Adam Shankman Teams on Two New TV Projects for FOX & ABC

Deadline reports that acclaimed director, choreographer, and dancer Adam Shankman will team with both 'The Wedding Planner' Writers and actress Ellen Pompeo for new television projects heading to FOX and ABC.

Shankman partners with 'Wedding Planner' scribes Pamela Falk and Mike Ellis for FOX's "Marsha Goes To Jail", a half-hour comedy described as a "comedic Dangerous Minds." The project is based on the life of Ellis' mother, "a substitute teacher assigned to a juvenile detention classroom."

Over at ABC, Shankman will team with executive producer Ellen Pompeo for "American Marriage", described as "Rachel Getting Married meets My Big Fat Greek Wedding." The story will follow "the melding of two very different families as an unlikely couple, young and in love, move toward their big day and are forced to maneuver through their very different multi-cultural, multi-generational, dysfunctional and complex families."

Shankman's directing credits include the film versions of Hairspray, which received three Golden Globe nominations including Best Picture-Musical or Comedy, and Rock of Ages, starring Tom Cruise. His other film directing credits include A Walk to Remember, and The Wedding Planner. Adam has also directed episodes for the hit television series GLEE and MODERN FAMILY and choreographed the musical episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

A Los Angeles local, Adam Shankman began his career as a dance and choreographer, appearing in music videos for Janet Jackson and Paula Abdul. Soon after, he began choreographing films such as Boogie Nights, Catch Me If You Can, and the Step Up Series. In 2009, he became a permanent judge on So You Think You Can Dance?, and in 2010 was one of the two producers for the 82nd Academy Awards, a telecast which earned a record 12 Emmy nominations, including two for Shankman for producing and choreographing.