Pilot Season: NBC Picks Up John Wells' Prison Drama Pilot

John Wells NBC has ordered a prison drama pilot from John Wells.Based on the long-running British hit series of the same name, Bad Girls will focus on the a group of unlikely women in a federal prison, which includes a scandalous female warden, her new protégé and various inmates who struggle with loyalties to people on the inside and outside.Pilot Season: Fox picks up OB/GYN comedy starring Mindy KalingWells will executive-produce alongside Andrew Stern and Nancy Pimental, who will also write.Wells previously worked with NBC on ER, Third Watch, The West Wing and Southland, which moved to TNT after the network canceled it before its Season 2 premiere.

Amazing Race Welcomes Big Brother Vets, Married Clowns for 20th Season

Amazing Race Big Brother winner Rachel Reilly may have walked out of the house with the $500,000 check last summer, but does she have what it takes to race around the world for the full million.Reilly and her Big Brother fiancé, Brendon Villegas, form one of the 11 new teams taking off on the 20th installment of CBS' The Amazing Race (premiering Sunday, February 19 at 8pm/ET). Fresh off of its eighth Outstanding Reality Competition Emmy win, Race will make first-time visits to Paraguay and Azerbaijan this season. The 40,000-mile course will also have contestants skydiving in Argentina and sampling some of Italy's culinary treats.Check out the complete list of teams below, including married clowns, a pair of federal agents and dating divorcees. Whom will you be rooting for?Dave Brown Jr. and Rachel BrownAges: 33 and 30Hometown: Madison, Wis.Relationship: MarriedWilliam "Bopper" Minton and Mark JacksonAges: 41 and 45Hometown: Manchester, KY.Relationship: Best FriendsNary Ebeid and Jamie GraetzAges: 32 and 33Hometown: Los AngelesRelationship: Federal Agents/FriendsBrendon Villegas and Rachel ReillyAges: 31 and 27Hometown: Westwood, Calif.Relationship: EngagedJoey "Fitness" Lasalla and Danny HoralAges: 29 and 27Hometowns: Whitestone, N.Y. and Holbrook, N.Y.Relationship: FriendsMisa Tanaka and Maiya TanakaAges: 27 and 25Hometown: San DiegoRelationship: SistersDave Gregg and Cherie GreggAges: 44Hometown: New Port Richey, Fla.Relationship: Married ClownsElliot Weber and Andrew WeberAges: 28Hometowns: Scottsdale, Ariz. and Menlo Park, Calif.Relationship: TwinsKerri Paul and Stacy BowersAges: 30Hometown: Gulfport, Miss.Relationship: CousinsVanessa Macias and Ralph KelleyAges: 31 and 36Hometown: San Antonio, TexasRelationship: Dating DivorceesArt Velez and J.J. CarrellAges: 43 and 42Hometowns: Temecula, Calif. and Carlsbad, Calif.Relationship: Border Patrol Agents/FriendsSubscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

Arab spring in Sweden

'No More Fear'Goteborg may well be a extended way from Tunis, Cairo or Damascus, nonetheless its focus this year on Arabic-language filmmaking is timely.Produced throughout last year's fest -- when the first Arab Spring revolts were just beginning -- the fest's Arab focus includes movies that reflect everyday lives and offer experience for the political energy in the region.InchWe'll be searching at films made both before, throughout and following a revolutions, and you'll visit a seminar round the role that TV as well as the Internet have carried out," states artistic director Marit Kapla.Films include Tunisia's "Rouge Parole," a free account in the revolution because country directed by Elyes Baccar and "Ignore Fear," by Murad Ben Cheikh, another undertake people occasions.Other fest occasions include master classes by company company directors for instance Alexander Payne, Giorgos Lanthimos, Lone Scherfig and Jessica Hausner (who's jury chairman for your Nordic Award).Gala movies include "The Descendants," "We must Discuss Kevin," "The Artist," "Carnage," "W.E.," "Trishna" and "Dark Equine."Site visitors this year have Michael Winterbottom, Avoi Ionesco and David Hare.Fest Traveler: Goteburg Film Festival A 'dragon' getting a high fest too Large prize, diverse program pull in bizzers Arab spring in Sweden Publish and vfx thrive in northern places Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

