TNT and TBS Order Pilots for Four Potential Series

TNT and TBS are going into production on four series pilots, including projects from such successful producers and writers as Dean Devlin (TNT’s Leverage and The Librarian movie trilogy); Marco Schnabel (TNT’s The Librarian movie trilogy); Kenneth Biller and Mike Sussman (Star Trek: Voyager); Allan Loeb (The Switch, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps); and Cynthia Cidre (The Mambo Kings, A Killing in a Small Town).


TNT has lined up pilots for a pair of unique crime procedural pilots, PERCEPTION (working title) and an untitled Allan Loeb project. The network is also moving forward on a pilot for DALLAS, an updated version of the classic TV series. Meanwhile, TBS has a pilot in the works for BRAIN TRUST (working title), a comedic detective series.


“These pilots reflect our enthusiasm for relatable but complex everyman heroes, showcased in exciting storytelling environments,” said Michael Wright, executive vice president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). “They also reflect our reliance on extraordinary talent to deliver on the promise of quality series television. The writers of these projects bring great intelligence, heart and humor to their work. We are confident each of these projects would be a terrific addition to our original series line-up.”


BRAIN TRUST (working title) – Dean Devlin, executive producer of TNT’s hit series Leverage, is teaming up with Marco Schnabel (TNT’s The Librarian movie trilogy) for this pilot about Detective Billy Doyle, whose career and life have hit rock bottom after he accidentally ends his partner’s career.  Doyle’s life gets turned around, however, when a recent murder case gets unexpected and unconventional help from three hyper-smart geniuses from a private think tank.  If Doyle can survive the chaos and keep these new partners in line, they just may be the antidote to resurrect his career and, ultimately, his life.  BRAIN TRUST (working title) is being produced for TBS by Devlin’s Electric Entertainment.


For the full article, click here.

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Featuring the stars of TNT and Electric Entertainment’s hit one hour drama, LEVERAGE, this star studded DVD set compiles 2 discs of footage from panels, parties and more at the first ever LEVERAGE Convention, the CON-Con! In addition to the FIVE stars of the show, TIMOTHY HUTTON, GINA BELLMAN, CHRISTIAN KANE, BETH RIESGRAF and ALDIS HODGE, fans will also find panel coverage from some of the most exciting guest stars, MARK SHEPPARD, RICK OVERTON and GERALD DOWNEY, as well as series creators and Executive Producers JOHN ROGERS, CHRIS DOWNEY and DEAN DEVLIN. For those who experienced the CON-Con 2010, revisit all of the behind the scenes access into one of TV’s hottest shows. If you weren’t able to attend, see, for the first time ever on DVD, how to steal a convention with the cast, crew and most importantly, the fans of LEVERAGE!

Pre-Order it now for $24.99 (plus shipping) by CLICKING HERE and check out the snazzy new trailer below.

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It’s good news for fans of the TNT series’ LEVERAGE - it’s been renewed for another season set to air in 2011.


That means 15 more episodes of the hit heist show which airs Sunday nights at 9/8c.


“TNT has enjoyed tremendous success on Sunday and Monday nights with LEVERAGE, THE CLOSER and RIZZOLI & ISLES,” says Michael Wright, executive vice president and head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM).  “All three shows feature terrific casts, sharp writing and top-notch production teams.  We look forward to continued success with new seasons in 2011.”


LEVERAGE stars Academy Award® winner Timothy Hutton (ORDINARY PEOPLE), Gina Bellman (COUPLING), Christian Kane (TNT’s INTO THE WEST), Beth Riesgraf (ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS) and Aldis Hodge (FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS) and follows the adventures of a highly skilled team out to settle scores against those who use power and wealth to victimize others.


LEVERAGE is currently averaging 4.1 million viewers in its third season, showing growth among young adult demos when compared to the second season.  The series boasts a loyal following, as indicated by its strong performance in time-shifted viewing.  For the first five episodes this summer, LEVERAGE has grown its total audience by 60% when compared to live viewing (33% compared to Live + Same Day).  The growth is particularly strong among key demos, with adults 18-34 rising 101% vs. Live (45% vs. Live + Same Day); adults 18-49 up 77% vs. Live (41% vs. Live + Same Day); and adults 25-54 rising 72% vs. Live (39% vs. Live + Same Day).


