: Nick Thune, Michael McMillian and John Forest.

Of the three, probably the most recognizable is McMillian, who played Fellowship of the Son leader Steve Newlin on HBO's "True Blood." Thune is a...

Exclusive: Comedian Nick Thune, True Blood’s Michael McMillian and John Forest, are in contention to replace Patton Oswalt on NBC’s comedy pilot Beach Lane. The three are screen testing with star Matthew Broderick. Beach Lane stars Broderick as a celebrity author is hired by an irresponsible millionaire heir – the role that is being recast-- to run his struggling small-town newspaper. The decision to recast the role was made after the pilot’ table read, making for a tough last few weeks for Oswalt who was slated to make his Broadway debut in Lips Together, Teeth Apart until the play unraveled following the [...]...

Stand-up comedian Patton Oswalt has quit Matthew Broderick's new sitcom Beach Lane - just days after he was cast.

An announcement on Monday revealed the funnyman had won a starring role in the comedy alongside the Ferris Bueller's Day Off star and comic actress Kristen Johnston.

Oswalt was set to portray a slacker who runs a flagging small-town newspaper and hires Broderick, who plays a journalist, to revive the company.

Producers are said to have offered Oswalt another role in the show but it is unclear if he will accept, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Welcome to your Friday morning television briefing. I still have to get caught up on last night's telly as I was out rubbing elbows with the cast and crew of Doctor Who at a BAFTA/La screening, Q&A, and cocktail party. (Matt Smith, Karen Gillan, Steven Moffat, and former showrunner Russell T Davies were all in attendance and all very chatty.) Burn Notice fans will be very happy this morning: USA has announced that it has renewed the drama series for a fifth And sixth season even before Season Four of Burn Notice has even launches. The two additional seasons will run at least a respective 15 and 18 episodes, with Season Five set to begin shooting in about a year. "Once Saturday Night Live makes fun of you,' how can you not commit to extra seasons?" Jeff Wachtel, USA's president of original programming, told Variety. It also helps that...

That was fast. Apparently Patton Oswalt has already been dismissed from the 'Beach Lane' pilot he was just scheduled for a few days ago. Talk about a sudden change of heart.

No reason was given for the dismissal. Perhaps the producers decided they didn't need his role? Perhaps they were afraid he would overshadow co-star Matthew Broderick? He was offered another role in the same show, but no word on whether he accepted (it seems unlikely).

I'm reminded of when I saw 'The Producers' on Broadway. Broderick was okay in his role as Leo Bloom but Nathan Lane easily stole the show as Max Bialystock. Oswalt strikes me as a "Lane" type that could easily become the center of the program (if not for the strong character of Kevin James, he could easily have done the same in 'The King of Queens').

Of course,...

Well, that was fast. Just three days after it was announced Patton Oswalt would star in Matthew Broderick's comedy pilot Beach Lane, The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that the actor is leaving the series following a table read. The publication's source tells them he was offered another role on the show, but it's "unclear" if he is interested. (EW's calls to Oswalt's rep were not immediately returned.) To make matters worse, this news comes on the heels of the demise of his Broadway show Lips Together, Teeth Apart, which was postponed after Megan Mullally exited the show. (The show...

There's been a shakeup on NBC comedy pilot "Beach Lane": Patton Oswalt is out of his co-starring role a few days after being cast.

The comedian was announced Monday to co-star in the multicamera project alongside Matthew Broderick and Kristen Johnston. One source said that producers have offered Oswalt another part, but it was unclear whether he is interested in staying on in a different role.

Oswalt was set to play James, a slacker with inherited wealth who's given the job of running a small newspaper in the Hamptons. He hires a renowned journalist (Broderick) to help turn around the paper.

UMS and Oswalt's reps had no comment.

Got tips on TV-industry news? Contact Hollywood Reporter TV Editor James Hibberd at james.hibberd@thr.com...

Drink tequila with Ellen, Modern Family's trophy wife, and Cheyenne Jackson and Jake Gyllenhaal duel for NYC's most adorable.

First, a note about today’s header photo. I took this picture of daddy bald eagle Saturday, about a half hour from home. He and his wife have a giant nest on an island above Sandstone Falls, and two little fuzzballs that are 10-day-old eaglets. Nature is awesome.

This spoiler from the Spurf™ say the Glee season finale made my man Matthew Morrison cry. It also says the judges for the Regionals are Sue Sylvester, Olivia Newton-John, and Josh Groban.

We also got a press release that says Sue Sylvester's music video for "Vogue" will premiere tonight during the spring premiere, a full week before the Madonna episode.

The Webby Award nominations were announced, and the gayest thing I see is Rage with Jude Law crossdressing.

I’m really trying...

We know, we know: There’s always an abundance of new TV pilots to wade through each year, and each one touts itself as the best. Although NBC hasn’t yet released many details about its upcoming comedy series, Beach Lane, the cast certainly looks promising. Patton Oswalt, a Paste favorite, will be joining Matthew Broderick and Kristen Johnston (of Third Rock From The Sun fame) on the show....

