TV notes: BET network will debut its first scripted series
BET is making the first scripted series in its 28-year history, a sitcom about a group of black slackers.
“Somebodies,” based on a 2006 movie that was in the Sundance Film Festival, is expected to premiere in October.
It will be produced by Pete Aronson and Warren Hutcherson, executive producers of “The Bernie Mac Show,” and will be set and filmed in Athens, Ga.
BET will wait until after the major broadcast networks set their fall schedules next month before deciding what night and time “Somebodies” will air.
As the first cable channel geared to blacks, BET has featured music programming, syndicated fare and reality shows but has been criticized for not spending money to produce original programs.
The network is developing several scripted shows, but this was the first deemed ready to go, said Reginald Hudlin, BET’s entertainment president.
Declaring ‘Independent’
The online social networking site MySpace and reality TV producer Mark Burnett are teaming up to launch a search for an independent presidential candidate.
The political reality show “Independent,” aimed at getting younger viewers involved, comes with a $1 million cash prize and a catch: The winner can’t keep the money.
The prize can be used to finance a run for the White House or can be given to a political action committee or political cause.
Contestants will audition for the show, set to launch in early 2008, by submitting a video. Those who are chosen will set up MySpace profiles to serve as their campaign headquarters and will interact with the public at various events.
An interactive “town hall” will give MySpace users and TV viewers a chance to rate their performance.
The show does not yet have a commitment from a TV network.
Taking another hit
For the third straight week, the audience for “The Sopranos” last Sunday fell from the week before, according to Nielsen Media Research.
Sunday’s episode, the third of nine in the final season, averaged 6.85 million viewers. That’s down from the season opener, which averaged 7.66 million.
HBO officials maintain that because subscribers can see “Sopranos” multiple times each week, the first telecast’s rating is no longer so important. In addition to rebroadcasts through the week, HBO makes each episode available to subscribers via on-demand service the next day.
Bill Carroll, vice president at Katz Television Group, a media buying company, doubts the slump will last throughout the final run.
“I would be surprised,” he says, “if we don’t see pretty substantial increases for the final few episodes, with the realization this is truly the end.”
Family fare
ABC Family is adding several new original series to its slate of returning favorites.
The cable channel is planning to premiere the comedy series “Greek” and the animated series “Slacker Cats” along with 10 new original movies for the year.
Returning shows include of “Kyle XY,” “Lincoln Heights,” “Wildfire” and “Fallen.” ABC Family also acquired more recent episodes of “That ‘70s Show” and “America’s Funniest Home Videos” and will host the basic-cable premiere of “The Incredibles.”