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Scott Steindorff and Dylan Russell of Stone Village Television are developing a multi-part TV series based on Brian Muraresku’s book, “The Immortality Key: The Secret History of the Religion With No Name.” Stone Village’s plans come after a competitive bidding war for the rights to the New York Times bestseller.

Published in 2020, “The Immortality Key” organizes a decade of research into the history of psychedelics and how substances may connect to humanity’s discovery of God, chronicling practices such as psychedelic beer that dates back to sixth century B.C. to psychedelic wine consumed in ancient Greece.

Stone Village bills the upcoming production as “‘Game of Thrones’ but with psychedelics,” teasing an “epic” scale for the project.

Steindorff, a founder of Stone Village, served as an executive producer on HBO’s “Station Eleven” and the 2005 miniseries “Empire Falls.” He is currently working on a project exploring doctors who prescribe psychedelic therapy.

Julie Chen Moonves will host the Big Brother 24 season finale soon. Pic credit: Julie Holland/CBS

Big Brother 24 spoilers indicate that Part 2 of the final Head of Household Competition was played today.

This is a big deal because it sets the stage for who is going to be competing in Part 3 during the season finale.

As previously reported by Monsters & Critics, Matt Turner won Part 1 of the final Hoh Competition.

The endurance challenge that Turner won took place late on Thursday evening, hours after Brittany Hoopes was evicted.

Some small details about the challenge were revealed in conversations seen on the Big Brother live feeds, with spinning and ropes being a part of it.

Due to Turner being victorious in Part 1, that left Taylor Hale and Monte Taylor to battle it out in Part 2 on Friday.

Who won Part 2 of the final Hoh Competition on Big Brother 24?

Early on Friday...

Julie Chen Moonves has a big surprise for the Big Brother 24 cast. Pic credit: Julie Holland/CBS

Big Brother fans will get two hours of action during the August 18 episode of the show. It will be a big night, especially with the introduction of a huge new twist.

It all begins at 9/8c on the evening of Thursday, August 18. By the end of the episode, the house will be split up, and the new twist will have taken over the game.

As viewers might expect, the episode will begin with the Veto Meeting and the revelation of the final nominees for the week. The producers decided to save that to make sure more people tuned in this time.

When host Julie Chen Moonves welcomes the viewers, she may also begin explaining how the night is going to work. The biggest thing is that the house will be split into two groups of five,...

The Television Publicity Executives Committee (Tpec) has unveiled its new leadership including two new co-chairs.

The group, which features senior communications professionals across the TV industry, has named Dustin Smith and Wendy Zocks as co-chairs.

Smith is the founder of Smithhouse, while Zocks is the founder of Wendy Zocks PR. The pair were previously Vice-Chairs for the past two years.

The leadership team also include Amy Prenner from The Prenner Group, who was a past chair, as well as Todd Beck, CEO, Beck Media & Marketing, who is treasurer, Julie Holland, VP, Communications, CBS and Joe Schlosser, EVP, Communications, Banijay Americas

Also new to the executive committee this year are Etienne Hernandez-Medina of H&m Communications and Cynthia Lieberman of Liebercomm, who joins as Head of Social Media.

Tpec has organized a number of virtual events during the pandemic between members and journalists, including Deadline, as well as The Kelly Clarkson Show.

Tim Hincks is departing his role as president of Endemol Shine Group. A 17-year veteran of the production company, Hincks will step down officially later this year. “The last 17 years have been an incredible and exhilarating ride,” Hincks said in a statement. “Playing my part in helping build a world class content creation company across so many countries, genres and platforms has been an honour and a privilege. And working with unrivaled creative teams across the world has been a quite ridiculous amount of fun. But it really is time for a new adventure.” Also Read: Endemol Shine Promotes Julie Holland.

Veteran publicity exec Julie Holland has been promoted to VP Communications at Endemol Shine North America. In her new role, Holland oversees all unscripted communications efforts for the company, as well as PR initiatives surrounding its brand, integration, commercial partnerships and ancillary products group. She also supports Endemol Shine's corporate, consumer and internal communications efforts, as well as awards, talent relations and events coordination. During her…...

