The Voice © NBC / Private Practice © ABC / Jesse Stone © CBS
And here’s what else is new for today.
- NBC has announced that it has greenlighted “The Winner Is…”, another singing competition series from “The Voice” producer John De Mol. In the new format, talents from all ages, soloists and groups that include adults, kids, teens, seniors, families and professionals will compete for a prize of $1 Million in head-to-head duels. They will be judged by a panel of one celeb judge, who is yet to be cast, and, if on the verge of being voted out, have the option to quit and take a predetermined cash amount, or continue the game, with the risk of losing everything they gained. Except maybe some life lessons…
- Per the Hollywood Reporter, HBO is developing a dramedy set in the world of professional basketball. Jeff Nathanson will write produce and direct the pilot, and Gavin Polone is executive producing. The story centers on a pro basketball team – including the sex, money, temptation and power that is at the heart of many pro sports, and involves the players as well as the uber-rich owners.
- Deadline’s Nellie Andreeva reports that for its fifth, and most likely final, season, ABC’s medical drama “Private Practice” is getting two new head writers, after the departure of Steve Blackman and Craig Turk, who served in that function for the last two years. Co-executive producers Jennifer Cecil and Barbie Kligman have both been promoted to exec producers and co-head writers, running the writers room under the supervision of showrunner Shonda Rhimes.
- Oh, and Variety reports that the next Jesse Stone movie ,”Benefit of the Doubt”, will be the last, as CBS has decided not to order any more movies of the Tom Selleck-starring franchise, which might now be shopped around elsewhere.
