‘The Bold Type’ frothy but captivating drama
CW plots ‘Supernatural’ spinoff
LOS ANGELES, June 21, (RTRS): There’s something fresh and energetic about Freeform’s new teen drama “The Bold Type,” following a trio of young women trying to make their mark at the women’s lifestyle magazine they all work for. The fictional magazine, called Scarlet, is an homage to real-life industry icon Cosmopolitan — former editor-in-chief Joanna Coles is an executive producer of “The Bold Type,” and the show markets itself as being based on her experiences.
But Coles wasn’t navigating the finer points of SnapChat while running a company Twitter account, which is what the leads of “The Bold Type” are juggling with surprising aplomb. Jane (Katie Stevens) is the bright-eyed dreamer, now a staff writer after four years as an assistant. Her first assignment is to stalk her ex — without the help of social media. Sutton (Meghann Fahy) is still an assistant, but has plenty to think about: The executive she’s having a clandestine affair with, played by Sam Page, is messaging her about her lacy underwear while she’s supposed to be answering calls. And Kat (Aisha Dee), Scarlet’s social media director, is trying to get the magazine to be more political, citing social shares and Twitter traffic as reasons to follow through on riskier interviews with controversial figures.
As should be the case for a show about young women and aimed at teenagers, a lot of “The Bold Type” is about the frothy but endlessly captivating drama of dating and texting and trying not to make your boss too upset. Magazines aren’t what they used to be, but for a generation that is exponentially more media-savvy than their parents, the grammar of presentation and posting — of likes and shares — is so obvious as to be inherent. The three lead characters live in that boundary-free world that we all increasingly live in — where the lines between social and private, personal and political are harder and harder to locate.
But as is to be expected given Coles’ perspective, “The Bold Type” is about three women beginning the process of building their careers. There’s something almost throwback about how Jane, Kat, and Sutton are the epitome of the ‘80s “career girl,” living in the big city and working at a company so chic that it’s too hot to handle. And though it is cheesily “empowering” — in that capitalistic, slightly silly way that seems to be designed just to sell shoes — it’s also kind of cool to see young women bring their own idealistic expectations to the reality of a publishing institution, whether that’s through politics or relationships or the craft of writing. Scarlet is trying to do good things, but it’s still a flawed institution, and in the first episode both Jane and Kat have to struggle with loving their jobs, but not liking what they have to put up with.
Melora Hardin plays Scarlet’s editor-inchief —a mix between Coles and Miranda Priestly in “The Devil Wears Prada.” She’s intimidating, but encouraging; a much better boss, but a much less captivating character than Meryl Streep’s take on Anna Wintour.
Still, it’s fun, if this type of fun is your cup of tea. It’s of course bordering on ridiculous, how effortlessly glamorous everything around Scarlet is; the trio of leads are always dressed to the nines, as if they’ve never even heard of New York’s high rent. But Kat especially makes for a charming, bold character — and the chemistry between the girls is neither saccharine nor unbelievable. It doesn’t have the streak of darkness that Freeform’s flagship “Pretty Little Liars” does. But “The Bold Type” makes up for it with a lot of go-girl vim that would make Helen Gurley Brown proud.
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LOS ANGELES: CBS will air the 11 remaining episodes of the canceled drama series “Doubt” on Saturday night beginning in July. Series executive producer and co-creator
Tony Phelan shared the news on Twitter, writing, “CBS just announced that the remaining episodes of doubt will air at 8pm starting 7/1. Set your DVR’s NOW!”
“Doubt” was originally ordered for 13 episodes, but was pulled from the CBS schedule after only two episodes aired. The series premiered Feb. 15 to a 0.8 rating in the 18-49 demo and 5.3 million total viewers, according to Nielsen live-plus-same day numbers — slightly below the previous 10 p.m. Wednesday timeslot occupant, “Code Black.” A week later, the CBS Television Studios-produced series fell to a 0.6 and 4 million viewers. More than other broadcasters, CBS focuses on total viewers rather than the demo. But in viewers, the second episode of “Doubt” shed 45% of the total viewership of its lead-in, “Criminal Minds.”
Executive producers for “Doubt” were Phelan, Joan Rater, Carl Beverly, Sarah
Timberman, and Adam Bernstein. The series stars Heigl as an attorney who falls for her client, who has been accused of murdering his girlfriend. The series also starred Dule Hill, Elliott Gould, Laverne Cox, Steven Pasquale, Dreama Walker,
and Kobi Libii.
Fox is developing a drama series called “Atlanta’s Most Wanted” with rapper Tip “T.I.” Harris set to star and executive produce along with Jerry Bruckheimer, Variety has learned.
In the one-hour drama, Harris will play Marcus Armstrong, the son of a notorious Atlanta criminal kingpin. He is recruited to be a part of a new vice squad that tackles the growing criminal elements in his hometown. His involvement will jeopardize his own long held secret that threatens to upend his entire life.
Fox is in the early stage of developing the project, which has a significant penalty attached if it is not ordered to pilot. Jerry
Bruckheimer Television will produce along with 20th Century Fox Television. Bruckheimer and Harris will executive produce along with Jonathan Littman, Brian Sher,
KristieAnne Reed, and Rob Hardy. Rodney Barnes will executive produce in addition to writing. Mitzi Miller is a co-executive producer, with James Oh producing.
“I am honored to partner with Fox and Bruckheimer on what is truly a passion project for me, Harris said. “It’s going to be amazing to see my city represented in this fashion.” Harris is repped by CAA and Category 5 Entertainment. Jerry Bruckheimer TV is repped by CAA. Barnes is repped by
Paradigm, Principato-Young and attorney Darrell D. Miller. Hardy is repped by Verve and the Rookery and Attorney John
Meigs.
This is the latest non-music project for Harris. Last month, he and Kevin Hart sold the half-hour comedy “The Studio” to Showtime, which they will executive produce. His VH1 docu-series “Family Hustle” just aired its sixth season and 100th episode, to record-breaking ratings for the network and franchise. In film, Harris this week begins production on “The Trap,” a comedy starring himself and Mike Epps that he will also produce through his Grand Hustle Films. Next month he begins filming Marvel’s sequel to “Ant-Man.”
The CW is taking another swing at a “Supernatural” spinoff.
Kim Rhodes is set to star in “Wayward Sisters,” a possible new drama series from Warner Bros. Television that could spinoff from a planned episode in the upcoming 13th season of “Supernatural.” The series would tell the story of Rhodes’ character Sheriff Jody Mills and a group of troubled young women, all of them orphaned by supernatural tragedy. Under Mills’ training and protection, these women will emerge as a supreme monster-fighting force. Other characters from “Supernatural” would also migrate to the new series.
Andrew Dabb and Robert Singer, showrunners for “Supernatural,” will executive produce the backdoor pilot with Phil Sgriccia and Robert Berens. Dabb and Berens will write the script.
“Supernatural” is the CW’s longest-running current series. The network has often expressed a desire to establish a spinoff, and during the ninth season attempted to establish one titled “Bloodlines” with a backdoor pilot. That spinoff would have included all new characters, with none migrating from the original series. The CW ultimately did not take the project to series, but has continued to express openness to a spinoff.
A possible “Wayward” spinoff featuring Rhodes has been a subject of speculation among fans of “Supernatural” in recent seasons.