Endemol Shine North America has promoted Julie Holland to vice president of communications, the company announced Friday. Holland has been with the television production company for three years, having joined Shine America prior to its merger with Endemol. “Julie has tremendous experience in nearly every facet of our business and she’s done a phenomenal job launching many of our top series over the last few years,” Joe Schlosser, senior vice president, communications, said in a statement. “I’m thrilled she’s going to remain a major part of our communications team for years to come.” Also Read: Flavio Morales Named Evp of Endemol Shine.

Washington, November 23: Diablo Cody and Oprah Winfrey have set a comedy project at HBO based on Dr. Julie Holland's upcoming book 'Moody Bitches', it has been revealed.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the comedy will lift from the psychiatrist's source material and expose the truth about the drugs you're taking, the sex you're not having, the sleep you're missing and what's really making you crazy, as the book's extended title says, Fox News reported.

The comedy series, whose pilot script will be written by Cody, is going to be produced by Harpo and the 'Juno' writer and Winfrey will both be the executive producers.

If you were to tell me that you saw this collaboration coming, between Diablo Cody and Oprah Winfrey, I would have called you a damned liar. Yet, here we are and these two ladies are working together to adapt Dr. Julie Holland's upcoming book Moody Bitches for the small screen over at HBO. Cody will pen the pilot and then exec produce the show along with Oprah and her company Harpo Films.  The book, which has not yet been released, goes under the full title Moody Bitches: The Truth About the Drugs You're Taking, The Sex You're Not Having, The Sleep You're Missing and What's Really Making You Crazy and explores the pros and cons of the drugs we are being offered. I don't know if those are...

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

In a somewhat unexpected pairing (at least to me), Oprah Winfrey and Diablo Cody are teaming up for an HBO comedy, which will be based on an upcoming book by Dr. Julie Holland, titled Moody Bitches. HBO’s logline for the show says that it “exposes the truth about the drugs you’re taking, the sex you’re not having, the sleep you’re missing and what’s really making you crazy,” which also happens to be the subtitle of the book by Dr. Holland - a psychiatrist and author of the best-selling autobiography, Weekends at Bellevue: Nine years on the NIght Shift at the Psych ER. Diablo Cody will write the pilot episode adapted from Holland's...

Diablo Cody and Oprah Winfrey are teaming up for an HBO comedy, according toThe Hollywood Reporter.

The untitled project is based on Dr. Julie Holland's upcoming book Moody Bitches, which explores the effects of drugs people are being offered and suggests effective natural therapies. The HBO comedy will focus on "the truth about the drugs you're taking, the sex you're not having, the sleep you're missing and what's really making you crazy," which is conveniently also the subtitle of Holland's book.

Read More >...

Diablo Cody and Oprah Winfrey are working together on an HBO comedy project, which in and of itself seems a little curious. The writer of the often biting "Juno" and "Young Adult" teaming up with the queen of "live your best life"?

The subject matter, though, makes the project even curiouser. Cody will write and she and Winfrey will executive produce a pilot based on psychiatrist Julie Holland's upcoming book "Moody Bitches: The Truth About the Drugs You're Taking, the Sex You're Not Having, The Sleep You're Missing and What's Really Making You Crazy," according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Holland, who's also the author of "Weekends at Bellevue," argues in the book that women increasingly tend to medicate their problems when dealing with them head-on is healthier. Cody's script will presumably feature women struggling with that idea.

Winfrey's company, Harpo Films, has a development deal at HBO. Cody, meanwhile,...

Oprah Winfrey and Diablo Cody are teaming up to develop an HBO comedy based on the book “Moody Bitches” by Dr. Julie Holland. HBO’s logline for the show says it “exposes the truth about the drugs you’re taking, the sex you’re not having, the sleep you’re missing and what’s really making you crazy.” Also read: ‘Fox & Friends’ Hosts: Oprah Winfrey Played ‘Race Card’ Defending Obama Cody created the series and is writing and executive producing. Winfrey is also executive producing for her Harpo Films, and Holland is co-executive producing. The show marks the first collaboration between the actress,...

