USA Network Announces Slate of Ambitious 'Character' - Driven Projects For 2008-09

USA Network Announces Slate of Ambitious 'Character' - Driven Projects For 2008-09

NEW YORK, March 26 /PRNewswire/ -- USA Network will bolster the 'Characters Welcome' brand by inviting a concierge doctor, a creative con man, a reluctant mayor and an inquisitive nanny among others to join the ambitious development slate for the 2008-09 season. A slate of four new pilot scripts, ROYAL PAINS, WHITE COLLAR, SHIRLEYVILLE and THE NANNY FILES were announced today by Jeff Wachtel, executive vice president, original programming, USA Network.

"Our current development slate makes clear that we're committed to strengthening our brand as the 'character network' and advancing our claim as the #1 destination for quality original programming in basic cable," said Wachtel.

USA was the #1 entertainment network in 2007 in primetime for all four quarters among the key demos of P18-49 and P25-54, and is pacing to have its best quarter ever in 1Q08 among P25-54, with an average of 1.31 million viewers. This is the first time in 10 years that one channel has swept all four quarters among entertainment networks in both demos, and also USA's best quarter ever on P2+ with a current average of 2.92 million viewers.

   USA Network's upcoming slate includes:    ROYAL PAINS (working title/ fna UNTITLED CONCIERGE MEDICINE/ SICK RICH)  

Anyone who's anyone in the Hamptons has a lawyer on retainer. Now meet the newest accessory -- the concierge doctor. Young doctor Hank Lawson had it all...thriving career, beautiful girlfriend, and swank NYC apartment. With one fateful and principled decision in the ER, Hank loses it all. Months later, single and blackballed from the medical community, Hank goes for a weekend in the Hamptons with his best friend. Crashing a party at a mega-mansion on the beach, Hank jumps into action when a guest requires medical attention that only he is able to diagnose. The next morning, Hank is summoned to another mansion. And then another. Hank's career is revived, but in a way he's not exactly happy about, as he becomes the on-call doctor for the rich, famous and infamous. The project is written and co-executive produced by Andrew Lenchewski and executive produced by Rich Frank and Paul Frank with John Rogers serving as producer.

WHITE COLLAR (working title)

The world's most creative con man escapes out of a maximum-security prison by walking out the front door to find the lost love of his life. His nemesis at the FBI tracks him down and uses him as a consultant to catch other notorious and elusive criminals. From Fox Television Studios, written and executive produced by Jeff Eastin ("Hawaii").

SHIRLEYVILLE (aka WELCOME HOMELAND)

After two tours of duty in Afghanistan, Dwight returns to his hometown of Shirleyville. He wants nothing more than to readjust and get reacquainted with his family. But when the Mayor suddenly dies, hometown hero Dwight finds himself sworn in as the new Mayor. Now he has to maneuver through the small town politics and quirky personalities of his hometown while trying to govern...an assignment that often seems more fraught with peril than fighting rebel insurgents. From writers Leo Geter and Jim Leonard ("Close to Home").

THE NANNY FILES

From executive producer/writer Rick Copp ("Brady Bunch Movie") comes THE NANNY FILES. Widower police chief Ray Corliss hires 28-year-old Emma Staley to be his children's nanny. Unbeknownst to him, she gets involved in solving his cases. Emma uses her skills as a nanny and her "nanny network" (of other nannies, dog walkers, gardeners and neighbors) to find inside information and solve the crimes. Ray's career drive and inability to emotionally connect with his children, paired with Emma's outgoing resourcefulness and knack for sticking her nose where it doesn't belong, makes for a collision of wills and meeting of minds in this charming dual-lead detective series. From Fox Television Studios, Joann Moore ("Swimming with Sharks") serves as co- executive producer.

USA's previously announced projects that are still in development include THANK YOU FOR SMOKING, LIFE INSURANCE, AMERICAN GIRL, THE OLDEST ROOKIE, HALO, THE EXPERT and CITIZEN'S ARREST.

USA NETWORK is cable television's leading provider of original series and feature movies, sports and entertainment events, off-net television shows, and blockbuster theatrical films. The #1 network in basic cable, USA Network is seen in nearly 94 million U.S. homes. The USA Network Web site is located at www.usanetwork.com. Characters Welcome.

USA Network is a program service of NBC Universal Cable a division of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience.

Source: USA Network

CONTACT: Kristin Schulman, +1-212-664-4140, kristin.schulman@nbcuni.com,
or Andrea Epstein, +1-818-777-6679, andrea.epstein@nbcuni.com, both of NBC
Universal Cable

Web site: http://www.usanetwork.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment