Videoage International August-September 2020

12 Aug/Sept. 2020 V I D E O A G E New U.S. TV Season TheViacomCBSGlobal Distribution screenings invite came moments after the Group issued a press release announcing that Nuñez “will pass the leadership baton for the division to veteran licensing and distribution executive Dan Cohen, who will assume his new role next month.” In his new role as president of ViacomCBS Global Distribution, Cohen has become the top global distribution executive for the company. Nuñez has moved into an advisory role at the ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group. Barry Chamberlain continues as president, International Sales. Even though Sony began its virtual screenings on May 25 and continued for two weeks, some clients were able to preview its line-up as early as the previous Friday. SPT was the first to jump on the virtual L.A. Screenings bandwagon, promising as early as March 27 that “content to be featured in the digital screening includes trailers and full- length episodes, as well as information about the series from executive producers.” Among the featured titles were comedy series Woke and adult animated comedy Crossing Swords , both premiering on Hulu, as well as action drama Coyote starring Michael Chiklis, and horror drama Chapelwaite starring Oscar- winner Adrien Brody. Global series included the Sara Pascoe comedy Out of Her Mind , historical drama Angel of Hamburg , and Leonardo , a murder mystery centered on the elusive artist and genius that stars Aidan Turner and Freddie Highmore. ViacomCBS International Studios (VIS) showcased its new line-up in two separate virtual presentations on May 22 with video connections from Miami, Madrid, and Buenos Aires. After an introduction from VIS president Pierluigi Gazzolo, actress Valeria Vera spoke with Federico Cuervo, Laura Abril, and Guillermo Borensztein about their new projects for VIS. After showing several video clips, Vera had a conversation with producer-director Juan José Campanella about several projects he’s worked on for VIS. Disney Media Distribution’s Virtual Summer Content Update began on Wednesday, July 1. It took place after an elaborate ABC-Disney virtual Upfront (called the Disney Virtual Roadshow), which was held on May 27. Earlier, NBCUniversal invited advertisers to a conversation about the “state of the marketplace.” The one-hour video presentation took place on May 11, the date NBCUniversal had initially set for its Upfront presentation. Disney Media Distribution’s Virtual Summer Content Update continued every Wednesday throughout the summer, and, according to an official statement, “[highlighted] our extensive pipeline of content offerings from The Walt Disney Company for our international clients, including new original series and specials from Disney Television Studios, FX Productions, Nat Geo, Hulu and ABC News.” The new U.S. TV season developments, which (Continued from Cover) ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group kick-started the virtual L.A. Screenings event. unfolded as dramatically as the dramas they usually showcase, were followed by VideoAge in print and digital updates. Below we are publishing the updated list of pilots currently still under consideration by the U.S. networks, as well as the new comedy and drama series that have already been ordered, with their international distributors listed (where available). fights for and the people she loves. International Distributor: Sony Pictures Television THE WONDER YEARS Prod Co: 20th Century Fox Television Set in the same era as the original series, the reboot shows a black middle-class family in Montgomery, Alabama in the turbulent late 1960s. WRECKAGE Prod Co: ABC Studios, Timberman & Beverly, Black Lamb Lillian Linden has been missing for almost four years until rescue helicopters scoop her and her fellow survivor off a deserted island in the South Pacific. International Distributor: Walt Disney Direct-to- Consumer & International CBS (COMEDY) B POSITIVE (series order) Prod Co: Warner Bros. Television, Chuck Lorre Productions Faced with finding a kidney donor, newly divorced dad Drew runs into Gina, a rough-around-the edges woman from his past who volunteers her own. GHOSTS Prod Co: CBS Television Studios, Lionsgate, BBC Studios, Monumental Television A young couple inherit a country house, only to find it’s inhabited by many of the deceased previous residents. Based on the British comedy series of the same name. International Distributor: Lionsgate JURY DUTY Prod Co: CBS Television Studios, Big Talk Productions A group of jurors are sequestered together until they all agree on a verdict — and they can’t even agree on lunch. International Distributor: ViacomCBS Global Distri- bution Group RAISED BY WOLVES Prod Co: Universal Television When Frankie’s neurotic sister, Tommie, abandons Quincy — a bright inner-city child who Tommie attempted to foster — Frankie is faced with the choice of taking him in or casting him out. THE THREE OF US Prod Co: CBS Television Studios, Fulwell 73 Adult siblings who are children of divorce must circle the wagons when their sister’s husband unexpectedly announces he wants to call it quits on their marriage. International Distributor: ViacomCBS Global Distri- bution Group THE UNITED STATES OF AL Prod Co: Warner Bros. Television, Chuck Lorre Pro- ductions A comedy about the friendship between a Marine combat vet struggling to readjust to civilian life, and the interpreter who served with him in Afghanistan, who has just arrived to start a new life in America. UNTITLED KINGSBURY/DALEY/GOLDSTEIN PRO- JECT ProdCo: CBSTelevisionStudios, Kapital Entertainment When Penelope’s career takes off at exactly the same time as her husband’s, they call on Penelope’s young single mom, Georgia, to help raise their son. International Distributor: ViacomCBS Global Distri- bution Grou p (Continued on Page 14) ABC (COMEDY) CALL YOURMOTHER (formerly MY VILLAGE ) (series order) Prod Co: ABC Studios, Sony Pictures Television An empty-nester mom wonders how she ended up alone while her children live their best lives thousands of miles away. HOME ECONOMICS Prod Co: ABC Studios, The Tannenbaum Company A series about three adult siblings — one in the one percent, one middle class, and one barely hanging on. International Distributor: Walt Disney Direct-to- Consumer & International PROSPECT Prod Co: ABC Studios An idealistic young woman moves to the frontier to be a schoolteacher, but her ideals are quickly tested when she learns that her students are rowdy ranch hands. International Distributor: Walt Disney Direct-to- Consumer & International UNTITLED GOLDBERG-MEEHAN PROJECT (for- merly BOSSY; KIDS MATTER NOW ) Prod Co: CBS Television Studios, 20th Century Fox Television A diva boss with no patience for working parents adopts a baby and has a change of heart, casting her mother-of-three assistant as an unlikely mentor. International Distributor: Walt Disney Direct-to- Consumer & International UNTITLED KAPNEK/HOLLAND PROJECT Prod Co: ABC Studios A love story with a twist centering on New York teen Lennon Cochrane, whose life is turned upside down when she stumbles on a family secret. International Distributor: Walt Disney Direct-to- Consumer & International WORK WIFE Prod Co: ABC Studios, Milojo Productions, Ryan Seacrest Productions Inspired by the real-life partnership of producers Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest, this single-camera comedy is set in the world of real estate. International Distributor: Walt Disney Direct-to- Consumer & International ABC (DRAMA) BIG SKY (straight-to-series order) Prod Co: 20th Century Fox Television, A+E Studios A private detective partners with an ex-cop to find two sisters who have been kidnapped by a long-haul trucker. Based on The Highway by C.J. Box. International Distributor: Walt Disney Direct-to- Consumer & International HARLEM’S KITCHEN Prod Co: ABC Studios, Mandeville TV Ellis Rice, executive chef and patriarch, runs a successful Harlem restaurant with his wife and three daughters. But an unexpected death puts the restaurant’s future in jeopardy. International Distributor: Walt Disney Direct-to- Consumer & International REBEL Prod Co: ABC Studios, Sony Pictures Television Inspired by the life of Erin Brockovich. Annie “Rebel” Bello is a blue-collar legal advocate without a law degree who cares desperately about the causes she