CW wants to be what women want

The word from new CW prexy Mark Pedowitz on his plans for fall: Stay the course."Our bread and butter are women 18-34, and to deny that is a mistake," Pedowitz says. "Our goal is to service them, and then get other age groups to sample us."And just what do those women want? "They want romance," he says. "They want a man who looks like a man. They want hope, and they want transparency."Yet the struggling CW needs to shake things up to get over a severe ratings slump with shows landing not only at the bottom of the major broadcast pile, but also often losing out to Univision and some high-rated cable shows. Right now, the network's actual demo centers around 35 -- which is close to the same age as "Ringer" star Sarah Michelle Gellar, fondly remembered as "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." What Pedowitz hopes to accomplish with "Ringer" and the Rachel Bilson-driven light drama "Hart of Dixie" is to satisfy their younger target group while hoping to draw slightly older women who are already predisposed to liking CW programs.The CW looks to capitalize on Kevin Williamson's "The Vampire Diaries" success with another supernatural offering, "The Secret Circle," which is also based on a series of popular young adult novels.While the netlet has opened the door for comedies again and maybe even a superhero show, the former ABC exec doesn't seem to be in any rush to change."We'll move very slowly, very smartly," says Pedowitz. "We'll be taking baby steps."SPOTLIGHTS"Ringer"Snagging Sarah Michelle Gellar probably seemed like an answer to the CW's ratings prayers. The beloved actress from "Buffy" should bring in a strong initial sampling. The suspense drama was originally slated for CBS, but fits here better. The premise of a twin taking over the life of her identical sister, unbeknownst to those who know her, is shaky at best. But the sudsy drama filled with seduction and intrigue -- not to mention the smoking hot men in her orbit including Ioan Gruffudd, Nestor Carbonell and Mike Colter -- could provide an irresistible magnet to the target demo.NEW FOR 2011-12"Hart of Dixie"This fish-out-of-water tale with Bilson as an obnoxious city doctor going country doesn't have the grit of "House" -- which shares the same timeslot on Fox. It could be a hard sell for younger female viewers who are more inclined toward fantasy fare than a sassy version of "The Waltons." "The Secret Circle"The CW creates an appealing spirits-in-the-night block with "The Vampire Diaries" leading into "Secret Circle," featuring rising star Britt Robertson as a teen who just lost her mother and returns to a spooky hometown filled with witches -- discovering she's one of them. Lots of gossipy good fun and handsome guys like Thomas Dekker. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

'Transformers' Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura Sells Set of Comedies to ABC (Exclusive)

Jemal Countess/Getty ImagesLorenzo di Bonaventura Prolific feature film producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura has offered his first TV comedy projects. The Transformers producer has offered a set of single-camera comedies to ABC and it is mounted on executive produce both projects with Serta McDermott, his partner at their lately released Di Bonaventura Pictures Television shingle. The very first project, The Wonderful Women of Will's World, involves a charming guy who attempts to juggle his two ex-spouses, his new more youthful wife and the three children. David Gemstone and David Weissman (Much more Rome) are writing the project, with Di Bonaventura Pictures Television creating through their cope with ABC Galleries. Gemstone, Weissman, di Bonaventura and McDermott (Human Target) are executive creating. "Serta and I've been looking for things we believe differentiate themselves available on the market which is indisputable fact that felt like we'd never witnessed this type of show before," di Bonaventura told THR. "That is what really drove us to visit after it. The 2nd project, Blondie & Clyde, is referred to like a modern-day Laverne & Shirley and involves two women with large-town dreams who reside in small-town Des Moines. Di Bonaventura and McDermott will executive produce the ABC Galleries project, with actress/author/producer Marisa Coughlan (Lost and located, Bones) mounted on pen the script. "Each year there's a lot of implies that feature women in New You are able to and L.A. and Bay Area, but where would be the shows for that women in the Area? Blondie & Clyde is a good example of twenty-first century women who reside in Des Moines, with large dreams for any large existence," McDermott told THR. "It is fun and irrepressibly positive and upbeat." Di Bonaventura and McDermott inked a 3-year cope with ABC Galleries in June. Di Bonaventura has created such features as Salt and Suppose. The first kind executive vice president at Warner Bros. Pictures also released The Matrix, Harry Potter and also the Ocean's Eleven franchises. McDermott was the very first topper at DreamWorks TV, and was behind series including Spin City, Freaks and Nerds and Undeclared. The duo formerly offered drama Golden Gate to ABC with author Michael Tolkin attached and therefore are searching for more dramas and reality projects to increase their slate. "Lorenzo and that i have substantial appetites and we are likely to do around we are able to do very well along with the enthusiasm and support from the network and studio," McDermott added. Di Bonaventura Pictures Television is repped by CAA. Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com Twitter: @Snoodit RELATED: More TV development news ABC Lorenzo di Bonaventura ABC Galleries TV Development

Warren Beatty to Be Honored By BAFTA LA

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles (BAFTA Los Angeles) will honor Warren Beatty with the Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award for Excellence in Film at the BAFTA Los Angeles Britannia Awards this year, it was announced Wednesday. "Warren Beatty is an undisputed film icon who, during nearly a half-century,has created a body of work that transcends trends and remains timeless," says Nigel Lythgoe, chairman of BAFTA Los Angeles. "He is a powerful and original creative force, both in front and behind the camera, and it is our distinct pleasure to honor and celebrate his immense talents." The Academy Award winner joins previously announced honorees Ben Stiller, Helena Bonham Carter, John Lasseter and David Yates. Alan Cumming will be the master of ceremonies. The Britannia Awards, held Wednesday, Nov. 30 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, are BAFTA Los Angeles' highest honors. The ceremony will be broadcast on the TV Guide Network on Sunday, Dec. 4. Related Topics Warren Beatty Awards International

Warner Bros Sets Date For Zac Efron-Starrer The Lucky One

Warner Bros stated today it finds a spot for its Zac Efron movie The Lucky One, which is launched August. 24, 2012. The romantic drama according to Nicholas Sparks’ novel stars Efron like a Marine who survives three around Iraq, attributing his best of luck to some photo he transported of the lady he doesn’t know. When he returns towards the U.S., he sets to find her. Scott Hicks is pointing Taylor Schilling also stars. Denise DiNovi and Kevin McCormick are creating.

Broadway To Shutter As Irene Approaches

All of Broadway will go dark Saturday and Sunday as Hurricane Irene approaches the East Coast and New York braces for winds, rain and potential flooding during the weekend. It will be the biggest emergency shutdown of the Great White Way since Sept. 11, 2001, and already the city has ordered mandatory evacuations in low-lying areas and will shut down the transit system by noon ET Saturday. Disney Theatrical Productions was the first organization to announce its plans today, saying its productions Mary Poppins and The Lion King wouldn’t run, and the Broadway League followed soon after with its plan. Playbill reports that about 23 productions are affected by the shutdown, including Tony winners War Horse and The Book of Mormon. Major League Baseball also has taken action, postponing a pair of New York Mets weekend games and adjusting scheduled games in Boston and Philadelphia. Nikki will have more on Irene’s impact in her Box Office Report coming shortly.

Seeking Transgender Actors

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Scott Pointing New Edge Runner Entry!

Yup, it's on.... Here's something we wager you will not have experienced coming. While there's been lots of chatter lately in regards to a new Edge Runner film, whether it is prequel, follow up or whatever, now comes the slightly shocking word from Deadline that no lesser guy than original Runner director Ridley Scott has signed onto craft and convey the brand new instalment. Only at that initial phase, the particulars continue to be fuzzy beyond Scott's participation. There is no author attached yet and zero story info. Actually, there is no sign whether this can represent a follow-as much as the initial film or something like that more like Scott's current project, the Alien-adjacent prequel Prometheus. Another large real question is whether Harrison Ford is going to be involved as hard-bitten future detective Ron Deckard, though the thought of Scott and Ford working together once again to create another chapter from the man's existence towards the screen is unquestionably a tempting prospect. Still, almost always there is the possibility of creating a mistake by attempting to replicate (pun intended) what made the initial right into a memorable cult hit that flopped if this opened up initially but has, obviously, grown to become legend from the genre. Alcon Entertainment nabbed the privileges towards the Edge Runner concepts earlier this March and introduced the intent to create new films in line with the 1982 original. With Scott involved, we are more hopeful that something good are now able to come of the, though still waiting to determine what goes on. Deckard in three dimensional? Might happen, given how Prometheus has been shot...