Tv land orders ‘first wives club’ & kyle richards pilots, renews ‘teachers’, signs darren star to overall deal – upfronts

At its upfront presentation today, TV Land has announced pilot pickups for two comedy projects, a remake of the 1996 feature _The First Wives Club_, executive produced by_ Sex and the City 

_alumna Jenny Bicks; and a 1970s Kyle Richards project inspired by _The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills _star’s real-life upbringing, executive produced by John Wells. Additionally, the

network has renewed comedy _Teachers_ for a super-sized 20-episode second season following a promising freshman run. TV Land also is expanding its relationship with_ Younger_ creator Darren

Star, signing him to an overall deal.  The pact keeps him on board to develop another project while continuing as executive producer of _Younger_, which was recently renewed for a third

season_. Younge_r’s second season is coming off series highs this week with Adults 18-49, Adults 25-39 and total viewers (L+3), according to the network and Nielsen. Its season finale airs

at 10 PM Wednesday, March 23. _The First Wives Club_, penned by _New Girl_ scribe Rebecca Adelman and executive produced by Bicks, and the untitled Kyle Richards, exec produced by Wells and 

John Riggi (_30 Rock_), join previously ordered pilot _Nobodies,_ a single-camera comedy executive produced by Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone. “Looking ahead, we’re developing shows that

are funny but also embrace real dramatic moments,” said Keith Cox, said TV Land’s EVP, Development and Original Programming. “We’re fortunate to be working with such amazing collaborators as

we continue to reinvent the network.” The current series lineup at TV Land, which rebranded itself with edgier comedy fare, includes_ The Jim Gaffigan Show_, which premieres its second

season Wednesday, June 22, and _Impastor_, which premieres season two on Wednesday, July 13. New series _Lopez_, executive produced by George Lopez and _Silicon Valley_’s John Altschuler and

Dave Krinsky, premieres Wednesday, March 30. WATCH ON DEADLINE Neither has come close to the ratings highs of multi-camera TV Land like _Hot In Cleveland_ but the network’s brass have been 

patient with the the new creative direction. TV Land series stars Molly Bernard (_Younger)_, Hilary Duff (_Younge_r), Jim Gaffigan (_The Jim Gaffigan Show)_, Peter Hermann (_Younger_),

George Lopez (_Lopez_), Debi Mazar _(Younge_r), Miriam Shor (_Younger_) Nico Tortorella (_Younger_), and executive producers Alison Brie (_Teachers_) and Darren Star (_Younger_) were on hand

for today’s event. Here’s a look at TV Land’s 2016 pilots: > “THE FIRST WIVES CLUB” > Putting a fresh twist on Paramount’s iconic 1996 film, the pilot, > to be written by Rebecca 

Addelman (“New Girl”) and executive > produced by Jenny Bicks (“Sex and the City,” “The Big C”), > will take place in modern day San Francisco. The story revolves > around three 

women – friends and classmates in the 90s – who > reconnect after their close friend from college dies in a freak > accident. When they discover that they are all at a romantic > 

crossroads, they band together to tackle divorce, relationships and > life’s other annoying challenges. Paramount Television will > produce for TV Land. >  > UNTITLED KYLE 

RICHARDS PILOT > The untitled pilot, set in the ‘70s, centers on Bonnie Nolan, a > 40-year old woman with a beautiful home and two beautiful daughters > to go with it. Finding 

herself alone after her marriage fails, > Bonnie is an enigma of the times: a single woman with no means to > support herself or her children. The project is inspired by > 

actress-turned-reality star Richards’ real life upbringing, and > her mother’s struggle to raise her family and claim her own brand > of independence in a world not ready to give it. 

The pilot is > produced by John Wells Productions in association with Warner > Horizon Television for TV Land, and will be executive produced by > John Wells (“Shameless,” “ER,” 

“The West Wing”) and John > Riggi (“The Comeback,” “30 Rock,” “Will & Grace”), who > wrote the pilot script. Richards will co-executive produce. >  > “NOBODIES” (previously 

ordered) > Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone executive produce this comedy > following Groundlings alums Hugh Davidson, Larry Dorf and Rachel > Ramras – who play themselves and will 

also serve as executive > producers – as they try desperately to land one of their famous > friends for a feature script that they have developed, so that they, > too, can rise to 

fame in Hollywood. JAX Media’s Tony Hernandez > will executive produce for TV Land.