By Josef Adalian 

Former "3rd Rock from the Sun" star Kristen Johnson is returning to the Peacock fold, joining the cast of NBC's oddly-named Matthew Broderick comedy "Beach Lane."

Also headed to the show, according to a rare NBC press release announcing casting on a pilot: Aimee Garcia ("Trauma"), Henry Zebrowski ("Law & Order: Svu") and Patton Oswalt.

"Beach Lane," which sounds like it should be the name of Nathan Lane's younger sister, has Broderick as an author who ends up working as a newspaper journalist (what, Starbucks wasn't hiring?...

Filed under: TV News Daily

Newspapers don't die -- they just get funny. Or at least that's what NBC is hoping for as it rounds out the top cast members for its Matthew Broderick comedy pilot "Beach Lane."

According to a report in Variety, the network has added comedian Patton Oswalt ('Ratatouille') and '3rd Rock From the Sun's' Kristen Johnston to the show, which revolves around a millionaire (Oswalt) who hires a celebrity author (Broderick) to help his struggling newspaper in the Hamptons.

Continue reading Patton Oswalt, Kristen Johnston Make News at 'Beach Lane'

 

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In another sign that NBC’s freshman series Trauma has run out of lives at NBC, the network has cast one of the show’s stars, Aimee Garcia as a lead on the Matthew Broderick comedy pilot Beach Lane. Also cast in the pilot from Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video, are Patton Oswalt and “3rd Rock from the Sun” alumna Kristen Johnson. Beach Lane stars Broderick as a celebrity author is hired by an irresponsible millionaire heir (Oswalt) to run his struggling small-town newspaper. For Garcia, Beach Lane is formally in second position to Trauma, which recently ended its freshman run on NBC. The low-rated paramedic drama [...]...

Don't cry for Patton Oswalt, whose Broadway debut in Lips Together, Teeth Apart was canceled thanks to Megan Mullally's gripes and exit. He's been cast as a Hamptons billionaire in the NBC pilot Beach Lane with Matthew Broderick and Kristen Johnston. That's an exciting ensemble; in fact, if anyone's owed a proper comeback here, it's Johnston, whose most recent attempt at television was not that absolutely fabulous. [Variety]...

Transforming from an animated rat in Ratatouille to a Hamptons billionaire in NBC's new series, Beach Lane, Patton Oswalt has certainly climbed the character ladder. Oswalt and Third Rock From the Sun's Kristen Johnston have joined Matthew Broderick in the pilot, about a millionaire (Oswalt) who hires a celebrity author (Broderick) to help his struggling newspaper in the Hamptons. Johnston's role has not yet been announced. Oswalt became available for the project after his Broadway show Lips Together, Teeth Apart fell through last month. Would you like to see Oswalt as a non-animated leading man, PopWatchers? He's certainly due for his own TV series,...

Actor-comedian Patton Oswalt has landed a co-starring lead role on NBC's half-hour comedy pilot "Beach Lane."

Oswalt ("Ratatouille," "Big Fan") will star opposite Matthew Broderick in the project, playing James, a slacker with inherited wealth who's given the job of running a small Hamptons newspaper. James hires a renowned journalist (Broderick) to help turn the paper around.

Kristen Johnston ("Third Rock From the Sun") also has been cast in a series regular role playing James' stepsister, a real estate agent. She's repped by Paradigm.

"Lane" was created by Paul Simms ("Bored to Death," "The Larry Sanders Show") and produced by Lorne Michaels and Marci Klein. Oswalt is repped by CAA and Generate.

Also in pilot castings, newcomer Max Ehrich ("The Pregnancy Pact") has booked roles in two CBS pilots. The first, a quintuplets mockumentary titled "Quinn-Tuplets," has Ehrich playing Patrick opposite Dougray Scott and Molly Parker.

The second, "Team Spitz,...

It’s no secret we love TV. We watch it, talk about it, review it and generally spend a lot of time with it. So, it should come as no surprise we’re very interested in what new shows may potentially be coming to the networks in the near future.

Fortunately, we don’t have to do a lot of work to find out, and you have to do even less, because the guys and gals at EW have gathered together lists of all of the 2010-2011 season pilot orders for ABC, CBS and NBC. Wasn’t that nice of them? Yes, yes it was.

Just between these three networks (we’ll bring you Fox and the others, including cable, later), 31 dramas and 29 comedies are being considered. What shows will make it to the Fall schedule is still anyone’s guess, and we’ll have to wait until May to find out,...

Now that it has lots of shelf space to fill at 10 p.m. (so long, Jay Leno!), NBC is looking to uber-producers like Jj Abrams, David E. Kelley and Jerry Bruckheimer to plug some serious holes in primetime this fall. And fans of the old must-see Frasier and Seinfeld format may have reason to rejoice: The network is finally re-investing in more multi-camera comedies like one starring Matthew Broderick. Here are the network's fall pilot orders, many of which are still being cast (decisions on which projects are ordered to series are typically made in the weeks leading up to NBC's presentation to advertisers,...