No More Mr. Nice Guy
ABC has shut down production on the half-hour comedy pilot starring Diedrich Bader (The Drew Carey Show). The story revolves around a well-meaning man who always ends up looking bad even when trying to do the right thing. Rena Sofer (Ed) and Kevin Weisman (Alias) had been set to co-star. A table read had already taken place, but nothing had been taped. The project will be redeveloped for either midseason or 2007-08.

Keeping it in the Family
Family Guy writer/producer and Kitchen Confidential creator Dave Hemingson is cooking up plans at Fox, thanks to a new multiyear, seven-figure deal that will keep him at the studio until 2008. Part of this pact is an animated project centering on fraternal twins from an ordinary family who just happen to be the smartest kids in the world. The studio is also shopping the cancelled Confidential to other networks for a 2006-07 pickup.

On the Lot
Steven Spielberg, whose big break came directing the TV movie Duel, is turning again to the small screen in an attempt to find the heir to his throne. The reality series, co-produced by Mark Burnett, will pit undiscovered filmmakers against one another as they attempt to win a studio development deal at Paramount-based DreamWorks. Spielberg won't regularly appear, but he's already at work sketching behind-the-scenes details for the show. Producers were quick to point out that the show will be more American Idol than The Apprentice. Sixteen contestants will be split into four teams and given the resources to produce a short film. Each week will focus on a different genre, including comedy, thriller, drama, romance, and sci-fi. For each film, teams will pick a leader to serve as a director. A panel of judges (including a studio exec and a film critic) will critique the shorts in front of a live studio audience, with viewers ultimately voting for their favorite. Results will be revealed on the next night's half-hour episode, and the losing short's director will be eliminated. Burnett and Spielberg have built in the possibility that an eliminated director can make a comeback at some point in the show. Competition will continue until there are just two directors left. They'll have to work individually to secure the ultimate prize: a meeting with Spielberg, an office at DreamWorks, and a "healthy" discretionary fund. Fox is aiming for a first-quarter 2007 launch and likely will use "Idol" as a promotional pad. Features that come out of On the Lot will be produced through DreamWorks, but Fox has first crack if any of the concepts go into development for television.

Source: Variety