Hip-Hop crossover
UPN, MTV harmonize on 'Platinum' skein
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In other network news, NBC has put struggling Tuesday night laffer "In-Laws" on notice: Improve by January or the show is history.
UPN has picked up six episodes of "Platinum," which deals with the cutthroat world of a hip-hop record label. MTV will assist UPN in attracting real-life recording artists to guest on the show; in exchange, the cabler will get to air a repeat of "Platinum" eight to 10 days after its initial network airing.
MTV and UPN will also cross-promote each other's airing of "Platinum."
"By forming this incredible partnership with MTV, which has helped bring hip-hop into the mainstream, we will be able to explore a whole array of different potential crossovers and tie-ins," UPN Entertainment prexy Dawn Ostroff said.
"Platinum," which comes from American Zoetrope Television, Greenblatt-Janollari Studio and CBS Prods., follows a pair of brothers who hit the big time after launching their record label. John Ridley ("Three Kings") wrote the pilot and co-created the series with Sofia Coppola ("The Virgin Suicides").
Ridley and Coppola will exec produce along with Francis Ford Coppola, Maira Suro, Bob Greenblatt and David Janollari.
As for "In-Laws," NBC has opted to wait rather than order any more episodes beyond the 15 segs it has already greenlit. Peacock execs will decide the fate of the show after original episodes return in January. Season to date, "In-Laws" has averaged a 3.3/9 share among adults 18-49.