LEVERAGE is executive-produced by Dean Devlin (INDEPENDENCE DAY, TNT’s THE LIBRARIAN trilogy) and creators John Rogers (TRANSFORMERS) and Chris Downey (THE KING OF QUEENS).  The series is produced for TNT by Devlin’s Electric Entertainment.

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Early in its 3rd season on TNT, Leverage is red hot, reaching its biggest audience since the December 2008 series premiere.  The Sunday, July 18, episode ranked as ad-supported cable’s top program for the entire day among viewers, proving that viewers are eager to see the next job Nate and his team take on.  LEVERAGE is executive-produced by Dean Devlin (Independence Day, TNT’s The Librarian) and creators John Rogers (Transformers) and Chris Downey (The King of Queens).  The series is produced for TNT by Devlin’s Electric Entertainment.  Leverage airs on Sunday nights at 9/8c on TNT.

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Available now through leveragefans.com, the exclusive DVD of “ConCon: An Official Leverage Event”.

Featuring the stars of TNT and Electric Entertainment’s hit one hour drama, LEVERAGE, this star studded DVD set compiles 2 discs of footage from panels, parties and more at the first ever LEVERAGE Convention, the CON-Con! In addition to the FIVE stars of the show, TIMOTHY HUTTON, GINA BELLMAN, CHRISTIAN KANE, BETH RIESGRAF and ALDIS HODGE, fans will also find panel coverage from some of the most exciting guest stars, MARK SHEPPARD, RICK OVERTON and GERALD DOWNEY, as well as series creators and Executive Producers JOHN ROGERS, CHRIS DOWNEY and DEAN DEVLIN. For those who experienced the CON-Con 2010, revisit all of the behind the scenes access into one of TV’s hottest shows. If you weren’t able to attend, see, for the first time ever on DVD, how to steal a convention with the cast, crew and most importantly, the fans of LEVERAGE!

Order your copy now!

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With the third season of LEVERAGE arriving this June on TNT, fans can get into the action themselves with the brand new role-playing game based on the popular show.

This June, LEVERAGE: THE ROLE-PLAYING GAME will also be available that allows fans into the world of Nate Ford and his modern-day band of resourceful thieves who take from the rich to help the poor.

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For full press release go to:

http://ifmagazine.com/new.asp?article=9637

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Coming June 2010!  The new Leverage Role Playing Game!

http://www.margaretweis.com/mwp-online-store/leverage

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‘LEVERAGE’ STAR TIMOTHY HUTTON TAKES HOME A PRISM AWARD FOR THE 14^th ANNUAL EVENT

The 14th Annual PRISM Awards, which honors actors, movies, music, media and television’s top shows that accurately depict and bring attention to substance abuse and mental health issues, handed out their big awards last week.

Timothy Hutton took home a Prism for his layered portrayal of Nate Ford, an alcoholic, former insurance investigator turned modern day Robin Hood on TNT’s hit series LEVERAGE.

Meanwhile, Jeff Bridges and Maggie Gyllenhaal took home an award for their work in the independent film CRAZY HEART about an aging, alcoholic country singer trying to wrestle control of his life back.

Other winners include: Rosie O’Donnell, Tony Shalhoub, Hector Elizondo, and Kevin McKidd received PRISM Awards at a ceremony held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

The PRISM Awards is produced by the Entertainment Industries Council, Inc. (EIC) in collaboration with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and FX Network.

“The PRISM Awards recognizes and applauds the remarkable efforts that have been contributed by our creative community,” says Brian Dyak, EIC’s President and CEO. “We salute those in the entertainment industry that promote informational truths in their work to improve the lives of the audiences they entertain. Through accurate character portrayals and inspired storytelling, our industry reinforces the importance of those individuals within the care giving and health fields.”

