Gail Berman News

Syfy has inked critically lauded actor David Strathairn to star in the action-adventure pilot Alphas from writers Zak Penn (X-Men: The Last Stand, The Avengers, The Incredible Hulk) and Michael Karnow, it was announced today by Mark Stern, Executive Vice President of Original Programming, Syfy and Co-Head of Content for Universal Cable Productions, which is the studio for the project. Strathairn won rave reviews and received Best Actor Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild (SAG), and Academy Award nominations for his portrayal of Edward R. Murrow in the film Good Night, and Good Luck. Alphas is executive produced by Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun for BermanBraun Television and will be directed by Jack Bender (director and executive producer of Lost). Gene Stein is also executive producer. It is slated to commence production next month in Toronto.

Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage, co-hosts of Discovery Channel's MythBusters series, have signed a multi-year deal to co-executive produce the popular science show. In addition, Hyneman and Savage have formed a new production company and they will team with BermanBraun to develop and create additional television series with Discovery Channel.

Syfy has inked award winning director/executive producer Jack Bender as director/executive producer for the action-adventure 90-minute pilot, Alphas (working title) from writers Zak Penn (X-Men: The Last Stand, Fantastic Four, The Incredible Hulk) and Michael Karnow, it was announced today by Mark Stern, Executive Vice President of Original Programming, Syfy and Co-Head of Content for Universal Cable Productions, which is the studio for the project. Bender just wrapped six seasons as an executive producer and director on the critically acclaimed series LOST, and directed Sunday's much anticipated series finale. Alphas is executive produced by Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun for BermanBraun Television and is slated to commence production in Toronto this summer.

BermanBraun and the Msnbc Digital Network (msnbc.com) today announced a partnership to create an original destination site which will go beyond policy and polls to explore the celebrity side of politics.

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, NBC has just announced it's '10-'11 primetime line-up. Today, BroadwayWorld brings you the trailers for each of the new, highly anticipated comedy and drama series. Click below to see previews of Becki Newton's new show, 'Love Bites,' 'Outlaw' starring God of Carnage alum Jimmy Smits, 'Harry's Law' featuring Kathy Bates and Hairspray's Brittany Snow and more!

The new Fall Schedule features all-drama lineups on Mondays and Wednesdays, and all comedies on Thursdays, plus unscripted programming into compatible dramas on Tuesdays and Fridays. The high-quality series include new comedies such as 'Outsourced,' Love Bites,' 'Perfect Couples,' 'Friends With Benefits' and 'The Paul Reiser Show.' The new dramas are 'The Cape,' 'Harry's Law,' 'Outlaw,' 'Undercovers,' 'The Event,' 'Chase' and 'Law & Order: Los Angeles.'

NBC has issued pickups for four more new scripted series with dramas 'The Cape,' 'Outlaw,' 'Harry's Law' and the comedy 'Friends With Benefits' - while renewing the action-comedy series 'Chuck' for a fourth season -- all for the 2010-11 season. The announcement was made today by Angela Bromstad, President, Primetime Entertainment, NBC and Universal Media Studios.

Mad Men and recent SPEED-THE-PLOW star Elisabeth Moss will guest star on the NBC drama 'Mercy' on November 4th. 'Mercy' airs on NBC 8-9 P.M. ET.

Stage and Screen favorite Kate Mulgrew has joined the cast of NBC's new Fall show, 'Mercy,' according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Eve Ensler, the author of the international phenomenon THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES, plans to explore and expose even more -- in her new play THE GOOD BODY. Ms. Ensler will be making her Los Angeles stage debut when THE GOOD BODY plays a limited 16 performance engagement at the Wadsworth Theatre January 31 to February 12, 2006.