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Hollywood Notes

Nov 24, 2003  •  Post A Comment

Michael Douglas, whose career has included work in both television and movies as an actor and a producer, has been selected to receive the 2004 Cecil B. DeMille Award from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for his “outstanding contribution to the entertainment field.” The lifetime achievement award will be presented to Mr. Douglas during the 61st Annual Golden Globe Awards Jan. 25, 2004, in Beverly Hills, Calif., and will be telecast on NBC. He is the first-ever second-generation Cecil B. DeMille honoree. His father, Kirk Douglas, received the award in 1968.
History Channel Acquires `Band of Brothers’
The History Channel entered into a multiyear deal with HBO to acquire the U.S. rights to the miniseries “Band of Brothers.” The 10-part, 10-hour program, executive produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, will make its basic-cable network premiere on the History Channel during the second quarter of 2004. The History Channel will present “Band of Brother” in wide-screen format with limited commercial interruptions.
Lions Gate, Fox in on the `Con’
Lions Gate Television has a development deal with the Fox Network for a pilot script based on Lions Gate Films’ “Confidence.” The series, written by “The Dead Zone’s” Craig Silverstein, would follow a team of con artists as they pull off one huge con over the course of a season. Kevin Beggs, president of programming and production for Lions Gate Television, announced the deal as part of a larger development slate of hour-long dramas and long-form projects. Lions Gate also has orders for a pilot script from the WB and for two scripts for UPN. The WB pilot script, “Raintree,” is described as a modern-day “Seabiscuit.” For UPN, Lions Gate is developing “The Point,” a supernatural teen drama, and is teaming with Mandalay Television to produce “Fly Girls,” about two young actresses who discover they have superpowers.
Also in development is “Dark Network,” a six-hour miniseries for FX about international drugs-and-arms smuggling and terrorism. Jim Manos of “The Shield” is attached. Lions Gate is already going into production on three projects. For ABC Family, it is producing a two-hour television movie, executive produced by Britney Spears and her mother and loosely based on their life story. For Sci Fi, Lions Gate is teaming with Hallmark Entertainment Distribution and David Kirschner to make “5 Days to Midnight,” a miniseries about a man who receives the police report on his own murder five days in advance. Additionally, casting is under way on a one-hour pilot for Lifetime, “The Coven,” about a group of witches living in a suburban community.
Making Prime Time
ABC will replace the canceled “L.A. Dragnet” with repeats of USA cable network’s hit show “Monk.” “Monk” will air Saturdays at 10 p.m., starting Jan. 17. … UPN will bring “America’s Next Top Model” back Tuesday, Jan. 13. The second edition of the 10-episode reality series will air from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. Supermodel Tyra Banks created the series and executive produces it with Ken Mok. … CBS will premiere “Survivor: All-Stars” following the Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 1. The “All-Star” edition-the series’ eighth-will feature 18 of the most memorable previous contestants fighting it out for the title of “Ultimate Sole Survivor.” … “American Idol” will return on Fox Jan. 20 and Jan. 21. The third edition will premiere Tuesday, Jan. 20, with a two-hour episode from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. “Idol’s” regular time slots will be Tuesday 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Wednesday 8:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. … MTV announced that `”Til Death Do Us Part: Carmen & Dave” will go into production as a documentary miniseries chronicling the lives of Carmen Electra and Dave Navarro, starting months before their wedding and culminating with the wedding ceremony. The series is scheduled to premiere in January 2004.