Things have been buzzing over at Fox and CBS it seems for the past day or two as the network has been busy lining up a number of projects that they hope will develop into bonafide hits, and it features everything from an acclaimed documentarian creating a series inspired by his own career, to a pretty shitty sitcom borrowing the title of one of the biggest songs in rock history. Go forth, we shall…
First up, Joe Berlinger, the co-director of the acclaimed "Paradise Lost" documentary trilogy, has come over to Fox to co-executive produce "Paradise Falls." Penned by Margaret Nagle (who is also working at CBS on a contemporary take on "Sense & Sensibility") the drama will center around a documentary filmmaker working for a crime reality series, who heads to the titular town in Pennsylvania to investigae a brutal slaying. What he uncovers is corruption and deceit and a town looking for its moment in the spotlight. No, it's not the West Memphis Three story exactly, but it's clearly inspired by Berlinger's work on those movies. And given that interest in the subject contiues to knock around thanks to the upcoming doc "West Of Memphis" and Atom Egoyan's dramatization "Devil's Knot," it's a pretty big no brainer why Fox picked this up.
Meanwhile, for something a little bit lighter, but also kind of awful sounding, CBS has purchased "The Big Bang Theory" writer/co-executive producer Dave Goetsch's "Smells Like Teen Spirit." The story revolves around an 18 year old who ditches Harvard to become an entrepreneur, and starts a hugely successful internet company in his garage with his sister and " '90s indie rock parents." We have no idea what that last part means, but it makes us want to punch somebody.
Finally, two dudes we like, Jake Johnson and Max Winkler (who previously teamed on "Ceremony") have sold "The B Team" to Fox, where Johnson is currently starring in "The New Girl." The quasi-superhero concept centers on five guys who decide to form their own Avengers-style group, but don't actually posess any superpowers. Winkler will direct the pilot and if it goes to series, Johnson will make his debut behind the camera lensing an episode. [THR/THR/Deadline]