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'Slut' slinks to Peacock - Single-mother laffer revived after 2 years (Anti-Conservative TV Alert!)
Variety ^ | Dec 12, 2002 | Michael Schneider

Posted on 12/13/2002 8:01:08 AM PST by Timesink

Posted: Thurs., Dec. 12, 2002, 10:00pm PT

'Slut' slinks to Peacock

Single-mother laffer revived after 2 years
 
By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER

"Town Slut" has found a new sugar daddy at NBC.

The Chris Alberghini/Mike Chessler project, developed two years ago at Fox, seemingly stopped turning tricks after it wasn't picked up as a series for fall 2001.

But as part of a script deal the duo made last year at NBC Studios, Peacock is now looking to revive the project.

Loosely based on Alberghini's childhood, "Town Slut" revolves around a single mom who winds up raising her three kids in a small Cape Cod town. Title is a sarcastic swipe at how the conservative townfolk react to the unmarried mother in their midst.

Spirit of 'Roseanne'

"You don't run across that many pieces of material that have a great mother character at the center of the show," said Joann Alfano, NBC's senior VP of comedy development. "There aren't a lot of TV moms out there in the spirit of 'Roseanne.' These guys are writing something they know really well. They're original."

Alberghini and Chessler ("Reba") first penned "Town Slut" as a spec script 21/2 years ago. The original pilot -- eventually renamed "Bev" by cautious Fox execs -- starred Anita Barone as the thirtysomething mom who mothered three kids by three different fathers.

NBC Studios is now on board to produce, in addition to Regency TV and 20th Century Fox, which produced the first pilot. Peacock has gone back to one of Alberghini and Chessler's earlier drafts rather than the final one that wound up as the "Bev" pilot.

"The day we found out it wasn't picked up was probably the most depressing day of my life," Alberghini said of the show's first incarnation. "I always believed in my gut somehow, some way, we'd get another shot at it."

ABC laffers on tap

Meanwhile, Alberghini and Chessler have also lined up two projects at ABC: Laffers "Swell," from Imagine Television, and "Beachwood," through Touchstone Television and the Greenblatt/Janollari Studio.

"Beachwood" follows an unlikely group of young Los Angeles friends in a courtyard-style apartment complex. Chessler called it a cross between "Melrose Place" and "Day of the Locusts."

"Here in L.A. a lot of people who would ordinarily not be friends end up thrust together by circumstance," Alberghini said.

David Janollari and Bob Greenblatt will exec produce alongside Chessler and Alberghini and introduced the duo to thesp Chelsea Handler, who's attached to star in the ensemble cast.

Based on designer's life

As for "Swell," the project is inspired by the life of fashion designer Cynthia Rowley, who will serve as an exec producer.

Imagine, under prexy David Nevins, brought in Alberghini and Chessler to reshape the project, which ABC originally developed last year. "Swell" is based on Rowley's relationship with her best friend, journalist Ilene Rosenzweig.

Rowley and Rosenzweig wrote the book "Swell: A Girl's Guide to the Good Life." Project will focus on two women in their mid-20s just starting out in New York.

"It's about two women who are on the outside looking in on the New York media fashion business," Chessler said. "But it's less about that world and more about their friendship."

Beyond "Reba," the duo's other credits include "Tucker," "Murphy Brown" and "The Nanny."

The duo are repped by UTA and attorney Patty Felker.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Extended News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: conservativebashing; hollywoodliberals; liberaltv; nbc; townslut
Oh, those backwards, reactionary conservatives! How funny they are! (And note the "Murphy Brown" connection.)
1 posted on 12/13/2002 8:01:09 AM PST by Timesink
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To: Timesink
I can't tell you the last time I watched network TV except for live sports. But it sounds like this show is pure fiction. "Conservative townfolk" in MASS., please.
2 posted on 12/13/2002 8:05:57 AM PST by johniegrad
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To: johniegrad
Just what the country needs: a funny, light hearted sitcom about an unwed mother. Realism being so valued as it is will call for her largest problems to come from the narrow minded bigotry of her neighbors. Terrific!
3 posted on 12/13/2002 8:13:38 AM PST by thegreatbeast
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To: Timesink
"There aren't a lot of TV moms out there in the spirit of 'Roseanne'."

Huh? I never liked 'Roseanne' much but she was married. A running theme in the show was how tough things can get in a marriage but they always stuck together. And all her kids were by her husband.

4 posted on 12/13/2002 8:41:23 AM PST by TigersEye
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To: Timesink
Please! I live in Alabama and single mothers ceased to be a shock over twenty years ago.

Let me guess, the only one who will treat her with respect is the town homo.

5 posted on 12/13/2002 9:11:09 AM PST by Paul Atreides
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To: Paul Atreides
...the only one who will treat her with respect is the town homo.

...the multiracial, handicapped, environmental activist, radical feminist, AIDs infected homo...

6 posted on 12/13/2002 10:15:37 AM PST by martin gibson
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To: martin gibson
...the only one who will treat her with respect is the town homo.

...the multiracial, handicapped, environmental activist, radical feminist, AIDs infected homo...

He/she will most likely be.. a)An atheist b)Hindu c)Buddhist or d)Wiccan. He/she will most likely...a)Run the town's gourmet coffee shop b)Run the town's new age book store and gift shop or c)Operate and be the only volunteer at the town's goodwill store (seeing how the rest of the town, mostly white I presume, are too good to help others or are unable to feel compassion.)

Don't forget that he/she will be the smartest person in town who dispenses pearls of wisdom to the single mom and her children and sarcastic oneliner insults to the bigots.

7 posted on 12/13/2002 10:50:14 AM PST by SantosLHalper
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To: SantosLHalper
You write scripts for a living, don't you?

;^)
8 posted on 12/13/2002 10:55:21 AM PST by null and void
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To: Timesink
I doubt many people will watch Town Slut, whatever the network execs rename it. The question is, how long they will go with it, the ratings be damned.
9 posted on 12/13/2002 11:54:26 AM PST by mrustow
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To: TigersEye
Only 3 different fathers? She sure sounds like a reponsible homemaker.
10 posted on 12/13/2002 11:55:56 AM PST by ffusco
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To: SantosLHalper
Next fall on NBC: a buddy cop/lawyer/doctor show with stories ripped from todays headlines. Ps you forgot to mention "sluts" gay male friend who is secure,promiscuous, healthy, and smarter than everyone in the town. He bonds with all of her children of 3 different fathers and teach them the real meaning of Christmas or groundhog day.
11 posted on 12/13/2002 12:00:56 PM PST by ffusco
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To: mrustow
My guess is three episodes.
12 posted on 12/13/2002 2:02:19 PM PST by justshutupandtakeit
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To: ffusco
Only 3 different fathers? She sure sounds like a reponsible homemaker.

LOL Yeah, it's when there are more than three fathers for three kids that she starts slipping in the polls.

...you forgot to mention "sluts" gay male friend ...He bonds with all of her children of 3 different fathers and teach them the real meaning of Christmas or groundhog day.

I figured he'd be one of the fathers. The other two hetero-dads are the reviled butt of all the jokes about absentee redneck dads but Queer Dad is OK because...well because he's queer and he "understands her". And he brings over homemade coffee cake every morning.

13 posted on 12/14/2002 5:54:38 AM PST by TigersEye
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