Friday, June 15, 2007
TV briefs: NBC shrinks Beckham show
NBC is still chronicling Victoria Beckham's move from London to Los Angeles, but not as extensively as it had initially hoped.
Instead of the six-episode series it announced a few months back, the network will air a one-hour special called "Victoria Beckham: Coming to America" on July 16. The show will follow the erstwhile Posh Spice as she prepares for her move to the United States in the wake of husband David Beckham's signing with the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer.
"Viewers will get a first-hand glimpse into what it's like to be one of the most sought-after celebrities in the world," says Craig Plestis, head of alternative programming at NBC. "Victoria's every move is documented by the paparazzi, but only our cameras have been allowed inside the world of what being Victoria Beckham is really like."
When NBC announced the project in February, it was planning for six half-hour episodes to air over the summer. However, Victoria Beckham and her kids have been spending time in Europe recently while David plays with England's national team. His performance has sparked talk that he might not make the move to Los Angeles, though he the Galaxy and MLS all say he'll stick to his contract.
Burrows has Fox's 'Back'
The all-star creative line-up for Fox's "Back to You" keeps getting more impressive.
James Burrows, a 10-time Emmy winner, has come aboard the comedy as an executive producer and in-house director, according to the industry trade papers. Burrows previously directed the "Back to You" pilot.
Created by Steve Levitan ("Just Shoot Me") and Christopher Lloyd ("Frasier"), "Back to You" stars Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton as ex-lovers who reunite as co-anchors on a Pittsburgh newscast. The supporting cast includes Fred Willard and Josh Gad.
Burrows is expected to helm most of the first season's episodes. Last year he served similar duties on CBS' "The Class."
Burrows' credits include a lengthy run as regular helmer on "Will & Grace," as well as multiple episodes of "Taxi," "Cheers" and "Frasier."
'Mars' on the big screen?
"Veronica Mars" may live on ... but not on television.
Creator Rob Thomas revealed that the teenaged private eye may continue her adventures on the big screen and in the pages of a comic book, reports the Toronto Star.
"I have some ambition to write a screenplay, see if I can shop that and get it made," Thomas said at the Banff World Television Festival. "And I had a meeting with DC Comics last Monday and they want to do (Season 4) as a comic series."
To make the series more appealing to the CW audience, Thomas had proposed to fast-forward Veronica's adventures by a year, which would place her at the FBI Academy. Although the green network didn't bite, this concept seems perfect for the comic book treatment.





