Writer-Producer Soo Hugh Inks Overall Deal With UCP; Launches Asian Incubator Program

EXCLUSIVE: Writer Syreeta Singleton is expanding her relationship with HBO and HBO Max, signing a one-year overall deal with the premium cabler and streaming platform. Under the pact, Singleton will develop new material for the networks and showrun the upcoming HBO Max series, Rap Sh*t.

Paris Hilton is getting into business with Warner Bros. Unscripted Television, signing an exclusive two-year overall deal with the studio.

EXCLUSIVE: In a competitive situation with multiple bidders, comedian/actress Iliza Shlesinger’s next book All Things Aside has landed at Abrams Books and Blackstone Audio for a 2022 publication.

EXCLUSIVE: Golden Globe-nominated writer Liz Hannah (The Post, The Girl From Plainville) has signed an overall deal with MRC Television and Civic Center Media, a joint venture between UTA and MRC. Under the pact, Hannah will develop and produce television projects with the indie studio partnership through her newly launched company, Happy Friday Productions.

EXCLUSIVE: WME has signed writer Valentina Garza, whose credits include co-executive producer roles on the CW’s Jane the Virgin and ABC’s The Baker and the Beauty.

EXCLUSIVE: In just two short years, Davita Scarlett has emerged as one of Robert and Michelle King’s MVP writer-producers, simultaneously serving as a co-executive producer on two of the duo’s series, The Good Fight for Paramount+ and Evil for CBS. Scarlett is now joining the talent roster of CBS Studios, which is behind The Good Fight and Evil, signing a multi-year overall deal to develop new projects for the studio targeting all platforms.

Naman Ramachandran Newly launched U.K. production outfit Flying Fish has signed a three-year multi-film distribution deal with U.K.

Mónica Marie Zorrilla Angela Robinson has signed a multi-year overall deal with Warner Bros. Television GroupUnder the terms of the agreement, the director and writer of the GLAAD Media Award and Saturn Award-nominated independent drama “Professor Marston and the Wonder Women” will develop and create original scripted television programming for all Warner Bros.

ViacomCBSNetworks International is deepening its ties in Asia through a new deal signed with South Korean company Something Special to co-develop TV formats. Inked by ViacomCBS division VIS, the deal gives the U.S.

Women’s rights activist Malala Yousafzai, the youngest ever Nobel laureate, has entered a multi-year programming partnership with Apple TV+. Under the multi-year pact, The I Am Malala author will work with the streaming platform on a slate of original programming spanning dramas, documentaries, children’s’ series and more that draw on her ability to inspire people around the world.

Cynthia Littleton Business EditorFrank Lupo, the TV writer-producer who was a frequent collaborator with Stephen J. Cannell in the 1980s on such high-octane dramas as “The A-Team,” “Hunter” and “Wiseguy,” has died.

Over the past four years, Jenny Lumet established herself as one of CBS Studios’ most prolific creators/showrunners. Now the studio has secured Lumet’s exclusive services for four more years with a rich overall production deal, said to be in the eight-figure range.

EXCLUSIVE: Charly Evon Simpson is getting into business with HBO. The prolific playwright is expanding her reach in television, signing an overall deal with the premium cabler. Under the pact, Simpson will serve as a consulting producer on the second season of Industry. She is also currently a member of the writing staff for the second season of Perry Mason, which recently earned three Critics Choice nominations.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterKeke Palmer as signed an overall television deal with Entertainment One (eOne), Variety has learned exclusively.“I am thrilled to be partnering with eOne to create entertaining, meaningful, fun television experiences that will deeply connect with audiences and be reflective of our current world,” Palmer said.

Mónica Marie Zorrilla Soo Hugh, television writer and executive producer of AMC’s “The Terror” and creator of ABC’s “The Whispers,” has inked a multi-year overall deal with Universal Content Productions to develop, write and produce projects for the studio.In addition, Hugh will launch an incubator program with the goal of helping find new Asian talent to create shows and jumpstart fruitful careers in the entertainment industry.“From ‘The Terror’ to ‘Pachinko,’ Soo has captured epic stories

WarnerMedia parent AT&T said Thursday it’s clinched a deal to sell a significant minority satellite in DirecTV, U-Verse and AT&T TV to private equity group TPG in a deal will net the telecom giant  $7.8 billion in cash.

EXCLUSIVE: Fear The Walking Dead co-creator Dave Erickson has closed an overall deal with MRC Television. Under the multi-year pact, Erickson will exclusively work with the indie studio on the creation and development of television series on which he will serve as writer-showrunner or supervise other writers.

Danielle Turchiano Senior Features Editor, TVComedian Ronny Chieng has struck a deal with Netflix for three upcoming projects: two new stand-up specials and a docu-style comedy special, Variety has learned exclusively.The still-to-be-titled docu-comedy special is described as a “semi-scripted road trip comedy” in which Chieng and his fellow comedian David Fung journey through a one-of-a-kind tour of America’s Chinatowns to promote local businesses, explore Asian American culture and push “each

TikTok has launched its new Black Creatives incubator program, and announced the lucky and talented slate of artists who will be participating in the program.TikTok announced on Tuesday that, after receiving over 5,000 applications, they've chosen 100 emerging Black creators to take part in the three-month incubator program, deisgned to foster and develop their platform and their voices.The participating creators run the gamut of different content categories, from arts and entertainment to music

BBC Studios Inks First-Look Deal With Gobstopper Group BBC Studios has signed a first-look deal with Gobstopper Group, the company behind MTV’s Just Tattoo of Us and Revenge Prank With DJ Pauly D & Vinny. As part of its expansion plans, Gobstopper Group has launched Mermaid Studios in Belfast, helmed by Paddy Mckenna, the former head of development at Sony-owned Stellify, and Neil Dimmock, who joins from BBC One’s Sunday Morning Live.