‘Ted Lasso’ Showrunner Bill Lawrence Signs Massive New Overall Deal at Warner Bros. TV

Joe Otterson TV ReporterMia Katigbak has been cast in the upcoming ABC comedy pilot “Josep.”Katigbak will appear opposite previously announced series lead Jo Koy and Rory O’Malley. The show follows a recently divorced Filipino American nurse (Koy) attempting to navigate dating, fatherhood and a very Filipino mother who loves to “help.”Katigbak will star as Lorna, Jo’s mom. She is described as a little Filipino force of nature.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterPhoebe Waller-Bridge has gotten a greenlight at Amazon for a new comedy series, Variety has confirmed.Details on the show’s plot are currently being kept under wraps.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterKristen Campo has renewed her first-look deal with Endeavor Content. In addition, Campo has launched the new production shingle Campout Productions.“The longstanding relationship I’ve had with Endeavor Content is truly meaningful, and I couldn’t ask for better partners,” said Campo. “I’m excited to continue developing compelling premium programming for years to come.”Campo has hired Hannah Getts to lead Campout as vice president of development and production.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterLegendary Television has hired Jen Roskind to serve as executive vice president of production, Variety has learned exclusively.In her new role, Roskind will manage all aspects of the studio’s operations, including physical production, post-production, safety & risk management and production labor. She will report to Carmi Zlotnik, president of Legendary TV.“We are fortunate and excited to have Jen join our team at such a pivotal time in the TV marketplace,” said Zlotnik.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterA&E and WWE have signed a multi-year extension of their programming partnership.Under the terms of the deal, A&E has ordered more than 130 hours of new programming centered on the sports entertainment giant.“A&E is an amazing partner with an impressive lineup of signature series across its networks,” said Nick Khan, WWE president. “The expansion of our partnership will allow us to continue creating a massive slate of new content with a trusted partner, while further establishing A&E as a destination for WWE fans for years to come.”The partnership includes 35 new episodes of “Biography: WWE Legends,” which was A&E’s most-watched series of 2021.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSpectrum Originals has ordered the dramedy series “Panhandle” starring Luke Kirby and Tiana Okoye, Variety has learned.Set in the Florida panhandle, the series follows agoraphobic arm-chair detective Bell Prescott (Kirby) and reluctant traffic cop Cammie Lorde (Okoye) as they wrestle with personal demons, shocking twists, and a few Florida gators on their journey to heal themselves and their town.Spectrum has ordered an eight-episode first season of the series, which will shoot in Savannah, GA. It will have a nine month exclusive ad-free run on Spectrum before an ad-supported second window on The Roku Channel.Nicholas Stoller and Carla Kettner created the series and will serve as executive producers.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterCallum Greene and Sara Greene’s Bright Greene production banner has entered into a first-look deal with Amazon, Variety has learned.Callum is an executive producer on Amazon’s highly-anticipated TV series “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.” Under the deal, Bright Greene will develop and produce new projects for Amazon’s streaming platform. UTA brokered the deal on behalf of Bright Greene.\“After the epic journey of Season One we couldn’t be more excited to continue our work with Amazon,” said Callum Greene.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSera Gamble is developing a series adaptation of the Francesca Lia Block book “Weetzie Bat,” Variety has learned exclusively.The series follows Weetzie, her best friend Dirk, and their found family as they traverse the sparkling, dangerous, secret world beneath the surface of 1980s Los Angeles. Weetzie faces the deepest heartbreaks of life with a spirit of hard-won optimism and an unfailing knack for finding the magic hidden inside the ordinary. Weetzie has discovered something amazing: magic is real, and it is hiding in plain sight in the city of Los Angeles.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterBoat Rocker Studios and Shamier Anderson and Stephan James’ Bay Mills Studios are teaming to co-produce a limited series about the life of Jean-Michel Basquiat.James is attached to star in the untitled series, which would be set in 1980s New York City. It will showcase the rise of Basquiat, from an obscure graffiti artist to a Neo-expressionist painter of rockstar status. It will also explore Basquiat’s close friendship with Andy Warhol and his ultimate demise.“We’re grateful to be working with Shamier, Stephan, and the entire Bay Mills Studios team to tell the story of a visionary artist whose profound cultural influence only continues to grow with time,” said Steve Lescroart, president of scripted for Boat Rocker Studios.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterCAA has signed Lee Myoungwoo for representation, Variety has learned exclusively. He continues to be represented by manager Chris S.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterMelissa Benoist could soon be returning to the Berlanti-verse.Variety has confirmed with sources that Benoist is in talks to star in the series “Girls on the Bus” at HBO Max, which is executive produced by Greg Berlanti. Berlanti previously executive produced The CW series “Supergirl,” which starred Benoist in the title role.Reps for HBO Max and Warner Bros. Television declined to comment.It was announced on Thursday that “Girls on the Bus” has received a straight-to-series order at HBO Max after previously having been set up at The CW and Netflix.