HBO is teaming with Diablo Cody and Oprah Winfrey to explore "moody bitches." The premium cable network is developing an untitled comedy based on Dr. Julie Holland's upcoming book, Moody Bitches, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively. Holland's book -- Moody Bitches: The Truth About the Drugs You're Taking, the Sex You're Not Having, The Sleep You're Missing and What's Really Making You Crazy -- explores the pros and cons of the drugs people are being offered as well as some surprising and highly effective natural therapies. HBO's take, which is inspired by Holland's source material, will "expose the truth about

read more...

After spending untold amounts of cash on hundreds of dramas and comedies — most of which will never make it to your living rooms — the five broadcast networks will begin announcing in New York next week which projects are good enough to earn a coveted fall pickup. (NBC and Fox will present their fall schedule to advertisers on Monday, followed by ABC on Tuesday, CBS on Wednesday and the CW on Thursday).

Buzz is already strong for several projects (for more on the hot ones, click here). But every year, we always wonder what diamond-in-the-rough was left on the cutting room...

Fox seems to be in overdrive lately with their roster of new shows in development. The latest, a medical drama titled Weekends At Bellevue, just added rapper and actor Xzibit to a cast that includes Lauren Ambrose, Janet McTeer, Amber Stevens and Eric Winter .

The project centers on a psychiatrist (Lauren Ambrose) in charge of the weekend shift of Bellevue Hospital’s psychiatric unit. It’s based on the memoir of Julie Holland, M.D. The pilot is being written by Lisa Zwerling with Lloyd Braun and Gail Berman acting as executive producers.

Xzibit is becoming quit a seasoned actor having acted in such films as Gridiron Gang, The X-Files: I Want To Believe, Derailed and American Violet. He also recently appeared in an episode of Detroit 1-8-7.

h/t THR...

Rapper-actor Xzibit has joined Weekends at Bellevue starring Lauren Ambrose - Fox’s medical drama pilot from Universal Media Studios and BermanBraun. Weekends at Bellevue is based on the Julie Holland, M.D. memoir and tells of a psychiatrist (Lauren Ambrose) in charge of the weekend shift of Bellevue Hospital's psychiatric unit. Xzibit (Gridiron Gang, The X-Files: I Want to Believe) plays Chuck in the series, joining Ambrose as well as Janet McTeer (Diane), Amber Stevens (Claire) and Eric Winter who plays Knox. Lisa Zwerling (ER, The Event) will write the pilot. Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun...

Rapper-actor Xzibit has joined Weekends at Bellevue starring Lauren Ambrose - Fox’s medical drama pilot from Universal Media Studios and BermanBraun. Weekends at Bellevue is based on the Julie Holland, M.D. memoir and tells of a psychiatrist (Lauren Ambrose) in charge of the weekend shift of Bellevue Hospital's psychiatric unit. Xzibit (Gridiron Gang, The X-Files: I Want to Believe) plays Chuck in the series, joining Ambrose as well as Janet McTeer (Diane), Amber Stevens (Claire) and Eric Winter who plays Knox. Lisa Zwerling (ER, The Event) will write the pilot. Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun...

And they’re off! Casting is all but completed and production has already begun on scores of pilots for the five broadcast networks. But not every comedy and drama will go the distance. Which project has the right stuff? What pilot already has you feeling like you popped a Lunesta? Check out the mammoth slate for fall consideration. (And remember, all projects are whittled down in late April/early May before the nets present their fall slates to advertisers in New York):

CBS

The Doctor (Rina Mimoun, David Nutter). A mother (Christine Lahti) reconnects with her adult children when...

