Spielberg, Katzenberg Part of TNT, TBS Plans

Cable networks take the wraps off of drama, animation projects.

Cable networks take the wraps off of drama, animation projects.

Turner Entertainment Networks gave its upfront presentation on Wednesday, unveiling details on its previously announced collaborations with Jerry Bruckheimer and Mark Burnett and unveiling its participation in scripted dramas with Steven Spielberg and Steven Bochco.

Also announced: TBS will air an animated series called "Neighbors from Hell" from Fox TV animation and Jeffrey Katzenberg and DreamWorks Animation.

The network is also developing a sitcom titled "The Game of Life" to be executive-produced by Kevin James; an animated series "Big Tow;" and a sketch comedy show "Wee Hours" from Second City TV.

TNT announced earlier this month that it's launching three new series this summer: a hospital drama "Hawthorne" with Jada Pinkett Smith, Bruckheimer's "Dark Blue" starring Dylan McDermott and reality foray "Wedding Day" from Burnett and DreamWorks Television. It is also bringing back four original shows: "The Closer," "Saving Grace," "Raising The Bar" and "Leverage."

The network on Wednesday said that it had ordered a pilot executive produced by Spielberg from DreamWorks Television called "Untitled Alien Invasion Project" about a heroes struggling to survive in a world ravaged by a recent alien invasion. The pilot is being written by "Saving Private Ryan" screenwriter Robert Rodat.

Bochco is working with Stephen Godchaux on "Class Action," which tells the story of an attorney fighting on behalf of the disadvantaged.

Husband-and-wife pair Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick are slated to executive produce "Zapata, Texas," a series about a Texas border town and its new sheriff.

In December, TNT will debut a drama from Ray Romano and Mike Royce called "Men of a Certain Age," in which Romano will star as a man nearing his mid-life crisis. The network is also working on an untitled family drama, scripted dramas "The Mayo Clinic" and "Trip of a Lifetime" and a Daniel Pyne drama set in 1954 Los Angeles.

"Our networks are continuing to grow as rivals to broadcasters, with original programming that reaches a wide spectrum of viewers," said Steve Koonin, president of Turner Entertainment Networks.

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