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Networks Brace for Bidding War as Beloved Sitcom Actor Plans Return to Comedy Genre

Aug 15, 2012  •  Post A Comment

Phrases including “feeding frenzy” and “bidding war” are being thrown around after all four major broadcast network bosses have been pitched a series that would mark the return to prime-time comedy for Michael J. Fox, Josef Adalian writes in New York Magazine’s Vulture column.

“Vulture hears the iconic star of ‘Family Ties’ and the ‘Back to the Future’ trilogy has teamed with director Will Gluck (‘Easy A’) and writer Sam Laybourne (‘Cougar Town,’ ‘Arrested Development’) on a single-camera comedy project that’s being developed by Sony Pictures Television for a 2013 launch.”

The show’s premise is reportedly based on Fox’s life.

Citing two industry sources, Adalian reports: “Our spies say the project will, at the very least, get an automatic pilot production commitment; there’s even industry buzz about one network offering to go straight to series, something that hardly ever happens in broadcast TV anymore.”

Which network has the inside track? No telling, according to the report.

“There are compelling reasons for all four [networks],” the piece reports. “Fox has his most recent history with CBS, having appeared in (and gotten himself Emmy-nominated for) multiple episodes of ‘The Good Wife.’ But he’s also done successful shows for NBC (‘Family Ties’) and ABC (‘Spin City’). As for Rupert Murdoch’s broadcaster, well, c’mon: Fox on Fox practically writes itself.”

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