BizBuzz

In sports, they have a little thing called March Madness.  Television could probably take a lesson from basketball, and dub this time of year “May Madness.”  That’s right, it’s network upfront time, when the fates of countless series and pilots are unveiled.  Some hopeful pilots will get a shot on the air, while others will go unseen.  Some series will soldier on for another season, while others get the ax!

This year’s pilot season has been different than years past.  The strike gave us fewer pilots than usual, which meant a lower-key attitude about the whole thing.   Networks say that the new paradigm will be a constant rolling “pilot season”, where new pilots are being written and produced on a staggered calendar year-round.

Here’s a list of pilots that have been picked up:

NBC:
America’s Toughest Jobs
Chopping Block
Crusoe
Howie Do It
Kath & Kim
The Listener
Merlin
My Own Worst Enemy
The Philanthropist
Shark Taggers
Who Do You Think You Are?
Momma’s Boys
The Untitled “Office” Spinoff

ABC:
Life on Mars
Opportunity Knocks
The Goode Family
Untitled Ashton Kutcher/Tyra Banks Project

CBS:
Worst Week
Project Gary
The Mentalist
Eleventh Hour
Harper’s Island
The Ex List

The CW:
90210
Stylista
Surviving the Filthy Rich

FOX:
Dollhouse
Fringe
The Cleaveland Show
Do Not Disturb
Sit Down, Shut Up
Secret Millionaire

Nominations have been announced for the 07-08 Tony Awards!  The nominees were announced this morning by previous winners Sara Ramirez and David Hyde Pierce.  Musical In The Heights received the most nominations, walking away with 13 nods total.  Other big nods went to South Pacific (11), Sunday In The Park With George (9), and of course, August: Osage County (7).  Here are a few of the big lists of nominees, check out playbill.com for the full details.

Best Play:
August: Osage County
Rock ‘n’ Roll
The Seafarer
The 39 Steps

Best Musical:
Cry-Baby
In the Heights
Passing Strange
Xanadu

Best Revival of a Play
Boeing-Boeing
The Homecoming
Les Liaisons Dangereueses
Macbeth

Best Revival of a Musical
Grease
Gypsy
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific
Sunday in the Park With George

A few posts back, BizBuzz noted NYC’s big increase in tax incentives for television and film production here in the city.  We hoped that because of the extra financial benefits, more productions would choose to make New York their home.

Well, already it looks like one very big production is taking advantage of the new NYC incentives - hit ABC show Ugly Betty will relocate to New York this season.  The pilot was filmed here, but production moved to Los Angeles once the series was picked up for the season, when staying here in the Big Apple was deemed too expensive.

From the Hollywood Reporter:

Key in producer ABC Studios’ decision to make the move is New York state’s recent decision to triple its tax credit for film and TV productions to 30%, with New York City offering an additional 5% credit.

The salty, cheeky grande dame of theater, Elaine Stritch, is a part of the much-buzzed-about BAM production of Endgame.  Gothamist has a fantastic interview with her, and check out her advice for actors:

Is there any advice you have for young actors? You can’t fake it. It’s impossible. No one’s ever been able to do it. Tell the truth. And also, never underestimate the power of an audience. The audience tells me a lot about how to play Beckett. Because that’s how good the author is, the author leaves it up to the audience. This is complicated stuff we’re talking about; I’m trying to make it simple. I’ve always been afraid before to go on; I’m not afraid anymore. I get goosebumps and butterflies and adrenaline but I don’t get that awful fear. I’m not afraid to go onstage. That’s where I’m at ease. And if that lets me down I’m in serious trouble.

What about advice for older actors? Hang in. I think it’s one of the blessings that comes with aging and getting older. I never say ‘getting old,’ because there’s a finality to that. I’m just getting older and so are you, every day. So I’m still one of the mob. Acting is a fantastic pastime. It beats knitting, you know? And it’s way out in front of Florida. With all of the problems we have at BAM and everyplace with throwing human beings together and having them play serious emotions every day and tearing their insides out to try and get the part right – it’s hard work, but it takes your mind off the fact that you’re 80. Or 81, or 82, or 83. You know what I mean? It keeps you walking with the gang; it keeps you right out in front of the parade. That’s a blessing. My profession is a blessing when you leave your 70s.