CBS orders Nick Stoller laffer

CBS had picked up its first comedy pilot for the 2012-13 development derby, giving a nod to an untitled single-camera vehicle from writer-director Nick Stoller and 20th Century Fox TV. Project from Chernin Entertainment revolves around a guy who has to work one cubicle away from the girl who broke his heart. The pair work at an advertising agency. Stoller exec produces with Peter Chernin and Katherine Pope. He'll also direct the pilot. Stoller has been a frequent collaborator with "How I Met Your Mother" star Jason Segel. The two most recently co-wrote the script for Disney's "The Muppets." Stoller also helmed 2008's "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and 2010's "Get Him to the Greek." CBS sees the ensembler as a younger-skewing vehicle in the vein of "HIMYM" and "2 Broke Girls." Contact Cynthia Littleton at cynthia.littleton@variety.com

Exclusive: CSI: NY Plots Major Love Interest for Mac

Megan Dodds, Gary Sinise Mac Taylor's social calendar may soon receive bigger on CSI: NY.The CBS drama has reserved former Detroit 1-8-7 star Megan Dodds to appear in multiple episodes just like a new love interest for Gary Sinise's Mac, executive producer Zach Reiter notifies TVGuide.com. The casting will come in the identical season that finally introduced Mac's wife, Claire (Jaime Ray Newman), who died inside the 9/11 terrorist attacks.Convey more scoop inside your favorite shows inside our Winter TV preview"Just before the conclusion of the year - that might function as finish in the show - we explore Mac's romantic existence just a little,Inch Reiter states. "We basically set that up inside the premiere, getting that moment where Mac releases the opera tickets to the ocean and symbolically states goodbye to Claire which chapter of his existence. I had been wanting he'd be capable of proceed romantically. It may be unfortunate in case your guy like him could not find love within the existence."Dodds may have Christine, a girl from Mac's past. "When Mac first gone after NY and made a decision to participate police force department, Mac reaches police force academy with Christine's brother," Reiter states. "So there's a familiarity plus an association from sometime ago when. ... But this is often a lady such a long time later who reaches to reunite, virtually to convey, 'I discover about everything you did for your [Brooklyn Wall of Remembrance] as well as the kids of 9/11. It snowballs next.InchUnique: CSI: NY books Lee Majors for guest spotReiter states Dodds' character look in five episodes. "We'll start to see the courtship," according to him. "If an individual can be obtained. You'll find areas of that relationship that become a little complicated, but what we should are wanting is always to determine if Mac can effectively proceed from Claire. It's fun to find out him awkwardly undergo that."Dodds, 41, co-starred among Came Barrymore's evil stepsisters in Ever After: A Cinderella Story. She also came out on such Tv shows as House, Mislead Me, as well as the BBC's MI-5.CSI: NY airs Fridays at 9/8c on CBS. Dodds will first are available in this season's twelfth episode, that is not scheduled.

Amy Poehler To Direct Approaching Parks & Entertainment Episode

First Launched: The month of the month of january 8, 2012 2:18 PM EST Credit: Getty Images La, Calif. -- Caption Amy Poehler attends Trevor Live: A Evening Time Enjoying useful benefits the Trevor Project at Capitale in NY City on June 27, 2011Amy Poehler keeps fans laughing since the passionate Leslie Knope on NBCs comedy, Parks and Entertainment now, the Saturday Evening Live alumni is positioned to step behind the digital camera with an approaching episode. TV Lines Michael Ausiello reviews Amy could make her directorial debut within the helm from the approaching episode which was also put together through the gifted star which finds her town-loving character facing off against her opponent in the debate as she runs for Mayor of Pawnee, Ind. Its [expletive] great, executive producer Mike Schur mentioned. Its an amazing, funny script. Schur ongoing to become tight-lipped regarding additional particulars, but did demonstrate the debate will probably be moderated by Pawnees own Perd Hapley (carried out by Jay Jackson). The episode (this seasons 20th), will air through the May Sweeps period. In related Parks and Entertainment news, Make the most of Lowe recently revealed audiences will rapidly go to a different side of his excessively-energetic, fitness fanatic character, Chris Traeger. Youre prone to go to a awesome side to him cause everyone knows hes passionate, hes positive, hes upbeat, Make the most of told Access Hollywood within a junket for his approaching Lifetime TV movie, Came Billings: Untouchable in NY City on Wednesday. You now request , what continues to Chris because he can get depressed? And would uncover which is not pretty. You won't want to determine Chris Traeger depressed, he added. Parks and Entertainment airs on Thursdays at 8:30/7:30c on NBC. Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Patti Murin: A Back Stage Exclusive

