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Upfront TV: Lowe’s Anthony Flick | Jagger Hosts SNL | AMC Drama Pilots | CW Renews Vampires, “90210”

Published on May 04, 2012
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  • On the heels of his acclaimed role in the hit Lifetime Original Movie “Drew Peterson: Untouchable,” Rob Lowe will star in the new Lifetime Original Movie “Prosecuting Casey Anthony” (working title). Lowe will portray Jeff Ashton, the Florida prosecutor in last year’s controversial Caylee Anthony murder trial and author of a best-selling book upon which the movie will be based. With in-depth information about the case and the accused, “Prosecuting Casey Anthony” will examine what the prosecution got right, what they got wrong and why Ashton remains convinced of Casey Anthony’s guilt. Lifetime EVP of Programming Rob Sharenowsaid “We’re thrilled to have Rob returning to our network, after his amazing star turn as Drew Peterson.” In January, Lowe starred in the Lifetime Original Movie “Drew Peterson: Untouchable,” which averaged 5.8 million total viewers, becoming basic cable’s most watched original movie premiere in two years since the network’s “The Pregnancy Pact” in 2010, as well as this year’s number one movie telecast across basic cable among all key demographics.
  • "Saturday Night Live" Exec Producer Lorne Michaels played this one close to the vest. On Wednesday he announced he could not work it out for Mitt Romney to guest host this year. Romney was too busy, and so was Michaels, hammering a deal with Mick Jagger, who will host SNL’s season finale on May 19. This will be the rock icon and multiple Grammy-award winner’s first time as host and third appearance as musical guest. “Saturday Night Live” is produced in association with Broadway Video.
  • AMC for the first time has picked up two drama pilots simultaneously, with orders for “Low Winter Sun” and an untitled effort from Richard LaGravenese and Tony Goldwyn. The network said Thursday that the two scripts had come out on top from its "pilot bakeoff" process, in which the network entertains pitches for new projects. “Low Winter Sun” is a contemporary story of murder, deception, revenge and corruption in a world where the line between cops and criminals is blurred. Endemol's Jeremy Gold and Greg Brenman will be executive producers. Endemol produced the Western drama “Hell on Wheels,” which AMC has renewed for a second season. The untitled LaGravenese and Goldwyn project is a legal thriller focusing upon a district attorney who uncovers new evidence that prompts the reinvestigation of a sensational murder case. LaGravenese (“The Fisher King”) will write and executive produce alongside Goldwyn, who as directed episodes of “Dexter” and ABC’s “Scandal.”
  • You don’t hear about 100-episode orders often. Ever, in fact. But following Debmar-Mercury’s success with the Tyler Perry sitcoms “House Of Payne,” “Meet The Browns” and Ice Cube’s “Are We There Yet?”, another syndication player is trying its hand at accelerated production of urban comedy, reports Deadline Hollywood. Byron Allen’s Entertainment Studios has begun production of “Mr. Box Office,” a multi-camera comedy series starring actor/comedian Bill Bellamy. Co-starring in the project are “Saturday Night Live” veteran Tim Meadows, Vivica A. Fox (“Independence Day”), former NBA star/actor Rick Fox, Keshia Knight Pulliam (“Cosby”), Jon Lovitz (“SNL”), and Gary Busey.
  • The CW Network has given early pickups to the network’s top-rated show, “The Vampire Diaries,” fan favorite “Supernatural” and “90210,” with all three series to return for the 2012-2013 season. “Vampire Diaries” will return for a fourth season, “Supernatural” its eighth with the monster-hunting Winchester brothers, and on “90210” for season five.
Related categories: Television, Media Options & Channels, TV Cable, TV Network, TV Syndication, TV Upfront,

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