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Mike Reynolds
E! Entertainment Television is extending its gaze toward original series and films naming veteran TV executive Lynn Deegan VP-development. Deegan, whose credits include development of Seinfeld and the HBO films, Truman and Citizen Cohn, will be responsible for creating a wide range of fiction programming, including comedies, dramas and movies.
In breaking from the network's reality-based programming schedule, Deegan is exploring a number of formats, including half-hour series that could be "comedic or dramatic. Or it could be a mix of the two or animation. We're looking for the right ideas and we'll take it from there," she said.
As for films, Deegan said E! already has "much in place with the research that has been done for (the series) True Hollywood Story. Hollywood and celebrities certainly lend themselves to scripted projects.
Saying only that "things are in the planning stages right now," Deegan noted that viewers might see E!'s first entries under her auspices as early as this summer or fall.
A SLIP AND SATCH SUMMER: Turner Classic Movies has acquired the rights to the Bowery Boys series of films, a 48-picture collection. Produced between 1946-58, the movies will appear during a three-month "Bowery Boys of Summer Fesitval," tipping with an all-night marathon June 21, and continuing every Sunday afternoon through Sept. 23.
The Bowery Boys began as the Dead End Kids, playing juvenile delinquents in the Broadway drama Dead End in 1935, before moving to Hollywood two years later. In 1938, the group appeared with James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart in Angels with Dirty Faces and later moved to other studios for such series as The Little Tough Guys at Universal and East Side Kids at Monogram.
In 1946, Leo Gorcey revamped the series to create the Bowery Boys, as he starred as ringleader Slip Mahoney with his dim-witted best friend Satch Jones, portrayed by Huntz Hall, who died last week.
KIDS WEEKEND DISCOVERIES: Discovery Channel is doubling its efforts to reach kids on weekends. Beginning April 3 from 9 a.m.-noon, the network moves into the Saturday morning fray for kids' eyeballs, as it launches a Discovery Kids adventure block, hosted by two real kids. The kids, Zach and Sarah, will travel around the country and world to such locations as the side of volcano, a shark boat and the Grand Canyon.
To fuel the expanded lineup, Discovery will premiere three new shows: Outward Bound, Sci Squad and Discovery Kids Incredible Story Studio.
OUTDOOR'S SLIPPERY SLOPES: Outdoor Life Network has inked a multi-year production deal with Warren Miller Films for five one-hour specials focusing on extreme skiing. The first special Warren Miller's Global Adventures: Kazakhstan comes out of the gate Feb. 11 at 10 p.m. (ET) and stars world champion extreme skier Chris Anthony and former Olympic downhill racer Bill Hudson. Subsequent editions visit Antarctica (March) and Ecuador replete with other world-class skiers and skateboarders.
WINNING WOOFERS: USA Network goes to the dogs Feb. 8-9 from 8-11 p.m. with the Westminister Kennel Club Dog Show, from Cablevision Systems Corp.'s Madison Square Garden. This will mark USA's 15th year of canine coverage, with the 1998 event scoring a 4.0 average over the two days.
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