"I loved this role!" Patti Murin squeals with delight. "I understood that everybody want the show like I loved the show... it's snappy, it's witty, it's current, I am talking about it is good.Inch The show she's raving about (and nearly everyone else is simply too!) is Broadway's latest hit, Douglas Carter Beane's "Lysistrata Johnson" and she or he happily plays the title character.A graduate from the Syracuse College theater program, Patti's musical debut was playing Tina a button in her own sixth grade manufacture of "Cinderella." Although, she is much more familiar to fans on her role in a different one of Beane's musicals, "Xanadu."If not carrying out Patti is definitely up for any little fantasy football or gossiping about greatOrpoor reality TV. A Woman after my very own heart! She lately reached live among her dreams singing the nation's Anthem in a NY Titans game.Selected because this week's Actor2Watch, Patti is going to be featured inside a number of articles, fun details and social networking tweets through this week for customers of Girl2Watch.com.A2W: What have you love concerning the Syracuse Theater Program? PM: I believe probably the most gifted people emerge from Syracuse, and I am not only stating that because I visited. They train you actually how you can act and not simply 'this is when you act while you need to do the song', they train you the way to do something legitimate, how you can listen and trouble your scene, particularly in musicals. I believe that's vital. Lots of occasions you do not buy some performances where you are like, they are just pretending to become somebody.A2W: Once you graduated from Syracuse you gone to live in New You are able to. PM: I moved here immediately and that i really did non-Equity Theater for around 2 yrs. I did not get my equity card for 2 many type of purposely. I did not would like to get it without understanding that I'd utilize it again. A2W: When have you get the equity card? PM: My second cousin works best for Shirley Grant Management, so when I graduated he sent me on some auditions. He'd send me for random stuff and among the auditions was for any reading through for any show known as "Princesses." It had been in the fifth Avenue Theater and that i made it happen to have an on vacation tryout also it never went. After which I acquired a show about twelve 16 year olds and that i did another reading through from it and we visited the great Speed and that is where I received my equity card, at the Norma Terrace. A2W: How can you stay in carrying out shape? PM: Considerable time is spent resting. I have type of sworn off my social existence for the following couple of several weeks, Sometimes by helping cover their my buddies for a while. It is a really challenging show vocally and physically and I have transported shows before and I have experienced leading shows before however for two several weeks at any given time not for the whole span. So I am truly being best to myself and merely type of let myself relax. A2W: Would you be worried about your voice? PM: I do not be worried about it because I didn't have issues with it, however i certainly take proper care of myself you realize. I recieve lots of sleep, I attempt to access least 8 hrs a evening, I attempt for 9 basically can that involves being really strict with myself. It's 10pm it's the perfect time to consider my contacts out in order to be laying in mattress by 10:30pm and that i could be sleeping by 11pm. A2W: You have to be exhausted. PM: Yeah, it's like this good type of exhaustion. I am talking about at this time it's. It's so good type of exhaustion, I'm doing something. That's the one thing I really like relating to this show. I personally don't like a fitness center, I truly hate a fitness center. I am in some way fortunate with a few type of metabolic process that I do not need to bother about exercising an excessive amount of, however i also don't feel awesome when I am not active. A2W: But dancing all day long is a superb workout. PM: Also it seamless comfort, despite per week of rehearsals I had been like 'oh, you will find my abs again, great.' For somebody who hates to visit a fitness center I do not must see a fitness center now. I'm able to work my butt off for just two hrs and fifteen minutes every evening sometimes two times each day and become okay. A2W: How can you get ready for an audition? PM: I attempt to commit to memory whenever possible. Sometimes you need to become familiar with a lot, however i attempt to learn whenever possible. I'll use my recorder on my cell phone, and I'll feel the scene but I'll say another person's line by leaving space personally. My hubby and I'll be like 'can you test me on wrinkles?A I love to look in the breakdown and become like this is exactly what they stated they need, you know, basically don't immediately seem like I am really suitable for something, then I'll kind of be okay, well I am going to get this done the way I would like, even when it is going against something they say within the breakdown. This is exactly what I am likely to provide it and do, rather than simply attempt to squeeze into a box. Especially because I actually do a lot new items that it certainly is by what you are likely to provide it anyway, like what you are.A2W: What's your who audition philosophy? PM: I have finally become to the stage where I am comfortable going into auditions. I like it, specifically for TV and film, because each time I use I am learning something since it is so much more recent in my experience than musicals are, and I have also reached the point where I understand things i prosper, I understand my talents. Within the last 3 years I have learned a lot. I additionally believe that there's certainly this type of factor as over planning. After I get into an audition and also the girl alongside me knows what she is going to do when she gets into, this is the fun part for me personally, it's like testing myself and being open. Patti Murin: A Back Stage Exclusive Actor2Watch