Reiser
NBC has officially greenlit the TV version of "Friday Night Lights," while CBS Tuesday has picked up a comedy pilot from Paul Reiser, who will write and exec produce.
Peacock originally picked up "Lights" as a cast-contingent project last fall (
Daily Variety, Sept. 20). Although there's still no cast, that contingency has been lifted and "Lights" has a firm go to move forward.
Peter Berg, who directed and co-wrote the Universal/Imagine feature, will write and exec produce the TV adaptation. "Lights" followed the world of the coach of a small-town high school football coach in the 1980s; the new version will move the focus to present day.
NBC Universal TV and Imagine TV are producing "Friday Night Lights."
As for CBS, Paramount will produce the Reiser comedy, which revolves around a young man who takes over his family's car dealership in Queens.
Reiser, best known for starring in and exec producing "Mad About You," most recently wrote and produced the feature "The Thing About My Folks."
Contact Michael Schneider at
mike.schneider@variety.com