Survivor producer enscripted

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Burnett to weave tales for WB family pilot

“Survivor” kingpin Mark Burnett is expanding into scripted programming, pacting with Carsey-Werner-Mandabach to develop a half-hour comedy skein for the WB Network.

Frog has given a pilot commitment to the single-camera laffer, to be written and exec produced by David Goetsch and Jason Venokur (“3rd Rock From the Sun”), along with Ross Venokur.

Burnett and C-W-M are also attached as exec producers of the skein, a co-production of the studio and Mark Burnett Prods.

In addition, the WB has made a pilot commitment to an hourlong drama from “West Wing” helmer-exec producer Thomas Schlamme and scribes Steve Cohen and Brad Meltzer. Skein, from Warner Bros. TV, will tell the story of a pair of brothers destined to become political leaders.

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As for the C-W-M/Burnett project, skein revolves around a father of two teenage kids who brings his family to Europe in a bid to get them to warm up to his fiancee. Pilot will be shot on location in Spain, with the skein jumping around the continent.

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In addition to repping Burnett’s first stab at the sitcom genre, untitled project also marks the first time C-W-M will produce a series for the WB. Studio has often been instrumental in helping nets launch comedy blocks, reviving Fox’s fortunes in live action laffers with “That ’70s Show” and birthing NBC’s “Must-See TV” via “The Cosby Show.”

“It’s a significant milestone for our network,” said WB Entertainment prexy Jordan Levin. “We’ve been pursuing (C-W-M) since the day we opened our doors in 1994. We recognize their ability to help build ABC, NBC and Fox, and hopefully their success will continue with us.”

Exotic storyteller

What’s more, Burnett — who has been innovative in finding corporate sponsorships for his reality skeins — is also working with C-W-M and the WB to integrate product placement into the fabric of the new laffer. Levin believes Burnett’s skills at both weaving tales and bringing exotic locales to life will pay off with the laffer project.

“I can’t think of anybody better than Mark Burnett to entrust the execution of a series shot in foreign locations,” Levin told Daily Variety. “You get more than simply fantastic production values from Mark; he’s also proven he has the ability to create compelling characters and stories.”

C-W-M principal Tom Werner said the studio “had admired Mark’s work for a long time, so we said, ‘Why don’t we work on a non-reality show that could provide the same production and storytelling sense?’ We think he has a way of shooting episodes that’s very appropriate for the fictional form.”

For his part, Burnett said he was glad that his first scripted skein would be produced with C-W-M, whom he called “the royalty of sitcoms in America.”

“The most important thing for me was to do a show that was very, very funny,” Burnett said. “And this show would be funny even if we shot it on a soundstage in Los Angeles. I think we’ve put together a great production team.”

Levin said the Frog is also pleased to be teaming with the Venokurs and Goetsch.

“They’re fantastic and incredibly creative, as well as proven showrunners,” Levin said, calling the combination of the scribes, C-W-M and Burnett “a dream team.”

Werner said Levin had been very active in pursuing a series project from C-W-M.

“He had called us about the same time we were calling Mark about this and said, ‘Get your ass in here and let’s figure out something we can all do creatively,’ ” Werner said. “We were appreciative that he was being so aggressive.”

Pilot is on track to be shot next spring in consideration for a fall 2003 bow. Levin said that if the appropriate corporate sponsorship deals can be struck, however, the Frog will actively consider bowing the skein next summer.

C-W-M, whose current on air-roster includes “That ’70s Show” and “Grounded for Life,” is also developing a project for HBO about the life of celebrities.

Burnett’s repped by manager Conrad Riggs.

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