Five New Comedy Projects Join Bell Media's Original Development Slate

- New comedies in development include projects from Mark McKinney, Rob Sheridan, Jared Keeso, Paul Mather, and llana Frank

- Bell Media working with several seasoned production companies including Breakthrough Entertainment, Lone Eagle Entertainment, Force Four Entertainment, Amaze Film + Television, New Metric Media, Six Eleven Media, Entertainment One, Vérité Films, Just For Laughs, Farpoint Films, Wild West Productions, Foundry Films, and Sphere Media

- 71 new original Bell Media projects currently in development, including 20 comedies

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TORONTO, Nov. 15, 2013 /CNW/ - Bell Media announced today from the Canadian International Television Festival the addition of five new comedy projects to its original development slate, led by seasoned writers and producers Mark McKinney (LESS THAN KIND, KIDS IN THE HALL), Rob Sheridan (NEXT CALLER, 18 TO LIFE, LITTLE MOSQUE ON THE PRAIRIE), Jared Keeso (19-2), Paul Mather (CORNER GAS, DAN FOR MAYOR, THE MICHAEL J. FOX SHOW), and Ilana Frank (SAVING HOPE, ROOKIE BLUE). The new projects join a robust slate of at least 15 other original Bell Media comedies already in development for potential new pilots and/or series. Drama and Factual development projects will be announced at a later date.

"We have a long tradition of working with the best comedic talent in the country and we're continuing on that path," said Corrie Coe, Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. "Producing homegrown, original comedy is very important to us and we look forward to developing these projects even further."

The five new comedies are (working titles):

WE'RE ADULTS NOW
From comedic genius Mark McKinney, a half-hour scripted series about young 20-somethings. 
Attached:

• Mark McKinney
• Breakthrough Entertainment (Ira Levy and Diane Boehme, LESS THAN KIND)

THE TEAM
A multi-cam sitcom about a rag tag group of friends.
Attached:

• Rob Sheridan

LETTERKENNY
A comedy series based on the YouTube sensation LETTERKENNY PROBLEMS.
Attached:

• Jared Keeso
• New Metric Media (Mark Montefiore and Patrick O'Sullivan), Ben Nemtin (THE BURIED LIFE)

THE UNTITLED PAUL MATHER PROJECT
A scripted workplace comedy about lifelong frenemies.  
Attached

• Paul Mather

METHOD
A comedy series loosely based on a BravoFACT short of the same name.
Attached

• ICF Films (Ilana Frank), Peter Mooney (ROOKIE BLUE), Gregory Smith (ROOKIE BLUE), and David Wellington, Peter Wellington, and Sonia Hosko (SAVING HOPE, ROOKIE BLUE)

The five new comedies join Bell Media's current development slate featuring 15 other projects (working titles):

AGAINST THE LAW
An unscripted half-hour courtroom format.
Attached:

• Jeremy Hotz
• Lone Eagle Entertainment (Rachel Horvath, YOU GOTTA EAT HERE)

BESTIES
An ensemble comedy about family and friendship.
Attached:

• Force Four Entertainment (Rob Hardy and John Ritchie, SEED)
• James Phillips (LAST RIDE) .

BREAKING
A workplace comedy set in the world of new media.
Attached:

• Amaze Film + Television's Michael Souther and Teza Lawrence (CALL ME FITZ)
• Author Zoe Whittall (Bottle Rocket Hearts)

CHASING MANHOOD
A scripted ensemble comedy inspired by Darrin Rose's stand-up material.
Attached:

• Darrin Rose

DIVORCE PARTY
A scripted comedy about three women experiencing life after divorce.
Attached:

• New Metric Media (Mark Montefiore and Patrick O'Sullivan)
• Jessie Gabe (BEING ERICA, MR. D)
• Linsey Stewart (BEING ERICA)

FRIDAY
An edgy, urban ensemble comedy.
Attached:

• Six Eleven Media's Charles Bishop
• Carolyn Taylor (CORNER GAS)

GOOD BEHAVIOUR
A scripted half-hour comedy about parenthood.
Attached:

• Entertainment One's Mackenzie Lush and Rachel Fulford
• Allana Harkin (The Atomic Fireballs)
• Jennifer Whalen (INSECURITY)

THE LAINEY GOSSIP PROJECT
A half-hour dramedy inspired by LaineyGossip.com.
Attached:

• Amaze Film + Television's Michael Souther and Teza Lawrence (CALL ME FITZ)
• Elaine Lui (THE SOCIAL, ETALK)

MATT & JEFF
A half-hour bromance comedy.
Attached:

• Vérité Films' Virginia Thompson (CORNER GAS)
• Mike McPhaden (SEED, INSECURITY)

THE ANGELO SHOW
A multi-cam sitcom inspired by the comedy of Angelo Tsarouchas (SULLIVAN & SON, MAD MEN).
Attached:

• Wild West Productions' Vince Vaughn (SULLIVAN & SON), Howard Busgang, and Tom Nursall

UNGROWN UP
A scripted half-hour hybrid comedy about family.
Attached:

• Just For Laughs' Evi Regev (JUST FOR LAUGHS: ALL ACCESS)
• Adam Brodie (FUNNY AS HELL, SCARE TACTICS)
• David Derewlany (FREAK ENCOUNTERS, THE JON DORE TELEVISION SHOW)

THE UNTITLED VERA SANTAMARIA PROJECT
A blind pilot deal with acclaimed writer/producer Vera Santamaria (COMMUNITY).       
Attached:

• Vera Santamaria

THE VIRGIN CHRONICLES
A scripted, half-hour, "fish-out-of-water" comedy. Attached:

• Mark Sawers (ALIENATED)

WHO NEEDS ENEMIES
A scripted, half-hour relationship comedy.
Attached:

• Farpoint Films' Kyle Bornais (HOUSE PARTY)
• Collin Friesen (THE BIG WHITE)

WITH OR WITHOUT YOU
A female-centric scripted comedy about friendship.
Attached:

• Sphere Media's Carolyn Newman(19-2)
• Barbara Haynes (SPUN OUT)

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About Bell Media Independent Production
Bell Media has commissioned some of Canada's most-watched and most-acclaimed original programming, working with the best Canadian independent producers in the country. Hit CTV series include ratings success stories SAVING HOPE, THE LISTENER, MOTIVE, the #1 new Canadian scripted series of the 2012/13 season, and THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, the record-breaking, Canadian-produced complementary version of the hit international series. CTV is also home to drama series PLAYED, and premiering in the 2013/14 season, multi-cam office comedy SPUN OUT, and hit international format MASTERCHEF CANADA. Among the scripted series on Bell Media pay and specialty channels are the two-time Emmy®-nominated hit DEGRASSI, the recently renewed ORPHAN BLACK, CSA-winning CALL ME FITZ, and upcoming dramas BITTEN, SENSITIVE SKIN, 19-2, and KILLJOYS. Bell Media specialty channels are also home to reality series such as BRAVE NEW GIRLS, game shows MATCH GAME and POP QUIZ, and factual series HIGHWAY THRU HELL and CANADA'S WORST DRIVER, among others. So far in 2013, Bell Media has ordered 24 original Canadian series and put 74 projects into development.

About CTV
CTV is Canada's #1 private broadcaster. Featuring a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming, CTV has been Canada's most-watched television network for the past 12 years in a row. CTV is a division of Bell Media, Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio and digital. Bell Media is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company. More information about CTV can be found on the network's website at ctv.ca.

SOURCE Bell Media