NBC Greenlights Eva Longoria Series ‘Telenovela,’ Developing Projects With Dolly Parton
TCA 2015: Zachary Levi joins cast of “Heroes Reborn”
Tim Kenneally | January 16, 2015 @ 9:05 AM
Last Updated: January 16, 2015 @ 9:54 AM
NBC has given the go-ahead to a new series, “Telenovela,” which will star and be executive produced by “Desperate Housewives” alum Eva Longoria, NBC Entertainment chairman Robert Greenblatt announced at the Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena on Friday.
Greenblatt also said that the network is developing multiple projects with country singer Dolly Parton.
“Telenovela,” which has received an order for 13 episodes, will offer a behind-the-scenes look at the making of a telenovela, with Longoria portraying the star of the show.
“There are few actresses with as much international appeal as Eva Longoria,” said Jennifer Salke, President, NBC Entertainment. “She is a perfect fit for ‘Telenovela.’ Her character will try to navigate the hysteria and high jinks that everyone must endure in putting together a daily show.”
“Telenovela” is being produced by Universal Television and Unbelievable Entertainment,
Greenblatt also announced on Friday that Zachary Levi has joined the cast of the upcoming “Heroes” reboot “Heroes Reborn.”
The development deal with Parton will find the network developing a slate of two-hour movies based on the songs, stories and life of the country music icon, in conjunction with production partner Sam Haskell of Magnolia Hill Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television. Parton will star in and produce the movies.
“I am so excited to be involved with my friend Bob Greenblatt, who produced the Broadway version of ‘9 to 5: The Musical’ with me, and my longtime friend and former agent Sam Haskell,” Parton said. “We want to create projects for NBC that are both fun and inspirational with a family audience in mind.”
Among the other projects that Greenblatt announced ahead of the executive session Friday was an eight-hour miniseries tentatively titled “Freedom Run,” about the underground railroad of the slavery era, which counts Stevie Wonder among its producers. Adapted from the Betty DeRamus book “Forbidden Fruit: Love Stories From the Underground Railroad,” will focus on three specific epic journeys and love stories, each based on actual people.
The network will also develop a potential stage musical based on the miniseries, with Wonder writing the score.
While details about Levi’s role on “Heroes Reborn” are being kept under wraps, the former “Chuck” star declared himself to be a fan of the original series, saying that he’s “honored to have the opportunity to bring more of that world to life.”
“One of my first, and fondest, memories of joining the NBC family in 2007 was having the pleasure of getting to know Tim Kring, and the cast of ‘Heroes.’ I was a fan of their collective work and always thought it was such a fantastic and fun world they got to play in,” Levi said in a statement. “With ‘Heroes: Reborn,’ I’m honored to have the opportunity to bring more of that world to life, and excited to help in offering the fans of the franchise an epic new installation of a series that made such a huge impact on entertainment.”
Along with his role as Chuck Bartowski on “Chuck,” Levi played Fandral in the Marvel franchise “Thor: The Dark World,” and also made his Broadway debut in the musical “First Date” for which he received critical acclaim.
The Scene at TCA: Funny, Frank and Flippant Quotes From the 2015 TV Press Tour (Photos)
“I love Debra Messing, but I don’t want her face going across the screen: The Mysteries Of Laura." – Tina Fey, on moving "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" to the ad-less Netflix.
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"Do we really need to see that? She was a mother, sister, friend. We forget that she just wanted to live a normal life." – Angela Bassett on why she decided not to depict Whitney Houston's downward spiral in Lifetime movie's "Whitney."
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"I am not a bitch. I'm honest. There's a difference." – Constance Zimmer on her "Unreal" TV producer character.
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"When you shake hands with him you can't shake the feeling that this was a guy who admitted to dismembering his neighbor." – Director Andrew Jarecki, on billionaire and accused murderer Robert Durst.
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"We know Isaac Newton was born on Christmas Day. Who knows when Jesus was born?" – Astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson, host of NatGeo's first ever late night show.
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“We have to be careful not to overpromise." – Discovery Channel President David Zaslav on the network's failed anaconda stunt.
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"I'm obviously not a serial murderer in real life. You have to find something human in them you like." – Jamie Dornan on playing a serial killer in "The Fall"
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"The only difference between us and a pair of 14-year-old pyromaniacs is we call the police and fire department to help us." – Mythbusters Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage
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"The most spastic and hilarious human being on the planet." – "Togetherness" creator and writer Jay Duplass, on star Amanda Peet
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"Well, she doesn't always use an axe." – Christina Ricci on whether Lizzie Borden will have any more axes to grind in Lifetime's "Lizzie Borden Chronicles."
