News

As we’ve been reporting, Syfy had its Upfront presentation to potential advertisers Wednesday night, and they spent yesterday issuing press releases. It’s a good thing they held the event at a pier, as there is a boatload of information included in the summary press release below. We made sure to get it posted before the weekend, since it will take you the entire weekend to absorb it all.

Some of it is information we’ve already posted, like the Ringworld and Childhood’s End development and the High Moon pilot production, some of it we posted about fairly recently, like Ronald D. Moore‘s Helix, some of it we haven’t heard about in quite some time, like Orion, Proof, and Dominion, and some, like the nonscripted shows, the anthology, and some of the projects announced, are news to us.

You’ll also see ratings info and other...

It never fails.

Whenever Dirty Jobs goes off the air for a few months, people start to wonder if the show has been canceled. Rumors begin to swirl, and questions about the show's future fill my inbox. Over the years it's been my pleasure to assure anxious fans that Dirty Jobs is coming back for another season. And indeed, we always have. Alas, this year, I'm afraid I cannot dispel the rumors. A few weeks ago, I was officially informed that Dirty Jobs had entered into a new phase. One I like to call, "permanent hiatus." Or in the more popular industry vernacular, canceled.

My first instinct was to immediately pass the news on to you, but frankly, it's taken me a few weeks to digest. Dirty Jobs is a very personal show, and it's difficult for me to imagine a future that does not involve exploding toilets, venomous snakes,...

Discovery Communications has signed non-exclusive deals with Shine Group, All3Media and Wtfn as part of the launch of a new virtual global unit of its production arm Discovery Studios focused on developing big content franchises. Under the pacts, Discovery Studios will work with the three companies to develop and commission original lifestyle, specialist, factual and general entertainment formats for Discovery’s networks around the world including Discovery Channel and TLC. The deal also includes pilot commitments for the three companies. Discovery Studios has been aggressive in signing unscripted producers, recently announcing overall deals with Eddie Barbini (Dirty Jobs), Rob Hammersly (Mythbusters) and Daniel Soiseth (Hell's Kitchen).

Discovery Studios, the production arm of Discovery Communications, has signed a long-term overall deal with veteran reality producer Eddie Barbini of Blue Frog Pictures who will produce series and specials for the studio. Barbini is a three-time Emmy award nominee in the Outstanding Reality Program category for his work on Discovery Channel’s Dirty Jobs. His credits also include Worst Case Scenario, Swamp Loggers and Out of the Wild: The Alaska Experiment for Discovery Channel and Miracle Detectives for Own, as well as Swat: Tactical Force for USA, American P.I. for FX, Arrest and Trial for ABC, and Manhunt for Upn. Barbini was recently an executive producer with Pilgrim Films. Discovery Studios has been actively making deals with unscripted producers. It recently signed American Chopper Ep Rob Hammersley.