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Electric Entertainment and iF Magazine want to thank the fans (Grifters) of LEVERAGE for making CON-CON: AN OFFICIAL LEVERAGE EVENT such an overwhelming success.

Running from March 19-21, everyone from the main cast, creators and every important person in between took the stage and mingled with the fans for an unprecedented convention.

For our closing ceremonies, Electric’s own Lana Wolverton edited together this amazing “Closing Ceremonies” video that we showed to the convention’s eager crowd on Sunday night.

Now, for those who attended you’ll get to relive last weekend all over again and for those that didn’t, you can get a taste of what CON-CON was all about.

Enjoy and we’ll see you next year.

Watch the video here:

http://ifmagazine.com/new.asp?article=9491

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‘Leverage’ fans rally in Portland for first convention for the popular show

By Kristi Turnquist, The Oregonian

March 21, 2010, 6:18PM

For someone who came all the way from London on a “very, very long flight” just to find herself standing in a very, very long line waiting for autographs, Helen Picken  is in a jolly mood.

Picken, 27,  is a fan of the TV show, “Leverage,” and on Saturday she found herself joined by hundreds of fellow fans at the first-ever “Leverage CON-con,”  at Portland’s Governor Hotel.

“I’ve been watching it from the beginning,” says Picken, who works as a Realtor, or estate agent, as they’re known in the U.K. The TNT series – which filmed its second season, and has just started shooting the third season, in Portland – wasn’t even available in England until recently. But Picken was so determined she found episodes on the Internet.

“I found a copy of the pilot online, and I thought, ‘This is kind of good.’” Picken likes the show’s humor, and its look. She enthusiastically praises the camera work in specific scenes, then stops herself and smiles: “That sounds kind of geeky.”

It’s the nature of fan conventions to bring people like Picken together with fellow devotees. But what made the “Leverage CON-Con,”  which began Friday and concluded Sunday, unusual is that this isn’t a show about science-fiction heroes, fantasy worlds, or horror. “Leverage” is, instead, about five flawed characters who use their shady skills to help underdogs get justice. The show stars Timothy Hutton  as Nate Ford,  mastermind of a group of bad guys-turned good guys.  Gina Bellman  plays Sophie Devereaux,  a con artist who has a past with Nate. Christian Kane  plays Eliot Spencer,  tough guy extraordinaire. Beth Riesgraf  plays Parker,  expert thief and cat burglar. And Aldis Hodge  plays Alec Hardison,  ace computer hacker.

“Leverage” is an entertaining show that balances humor, character development, the intricacies of cons and capers and occasional darker elements. But what’s a series like this – with nary a superhero or alien world in sight – doing spawning a fan convention?

Dean Devlin,  executive producer of “Leverage,” has experience with projects that typically draw crowds to such conventions as the massive Comic-Con in San Diego. Devlin, working with director Roland Emmerich,  made the movies, “Stargate,” “Independence Day” and “Godzilla.” As he sits at a table inside a Governor Hotel ballroom on Saturday, signing autographs, Devlin says he and fellow “Leverage” executive producers John Rogers  and Chris Downey,  sitting beside him, got to talking about five months back about a “Leverage” convention. As Devlin says, the show has loyal fans, “so we thought, let’s throw a party for them. We pulled this together in about a quarter of the time it usually takes to mount a convention.”

Rogers, whose resumé includes a stint writing comics, says that people who helped put the weekend convention together told him they’ve “never seen this kind of turnout for a non-genre show.” Devlin and Rogers say they thought they might draw about 150 fans, instead of the “500-plus” who registered for the weekend.

Rachel Olschan,  a “Leverage” co-producer, says Devlin, Rogers and Downey understand how to use new media to connect with fans, with Twitter accounts, Facebook groups and Rogers’ blog, Kung Fu Monkey (http://kfmonkey.blogspot.com).

The con was held in Portland, Olschan says, because this is when all the cast and crew would be in one place, since they’re shooting here. They chose the Governor Hotel, she adds, because of the show’s relationship – they’ve filmed episodes at the hotel, and Jake’s Catering  threw the season-two wrap party. While Olschan says there have been a few bumps –
“this is the first time we’ve done this” – she adds that if the convention goes well and makes enough money to cover costs, they’d like to do it again.