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"We want to be your coffee this morning." – Marti Noxon, executive producer of Lifetime's "Unreal," on her pink streaks and matching frock.
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"To be on a horse firing a gun, that's not a bad way to spend your day." – Actor Jeffery Dean Morgan, about working on History Channel's "Texas Rising."
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"It didn't work in Scotland, but it's going to work in Texas." – Texan actor Bill Paxton on History Channel's "Texas Rising" sparking a secessionist movement.
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"I went through the actors directory and everybody else was working." – "Shitt's Creek" Actor and writer Eugene Levy on why he called fellow actor Chris Elliot to join the cast.
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"You come out and what do you see on your podium, is this a good omen? HBO water they’ve served me. That’s great." –AMC president and GM on being served water branded with the competition.
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"Yeah, I’m thrilled that it’s ending. So looking forward to being unemployed for as long as I’ll be unemployed. I’m so happy not to see any of these people ever again. And all of that is really great. Hashtag sarcasm." – AMC's "Mad Men" star Jon Hamm on whether there's any reason he's happy series is ending.
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"The idea at the center of the show is a zombie you can fall in love with... a zombie you want to date. We were calling the show 'ZILFs' at one point" – The CW's "iZombie" showrunner Rob Thomas. on his new show
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"The fans are so polarized in what they are rooting for that to appease all of them, the show would be gobbledygook." – "The Vampire Diaries" executive producer Caroline Dries.
“We should’ve had more women up here today. That’s on me. That’s my fault.” – "Arrow," "The Flash" EP Greg Berlanti on the composition of the panel.
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"It's not a show about religion; it's a show about faith." -– "The Messengers" executive producer Trey Callaway.
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"The gelatin doesn't taste too bad on its own, but covered in fake blood, is disgusting." – star of the upcoming series "iZombie," Rose McIver.
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"[Italia Ricci's] even prettier than Robbie Amell." – Victor Garber talking about his "Flash" co-star's new fiancee.
''We were calling the show 'ZILF,' because the star's a zombie you want to date (the polite way to say it)" – "iZombie" executive producer, Rob Thomas.
"We're most interested in telling stories that tell light in the darkness" – "The Dovekeepers" executive producer Roma Downey Jr.
"Wouldn’t it be nice if all the networks were more representative of the complexions of America?" – Oscar Winner Cuba Gooding Jr., on diversity on television.
"When we did the original 'Odd Couple' we weren't allowed to have women writers." – Director Garry Marshall, on consulting for the CBS "Odd Couple" remake.
"When you start on TV, it's almost fear based. When you start online, you just try stuff" — TMZ founder Harvey Levin on his company's move to television.
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"Funny story, I have no say in anything" — Joe Dirt 2 star David Spade on why he allowed his iconic wig from the first film to be sold.
"We’ve encouraged millions of people to take out wine and popcorn really enjoy what is water cooler television — ABC Entertainment Group chief Paul Lee on the network's "TGIT" programming.
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"Asians have money. If you want their money, make things for them" — "Fresh Off the Boat" creator Eddie Huang on his new show.
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"When something is salacious, how it is presented by the media becomes the perceived 'truth'" — Ryan Phillippe on his new upcoming ABC show "Secrets & Lies."
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"He's uncovering things as [the show] is uncovering things" — actor Milo Ventimiglia on his character in ABC's upcoming "The Whispers."
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"Maybe I've got my wife hidden away in the attic" — actor James D'Arcy on his character Jarvis' unseen spouse in "Agent Carter ."
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"What it would be like if Princess Diana had become Queen of England?" — actress Elizabeth Hurley about the inspiration for her character on E!'s "The Royals."
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“When we realized there was so much more, we realized we couldn’t go forward” — NBC Entertainment chair, Robert Greenblatt, on the network's decision to cancel a Bill Cosby comedy series.
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"Whether people like it or don't like it, I'm not changing. NBC has never said anything to me, once" — "Celebrity Apprentice" host Donald Trump on his unabashed political views.
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“I think by the year 2030 we’re going to have an entire lesbian cast with one token heterosexual. We’re not there yet” — Ellen DeGeneres joking about recent accusations she's been promoting a "gay agenda."
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"It's like playing a human being with a heart, and a sense of humor, and a great collection of blazers" — "One Big Happy" star Elisha Cuthbert on playing a lesbian character.
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"This is a story that millions have died for and billions have lived for" — "AD: The Series" executive producer Mark Burnett, about the follow up to his successfulmini-series, "The Bible."
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TV stars and executives offer pearls of wisdom at the annual Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour