Television
May 27, 2008
Warner Bros. Television Signs Exclusive, Three-Year Development And Production Pact With Acclaimed Emmy®-Winning Writer/Producer David E. Kelley
(May 27, 2008 – Burbank, CA) – Warner Bros. Television has signed an exclusive multiyear development and production deal with acclaimed Emmy®-winning writer/producer David E. Kelley, it was announced today by Peter Roth, President, Warner Bros. Television.
Under terms of the three-year agreement, Kelley will develop new television programming – drama and comedy, as well as potential unscripted and digital series – for the broadcast network and cable marketplace. All projects will be produced in association with either Warner Bros. Television or Warner Horizon Television, with Warner Bros. International Television acquiring global distribution rights.
The deal reunites Kelley with Roth, who worked closely with the prolific creator during Roth’s tenures as President, 20th Century Fox Television, and President, FOX Entertainment, respectively.
“David E. Kelley is one of the most gifted, most talented, most successful writers in our business. Together we enjoyed a partnership and friendship that will always be special to me,” said Roth. “From our days together working on ‘Picket Fences’ to ‘The Practice,’ from ‘Chicago Hope’ to ‘Ally McBeal,’ his creative vision and leadership are virtually unparalleled, and we are thrilled to have him join our Warner Bros. Television family.”
“I am thrilled to be reuniting with Peter Roth, a great friend and partner in so many of my prior series. I am also saddened, however, to be leaving Twentieth, the only studio I have ever worked at for 22 years,” said Kelley. “Through various regimes, there was never a single day that I was not treated exceptionally well, starting with Harris Katleman, then Peter, Sandy Grushow, Dana and Gary. I remain grateful to all of them.”
Winner of ten Primetime Emmy® Awards from 27 nominations, Kelley made television history in 1999, winning the Outstanding Drama Series Emmy® for “The Practice” and the Outstanding Comedy Series Emmy® for “Ally McBeal” at the same ceremony. Kelley remains the only producer to have won both the top comedy and drama awards in the same year.
One of the industry’s most accomplished writer/producers, Kelley has been responsible for some of the most successful programs in television history. Among his numerous creations are the Emmy®-, Peabody- and Golden Globe Award-winning shows “Ally McBeal” and “The Practice,” the critically acclaimed and Peabody Award winning dramatic series “Boston Legal” and “Boston Public” and the Golden Globe and multiple Emmy winning series “Chicago Hope,” as well as the Emmy® Award-winning drama series “Picket Fences.” He also co-created “Doogie Howser, M.D.” and was a writer and producer on “L.A. Law.” “L.A. Law” won the Emmy® Award for Outstanding Drama Series four out of the five seasons in which Kelley participated. In addition, he earned five nominations from the Writers Guild of America.
In feature films, Kelley wrote and produced “To Gillian On Her 37th Birthday,” “Lake Placid” and “Mystery, Alaska.”
Honored with four George Foster Peabody Awards, the inaugural Television Academy Honors Award, a Television Showmanship Award from the Publicists Guild of America, the David Susskind Lifetime Achievement Award from the Producers Guild and the TV Guide Awards’ inaugural Brandon Tartikoff Award, Kelley was also the subject of a tribute by the Museum of Television and Radio and was named a Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame Honoree. He is the recipient of the Monte Carlo Television Festival’s first Showman of the Year Award, the Casting Society of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and has been honored by the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles. In addition, he received the prestigious Humanitas Prize for two consecutive years for “The Practice,” and was presented with both The Paddy Chayefsky Lifetime Achievement Award and The Paul Selvin Award from the Writers Guild of America.
About Warner Bros. Television
Warner Bros. Television (WBTV) is one of the entertainment industry’s most respected providers of original content, producing award-winning drama and comedy series, made-for-television movies and miniseries for both network and cable television. Combined with Warner Horizon Television, WBTV is producing 25 primetime series for the 2008–2009 season, with shows on each of the five broadcast networks, as well as numerous cable networks.
About David E. Kelley Productions
David E. Kelley Productions is one of the entertainment industry’s most successful suppliers of network television programming, responsible for several critically acclaimed, award-winning series, such as “The Practice,” “Ally McBeal,” “Boston Public,” “Chicago Hope” and “Picket Fences.” Headed by multiple Emmy, Golden Globe, Peabody and Humanitas Prize Award-winner David E. Kelley, the company currently produces “Boston Legal” for ABC. # # #