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterFans of “American Crime Story” were perplexed when “Impeachment,” the newest installment of the show, was not available to stream on Hulu after its linear premiere other FX titles these days. Network chairman John Landgraf says that fact may have hurt the show’s standing in the cultural conversation.“I think that not being on a streaming platform played to ‘Impeachment’s’ disadvantage,” Landgraf said in an interview with Variety.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterKarrueche Tran has signed with sister companies M88 and UNCMMN for representation, Variety has learned exclusively.The companies will work in tandem to grow Tran’s work across film, TV, fashion, and in the digital space.Tran currently stars in Peacock’s drama series “Bel-Air,” a reinvention of the beloved sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” She is best known for her starring role in the critically-acclaimed TNT drama “Claws,” appearing in the role of Virginia throughout the show’s four season run. “Claws” officially came to an end with the series finale on Feb.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSteve Yockey has signed a multi-year overall deal with Warner Bros. Television, Variety has learned.Yockey is best known for creating the critically-acclaimed HBO Max series “The Flight Attendant” starring Kaley Cuoco, which is produced by WBTV.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterMelissa Fumero has joined the upcoming Netflix comedy series “Blockbuster,” Variety has learned.Fumero joins previously announced cast member Randall Park in the single-cam comedy, which takes place at the last Blockbuster Video in America. Further castings for the ensemble workplace comedy will be announced at a later date.Fumero will play Eliza, described as a dedicated mother whose marriage to her high school sweetheart is on the rocks. She left Harvard after one semester to start a family and now works at Blockbuster alongside Timmy (Park) as his trusty number two.Fumero is best known for her starring role as Det.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe business anthology series “Super Pumped” has been renewed for Season 2 at Showtime.The news was announced as part of the ViacomCBS investor day presentation. Each season of the show will focus on a different major story from the world of business.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAndrew Rannells has been cast in a recurring role in the upcoming Hulu limited series “Immigrant.”The darkly comedic series tells the true story of Somen “Steve” Banerjee (Kumail Nanjiani), the Indian-American entrepreneur who started Chippendales. Along with Nanjiani and Rannells, the cast also includes Murray Bartlett and Annaleigh Ashford.Rannells will play the rich kid investor in Chippendales New York and the love interest of Bartlett, who stars as producer-choreographer Nick De Noia.Rannells’ recent onscreen roles include “Black Monday” at Showtime and “Girls5Eva” at Peacock.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“Documentary Now!” has unveiled the first details of its upcoming fourth season (or 53rd according to the show).While the new season of the IFC comedy series does not have a premiere date, it is expected to air on IFC and AMC Plus in 2022. The new season will consist of six episodes and is currently in production.Documentaries to be featured in the upcoming season include:· Paying homage to fashion documentaries “3 Salons at the Seaside” and “The September Issue,” “Two Hairdressers in Bagglyport” is a fly-on-the-wall portrait of a hair salon owner and her staff in the small coastal village of Bagglyport as they prepare their yearly stylebook.· In the vein “When We Were Kings” and other great explorations of sport, “How They Threw Rocks” chronicles the Welsh sport of Craig Maes, also known as “Field Rock”, and the iconic 1974 bout dubbed “The Melon vs.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterNatalie Abrams has signed with CAA for representation in all areas. She continues to be repped by attorney Patti Felker at Felker Toczek Suddleson Abramson.Abrams most recently landed a pilot order at The CW for the DC series “Gotham Knights.” She serves as a writer on the pilot alongside Chad Fiveash and James Stoteraux, with Greg Berlanti executive producing.Abrams is no stranger to the DC universe on The CW, having worked as a writer on “Batwoman” as well as “Supergirl.” She has also written for fellow CW show “All American.” She also write a Batwoman tie-in comic book for DC Comics, which is due to be released this spring.Prior to getting into writing for television, Abrams worked as an entertainment journalist.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe new “Goosebumps” TV series has been picked up by Disney Plus, Variety has learned exclusively.The new series version of the beloved R.L. Stine books was first reported as being in the works in April 2020. Disney Plus has given the show a 10-episode order.The series follows a group of five high schoolers who unleash supernatural forces upon their town and must all work together – thanks to and in spite of their friendships, rivalries, and pasts with each other – in order to save it, learning much about their own parents’ teenage secrets in the process.Nick Stoller and Rob Letterman serve as writers and executive producers on the show, with Stoller executive producing via Stoller Global Solutions.