It’s a bidding war! Eva Longoria is being courted to star in pilots from both NBC and ABC, individuals with knowledge of the situation told TheWrap.
NBC is offering her a telenovela-style show from “Cougar Town” co-executive producers Chrissy Pietrosh and Jessica Goldstein with studio Universal Television, an NBC representative confirmed to TheWrap.
With Longoria onboard the project, it would get a straight-to-series 13-episode order. If not, it would get a pilot order. She would play a telenovela star whose life off-camera is just as dramatic as her life on-camera.
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Longoria has been working on the NBC project via her production company, UnbeliEVAble, and her partner Ben Spector, through their deal with Universal TV. Whether or not she signs on to star, they’ll both serve as executive producers.
Longoria also is considering an ABC comedy from “Trophy Wife” executive producers Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins, Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky through ABC Studios. The project originally was being fast-tracked through script phase and pilot order. But, the insider told TheWrap, if Longoria signs on, especially with the NBC pilot contending for her, ABC will match NBC’s straight-to-series order. Longoria would star as Mia, a home renovator who can’t stop sticking her nose in everyone’s problems and trying to solve them. She and Spector would serve as executive producers if she signs on to star.
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An ABC Studios rep did not yet respond to TheWrap’s request for comment.
Since “Desperate Housewives” ended in 2012, Longoria has been focusing on producing TV, including Lifetime’s “Devious Maids” and short-lived NBC show, “Ready for Love.” CAA and Brillstein Entertainment Partners represent Longoria.
Deadline first reported the bidding war.
Note: Some details around Longoria’s role as an executive producer on both projects whether she signs on to star or not have been updated.