Bravo Orders First Original Scripted Pilots in Network's History

Bravo Media announced today they have picked up two new scripted pilots slated to commence production early 2013. Both pilots center on the complex dynamics of modern families. "Rita," produced by Fox Television Studios, and "The Joneses," produced by ABC Studios, are part of the network's overall strategy to expand its non-scripted original programming slate into the scripted genre. Bravo plans to debut its first original scripted series in the fourth quarter of 2013.

"These pilots give us an opportunity to explore worlds and characters that are distinct from our unscripted programming," said Andrew Wang, Vice President of Scripted Development and Production, Bravo. "Yet, both projects feature the memorable storylines and strong, unique characters that our Bravo audience craves."

"The Joneses," from Life Unexpected creator Liz Tigelaar, is a remake of the 2009 Demi Moore and David Duchovny indie drama of the same name. "The Joneses" follows a seemingly perfect family of four that has just moved to an upscale suburb to start a new life, but have a secret they must keep from friends and neighbors... they aren't a real family at all.

Tigelaar, who last season worked on ABC's "Once Upon a Time" and "Revenge" before moving this year to "Nashville," will be reunited with her "Life Unexpected" producing partners Gary Fleder and Mary Beth Basile at Mojo Films on board to produce alongside Echo Lake, the producers of the Derrick Borte feature.

"Rita," is an adaptation of the Danish format of the same name. This edgy, humorous and acerbic family drama follows an outspoken private school teacher who struggles to raise her own three teenage children while dealing with the inane bureaucracy and overprotective parents at her school. Produced by Fox Television Studios, "Rita" is written and executive produced by Krista Vernoff (Shameless, Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Wonderfalls) with Mikkel Bondesen (Burn Notice, The Killing) and Henrik Bastin serving as executive producers for Fuse Entertainment 2.0.

Bravo is a program service of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBCUniversal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Bravo has been an NBCUniversal cable network since December 2002 and was the first television service dedicated to film and the performing arts when it launched in December 1980. For more information, visit www.BravoTV.com.