Kelley skein set for Eye
Show's tone didn't meet Fox needs
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Eye has made a series commitment to the fall project from David E. Kelley Prods. and 20th Century Fox TV. It's the scribe-producer's first project for a non-News Corp. outlet since inking a rich multiyear deal with 20th back in 1999, just after Kelley's "Snoops" debuted on ABC. That pact gives Fox Broadcasting Co. a first-look option on all Kelley TV scripts.
Fox execs allowed Kelley to shop the untitled series after reading a first draft of the pilot script and decided the show's tone didn't meet the net's development needs. CBS prexy-CEO Leslie Moonves quickly made a play for the project, agreeing to a series commitment with premium license fee and a penalty attached if the project doesn't move forward to series.
Pilot script has already been written, with casting set to begin shortly. Unlike some of his recent projects, Kelley is expected to have a pilot ready for screening before the Eye presents its fall sked to advertisers in May.
In addition, Kelley is also working on ideas for a new project for Fox Broadcasting that could be ready by midseason 2004.
No studio conflicts
Fox Entertainment Television Group chairman Sandy Grushow said he was glad to see a Kelley project being set up at a non-Fox network.
"This is a real positive for the corporation," he told Daily Variety. "We don't legislate creativity or passion; we try to support it. This is a chance for CBS to be in business with a creator who's had tremendous success for them in the past."
Project reunites Kelley with a network where he had some of his biggest creative success during the 1980s. CBS aired the scribe's hospital drama "Chicago Hope" as well as his quirky hour "Picket Fences."
Skein was packaged by Marty Adelstein of Original, attorney Michael Gendler and Endeavor.
