The USA Network unveiled a new slate of 13 projects including seven dramas and five half-hour comedies, one of them starring Nathan Lane, at its upfront presentation to advertisers in New York City Monday.
The network also announced a second-season pickup for "Fairly Legal," starring Sarah Shahi, who broke the good news to the audience. It said production on 13 new episodes will begin in late summer 2011 to air in the first quarter of 2012.
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USA tried to woo advertisers with what it pitched as a uniquely character-driven upfront, in keeping with its successful "Characters Welcome" campaign -- all actors, no executives.
The slate, the first for new co-presidents Chris McCumber and Jeff Wachtel, bragged projects with Mark Gordon ("Grey's Anatomy," "Criminal Minds") and Kara DioGuardi (“American Idol”), plus Parkes/MacDonald Productions (“A Beautiful Mind,” “American Beauty,” “Saving Private Ryan”). The network also announced that Doug Liman, Dave Bartis and Gene Klein ("Covert Affairs," "Suits"), would develop shows.
"After five years as the number one cable network, our development goal must be not only to do great new shows with original voices, but also to push the envelope of audience expectations," said Wachtel. "This new slate speaks to both of those objectives."
"This powerful slate marks an evolution for USA as we aggressively expand the scope of our content," said McCumber. "Developed strategically through our brand lens, this diverse roster represents the network’s introduction of more provocative, innovative original programming than ever before."
USA’s description of its slated shows:
SILENT PARTNER (One hour drama)
An ambulance-chasing attorney and his idealistic young paralegal form a powerful team. Their unlikely partnership is a product of the new phenomenon of legal oursourcing: He’s in Florida and she’s in India. Writer/Producer is Chris Downey (creator of “Leverage”). Executive Producers are Doug Liman & Dave Bartis and producer Gene Klein (COVERT AFFAIRS, SUITS) of Hypnotic. From Universal Cable Productions.
ON WE GO (1/2 hour comedy)
A single-camera comedy starring Nathan Lane as an unlucky actor whose career has been perpetually cursed by the fact that he resembles, but is in fact not, Nathan Lane. After his father’s health takes a turn for the worse, his Broadway aspirations have to be put on hold while he returns to his Texas hometown. Writer/Executive Producer is Douglas McGrath (“Emma,” “Infamous”). Executive Producer is Nathan Lane (“The Lion King,” “The Producers”). From Universal Cable Productions.
M. DEITY (One hour drama)
An unconventional medical drama about a good doctor who’s an even better meddler. In the aftermath of Katrina, he heroically saved numerous lives and now fights an intractable foe: hospital bureaucracy. Writer/Executive Producer is Billy Finnegan. Executive producers are Ann Blanchard, Sam Hansen and Jimmy Miller of Mosaic Media. From Universal Cable Productions.
THE SPECIAL (One hour drama)
In a stark contrast to the stereotypical TV cop, THE SPECIAL is about an energetic, optimistic homicide detective who suffers from hypomania.