presented by Girl2Watch.com By Alison Goodman The month of january 5, 2012 "I loved this role!" Patti Murin squeals with delight. "I understood that everybody want the show like I loved the show... it's snappy, it's witty, it's current, I am talking about it is good.Inch The show she's raving about (and nearly everyone else is simply too!) is Broadway's latest hit, Douglas Carter Beane's "Lysistrata Johnson" and she or he happily plays the title character.A graduate from the Syracuse College theater program, Patti's musical debut was playing Tina a button in her own sixth grade manufacture of "Cinderella." Although, she is much more familiar to fans on her role in a different one of Beane's musicals, "Xanadu."If not carrying out Patti is definitely up for any little fantasy football or gossiping about greatOrpoor reality TV. A Woman after my very own heart! She lately reached live among her dreams singing the nation's Anthem in a NY Titans game.Selected because this week's Actor2Watch, Patti is going to be featured in a number of articles, fun details and social networking tweets through now for customers of Girl2Watch.com.A2W: What have you love concerning the Syracuse Theater Program? PM: I believe probably the most gifted people emerge from Syracuse, and I am not only stating that because I visited. They train you actually how you can act and not simply 'this is when you act when you perform the song', they train you the way to do something legitimate, how you can listen and trouble your scene, particularly in musicals. I believe that's vital. Lots of occasions you do not buy some performances where you are like, they are just pretending to become somebody.A2W: Once you graduated from Syracuse you gone to live in NY. PM: I moved here immediately and that i really did non-Equity Theater for around 2 yrs. I did not get my equity card for 2 many type of purposely. I did not would like to get it not understanding which i would utilize it again. A2W: When have you get the equity card? PM: My second cousin works best for Shirley Grant Management, so when I graduated he sent me on some auditions. He'd send me for random stuff and among the auditions was for any reading through for any show known as "Princesses." It had been in the fifth Avenue Theater and that i made it happen to have an on vacation tryout also it never went. After which I acquired a show about twelve 16 year olds and that i did another reading through from it and that we visited the great Speed and that is where I received my equity card, in the Norma Terrace. A2W: How can you stay in carrying out shape? PM: Considerable time is spent resting. I have type of sworn off my social existence for the following couple of several weeks, Sometimes by helping cover their my buddies for a while. It is a really challenging show vocally and physically and I have transported shows before and I have experienced leading shows before however for two several weeks at any given time not for the whole span. So I am truly being best to myself and merely type of let myself relax. A2W: Would you be worried about your voice? PM: I do not be worried about it because I didn't have issues with it, however i certainly take proper care of myself you realize. I recieve lots of sleep, I attempt to access least 8 hrs a evening, I attempt for 9 basically can that involves being really strict with myself. It's 10pm you're ready to take my contacts out in order to be laying in mattress by 10:30pm and that i could be sleeping by 11pm. A2W: You have to be exhausted. PM: Yeah, it's like this good type of exhaustion. I am talking about right it is now. It's so good type of exhaustion, I'm doing something. That's the one thing I really like relating to this show. I personally don't like a fitness center, I truly hate a fitness center. I am in some way fortunate with a few type of metabolic process which i don't need to bother about exercising an excessive amount of, however i also don't feel awesome when I am not active. A2W: But dancing all day long is a superb workout. PM: Also it seamless comfort, despite per week of rehearsals I had been like 'oh, you will find my abs again, great.' For somebody who hates to visit a fitness center I do not must see a fitness center now. I'm able to work my butt off for just two hrs and fifteen minutes every evening sometimes two times each day and become okay. A2W: How can you get ready for an audition? PM: I attempt to commit to memory whenever possible. Sometimes you need to become familiar with a lot, however i attempt to learn whenever possible. I'll use my recorder on my cell phone, and I'll feel the scene but I'll the other person's line by leaving space personally. We is going to be like 'can you test me on wrinkles?A I love to consider the breakdown and become like this is exactly what they stated they need, you realize, basically don't immediately seem like I am really suitable for something, then I'll kind of be okay, well I am going to get this done the way in which I would like, even when it is going against something they say within the breakdown. This is exactly what I am likely to provide it and do, as opposed to just attempt to squeeze into a box. Especially because I actually do a lot new items that it certainly is by what you are likely to provide it anyway, like what you are.A2W: What's your who audition philosophy? PM: I have finally become to the stage where I am comfortable starting auditions. I like it, specifically for TV and film, because each time I use I am learning something since it is a lot more recent in my experience than musicals are, and I have also become to the stage where I understand things i prosper, I understand my talents. Within the last 3 years I have learned a lot. I additionally believe that there's certainly this type of factor as over planning. After I get into an audition and also the girl alongside me knows what she is going to do when she gets into, this is the fun part for me personally, it's like testing myself and being open.

