MIPCOM: Weinstein Co. To Produce Michael Flatley Dance Awards Show; Lord Of The Dance Expected At Harvey’s Keynote Today
EXCLUSIVE: Harvey Weinstein is getting into the Michael Flatley business – and sidling up to Honey Boo Boo, too. The Weinstein Co. is developing the first World Dance Awards with Flatley, aka The Lord of the Dance. I understand that the annual TV show does not yet have a network home, but that discussions are underway with potential partners. Meanwhile, I understand Flatley will make a surprise appearance at the keynote speech Weinstein will deliver later today here in Cannes.
I’m also hearing that TWC’s Trailer Park Lives is being picked up by TLC with a full series commitment. The reality show will air in January as a companion piece to Here Comes Honey Boo Boo. Another new docu-soap, Rodeo Girls, is being pitched here at Mipcom as “Ice Road Truckers meets Housewives.”
The Weinstein Co. has been in the TV business for a while with former Miramax exec Meryl Poster heading up the division. The company owns its shows and copyrights, but this is the first Mipcom for the TWC team as the company is now handling its own international distribution. Execs on the ground include Weinstein, COO David Glasser and sales execs Michael Rothstein and Ennis Hensley.
In all, TWC will have 12 shows on the air this year with full commitments from various networks. Along with the returning Project Runway and Mob Wives and their spinoffs, one new unscripted title is competition series Supermarket Superstar hosted by Stacy Keibler on Lifetime. On deck on the scripted side is historical action-adventure series Marco Polo that was greenlit by Starz for 10 episodes last January. John Fusco wrote the project, currently in pre-production, and is executive producing with Harvey and Bob Weinstein and Ben Silverman. Also upcoming is an untitled private eye procedural in partnership with Bo Dietl for FX and The Nanny Diaries developed by ABC with a pilot by Amy Sherman Palladino.
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