In her first regular comedy gig, Eliza Dushku is set as the female lead opposite Damon Wayans in CBS' untitled sports radio show pilot. The multicamera comedy, from veteran writer-producers Bill Martin and Mike Schiff, is inspired by Espn personality Colin Cowherd’s outspoken sports talk show. It centers on Nick (Wayans), an egotistical sports-radio host with a quick wit and cocky likability who is adored by his fans. Dushku will play Nick's radio cohort Casey, a fun, quick-witted gal who is socially oblivious and pathologically blunt. Dushku, repped by UTA and The Collective, is best known for her roles on dramas Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Tru Calling and Dollhouse. She recently guest starred on another CBS multicamera comedy, The Big Bang Theory. David Alpay (The Tudors) is set to co-star opposite Lauren Ambrose in Fox's drama pilot Weekends at Bellevue. Based on Julie Holland's memoir, Bellevue centers on...

Exclusive: In his first regular series role in almost a decade, Tom Sizemore is set to co-star opposite Ethan Hawke in Fox's drama pilot Exit Strategy, a high-octane procedural about a team of five experts associated with the CIA led by Eric Shaw (Hawke) who are deployed when a CIA operation goes bad to extract the ones involved before it's too late. Sizemore will play Jonathan Marks, a veteran CIA spymaster and mentor to Shaw who is the Exit Strategy unit's Logpac (support officer). A man who has been everywhere and done everything, Marks is the man who can get you anything, anywhere, anytime. Sizemore, repped by Global Artists Agency, last did a pilot in 2002, the drama Robbery Homicide Division, which was picked up to series and had a brief run on CBS. He has since done arcs on CBS' Dr. Vegas and Starz's Crash. Eric Winter, who has been...

ABC's comedy comedy pilot has found the leads for its comedy pilot My Freakin' Family: Ellen Woglom and Ravi Patel. Christopher Rich also has been cast in the project, which centers on two young parents, Anna (Woglom) and Raj (Patel), whose lives change after they have a baby and the four grandparents with very different cultural backgrounds descend upon their lives to fight for the soul of their grandchild. Rich will play Anna's dad, an affable suburban cowboy. Harish Patel was previously cast as Raj's dad. Ravi Patel, repped by TalentWorks and Seven Summits, played the lead in Fox's comedy pilot Nevermind Nirvana last year. Janet McTeer is set to co-star in the Fox drama pilot Weekends at Bellevue. Based on Dr. Julie Holland's memoir, Bellevue centers on a psychiatrist in charge of the weekend shift of Bellevue Hospital psychiatric unit. McTeer, nominated for an Oscar in 2000 for Tumbleweeds,...

Forget watching cops, doctors and lawyers working dreary modern-day jobs. Next fall, TV could be ruled by superheros, wizards and Playboy bunnies.

The broadcast networks’ pilot orders, which are nearly finished for the year, make this extreme primetime makeover actually possible. Not since a certain ABC show about a mysterious island became a massive hit have the Big Five developed so many serialized, sci fi and straight-up wild projects.

So far we’ve told you all about the best and brightest and craziest pilots in the works at ABC, CBS and NBC. But taking chances isn’t anything new to Fox,...

Lost director-producer Jack Bender has signed on to direct the Fox medical drama pilot Weekends at Bellevue. The project, which Fox got in turnaround, hails from the same studio, Ums, that produces Fox's veteran medical drama House. Based on Dr. Julie Holland's memoir, Bellevue, from former ER writer-producer Lisa Zwerling and BermanBraun, centers on a psychiatrist in charge of the weekend shift of Bellevue Hospital psychiatric unit. The project reunites Bender with BermanBraun. In the summer, he directed the company's 90-minute SyFy pilot Alphas, which has been picked up to series. Bender spent the last six years as an executive producer and director on Lost, wrapping his stint by helming the series’ finale. Liz Friedlander will make her pilot directing debut with the CW's Secret Circle for Warner Bros. TV and Alloy Entertainment. Written by Andrew Miller and Kevin Williamson based on the book series from The Vampire Diaries author L.J. Smith,...