SAG, AFTRA prep for nine-day merger talks

Leaders of Hollywood's two greatest artist unions 're going from the radar in a few days to pay attention to what might be the ultimate proposal for merging the Screen Stars Guild and also the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists, Beginning Saturday, they'll hold a marathon nine-day ending up in the aim of preparing the proposal over time for that national boards in the finish from the month. As well as in a move that underlines the significance for union cake toppers to create a suitable merger proposal, several periods happen to be looking for the Renaissance Hotel from the SAG and AFTRA offices in Hollywood. Spokespeople for that unions didn't have immediate response Monday. But a resource acquainted with the problem established that while using off-site location is targeted particularly at giving union reps the very best chance at dealing with a large number of complications presented by mixing the SAG and AFTRA -- and meeting the formerly introduced deadline of overall the procedure this month. SAG presently has about 120,000 people while AFTRA has about 70,000, about 45,000 entertainers owned by both unions. If the proposal be authorized by the national boards, people might be requested to OK the merger inside a referendum that will require 60% of individuals voting in each union to approve. SAG people defeated merger plans in 1999 and 2003 while AFTRA people supported both. Concerns over SAG's lack of identity and also the effect on the SAG-producers health insurance and pension plans were elevated within the 2003 election, whenever a merger was based on 58% of SAG people who chosen. The state AFTRA and SAG Group for just one Union has held four conferences since June, most lately on 12 ,. 11-12 once the approaching nine-day meet was set. The conferences happen to be caused by Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations professor Susan J. Schurman and labor consultant Peter S. DiCicco. The G1 includes six workgroups, that have been hammering out particulars like a title, governance, financing, membership needs and dues. Apart from explaining the conferences as productive, the unions have revealed only general particulars concerning the substance of discussions. SAG's chosen leadership continues to be centered recently by professional-merger reps, who contend that the combined union could be more effective and take away jurisdictional overlaps. Competitors, who've seen their influence wane, contend the new union ought to be for stars only. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com