Michelle Hydorn, 28,  would definitely be up for a repeat event. Hydorn, who also goes by the online name “Rikki Sixx,” calls herself Hutton’s “number-one fan. I’ve had a crush on him since I was 13.” She already loved the show when it was filming its first season in Los Angeles, she says. So when the producers announced they were coming to Portland to shoot, Hydorn was over the moon. “I was on Twitter one day,” she recalls, “and Mayor Sam Adams twittered that ‘Leverage’ is coming to Portland. Right then, I said, my mission is to meet Tim Hutton!”

And she did. “I got a job working as an extra,” says Hydorn, who is currently unemployed.

For most of the overwhelmingly female crowd, the weekend’s highlight seemed to be a panel on Saturday afternoon, featuring all five members of the “Leverage” cast onstage in the Heritage Ballroom, answering questions and bantering back-and-forth.

Before the panel, Hodge waits in a break room. He’s had experience with fan conventions before, he says, thanks to appearing on the fantasy show, “Supernatural,” which has events run by Creation Entertainment, whose productions include “Twilight” and “Star Trek” conventions. Kane also has con experience, thanks to his role on “Angel,” the vampire series from fan favorite Joss Whedon.  Hodge says he and Kane are “pretty stoked” about the Portland con. “We worked a full 12-hour day on Friday, and got to the hotel for the cocktail party at about 10:30,” Hodge says. “But I wasn’t tired. There’s nothing better than that energy from people.”

Meanwhile, Stacey McCormack  waits in the lobby outside the ballroom. “I didn’t start watching ‘Leverage’ until they started shooting in Portland,” says the 39-year-old,  who works for Comcast Spotlight, the cable company’s advertising division. “This is very fun,” she says. “It makes you proud of our city. I love how they have the Park Blocks be Kiev, or something. There’s been a lot of Portland I haven’t seen until it’s been on ‘Leverage.’”

Finally, to cheers and applause, the stars take the stage. Audience members ask questions, and several – including Portlander Gretchen Nathe, 30,  who has a “KANE” tattoo at the top of her back – proclaim their love not only of Kane’s acting, but of his country-influenced band’s music.

Bellman and Riesgraf say they’re new to fan conventions. “I’m blown away, and kind of nervous,” Riesgraf says. “It’s incredible to have this much support.”

Hutton agrees. “It makes us feel good going to work every day,” he says. “So thank you.”

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The Second Season of the Highly-Rated Drama Debuts on

DVD on Tuesday, May 25, 2010

The second season of LEVERAGE, which officially arrives on DVD May 25, 2010 from Paramount Home Entertainment, is currently available through pre-order from Amazon.com.  TNT’s hit drama “Leverage” is averaging 4.4 million viewers and recently ranked as one of ad-supported cable’s top new original series of 2008-09.  LEVERAGE stars Oscar®-winner Timothy Hutton (Ordinary People) as the leader of an elite team of thieves, hackers and con artists who act as modern day Robin Hoods by standing up for those who have been victimized by the rich and powerful.  In the timely second season, the team takes on corrupt bankers, high fashion, the tabloid media and an old nemesis from their past.  The show also stars Gina Bellman (“Coupling”), Christian Kane (“Into The West”), Beth Riesgraf (Alvin and the Chipmunks) and Aldis Hodge (“Friday Night Lights”).  In addition, Jeri Ryan (“Star Trek: Voyager”) joins the cast as a special guest star in a continuing story arc as a temporary member of the team.  “Leverage” returns to TNT this summer.

The LEVERAGE The Second Season DVD includes all 15 episodes with audio commentary on every episode, a Q&A with the series’ creators, a set tour, a spoof video, the season two wrap party gag reel and behind-the-scenes featurettes.

Click here to reserve your copy of Leverage The Second Season –

http://www.amazon.com/Leverage-Complete-SecondTimothyHutton/dp/B002BWP2JO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1268425672&sr=1-1

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