Dead Like Me

“New York, New York – August 12, 2010 – Syfy today announced it has commissioned a scripted pilot from Bryan Fuller, creator of Dead Like Me and Pushing Daisies.

The show will be based upon the popular book The Lotus Caves by John Christopher, about colonists who rebel against the rigidity of their lunar colony by exploring beyond its proscribed boundaries and discovering a series of caves ruled by a super-intelligent, alien species.

Jim Grey (In Plain Sight, Pushing Daisies) will co-write the script with Fuller.”

Syfy Orders Pilot from ‘Pushing Daisies‘ and ‘Dead Like Me‘ Creator Bryan Fuller; Based on the Book ‘The Lotus Caves‘

But no spoilers – you’ll have to read the scripts yourself…..

I finally got around to reading 3 episodes written by Greg Lemieux – posted on his ‘Brimstone’ website – and I liked the way he’s tied together a number of open threads from the two seasons into a trilogy that tells some pretty good stories, develops the characters, and provides some badly needed closure. Even tho I respect the way the writers of the original series brought things to a close, I’m left feeling that there is still a lot of story left in the Waffle Haus reaper gang, in particular George and her family. Greg’s very well done work satisfies some of that need.  (Link to scripts inside)

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.’s creditors, unsatisfied with proposals to buy or restructure the debt-laden film studio, have contacted Hollywood executives who may be willing to run it, people with knowledge of the situation said.

Key lenders who have bought into the MGM debt seem to believe that it can be made viable again – with a little more money and new management   – article in side.

The cold hard reality for the lenders to MGM may be sinking in, but this could be good for fans of Dead Like Me who would like to see the franchise resurrected in some form or another. The article quoted inside basically says that key lenders are coming to the conclusion that their best pathway out may be to hold a garage sale for MGM assets – selling them off in pieces. The spotlight will be on the big stuff, but for interested parties this will be an opportunity to step in to buy just the DLM franchise and go forward.

According to this source – High Fidelity – The top five smartest people in entertainment:

4.) Ellen Muth (Actress) – TV: Dead Like Me – IQ: 156
This up-and-coming star has won a few awards within her career. Although her acting career started at age four, she has received more attention for her recent role in Dead Like Me. She is currently a member of Intertel and Mensa, which has fairly high standards. Mensa requires one to be in the 98th percentile of IQ, while Intertel members must be is the 99th percentile.

Others on list:

Sharon Stone 154/Tarantino 160/Dolph Lundgren 165/James Woods 180, and mentioned in passing Einstein 163/Stephen Hawking 160 although the last two aren’t entertainers by choice.

High Fidelity – Arts & Entertainment

Yes.  Here’s a quote regarding Dead Like Me and a link to the complete article.

The Showtime original series, Dead Like Me was canceled at the end of season two, and though they did go on to make a coinciding film, the potential for further seasons was abundant. Featuring a cast of “reapers” who take on the job of making sure the dead are collected in a timely manner, the series could have gone on for years, dealing with the living and their struggle when it comes to facing death.

There’s also a clip ‘Dead Like Me – George Dies.

Do Networks Cancel Too Early? | Real TV Addict

And what he has to say sounds like a blunt message to MGM management and to the remaining two bidders  –  see today’s posting inside.

“It’s a girl for Eric Dane & Rebecca Gayheart

‘Grey’s Anatomy’ actor Eric Dane and wife Rebecca Gayheart are parents to a baby girl now. The couple has welcomed their first child together on Wednesday, their publicist confirmed Thursday.

Publicist Nanci Ryder confirmed the happy news to The Associated Press, saying the 38-year-old Gayheart delivered Dane’s baby Wednesday in a Los Angeles hospital.”

It’s a girl for Eric Dane & Rebecca Gayheart | The Money Times

As detailed within, the original plan by the lenders to MGM to hold an auction for the MGM assets, sell everything off, and then walk away has stumbled as the reality of the overall economic situation rudely intruded.  The trend for DVD sales has been down due to the obvious economic downturn, and due to the equally obvious shift in consumer preferences to new means delivery/storage of their TV/Movie entertainment. Estimates of the value of the MGM library – especially when the complicated encumbrances are factored into future projections – have plummeted along with the hopes of the lenders to sell off at a good price and walk away clean.

The final bids were due last Monday, and basically fell short.  That this would happen was clear to several participants of the bidding process earlier and the maneuvering by various players is well underway.

This process is not necessarily bad for those fans who would like to see the Dead Like Me franchise carry on in some reinvigorated form  - either as a series of movies or a new series – because the key questions yet to be answered are who will be the final owner and will the new owner have the money and ideas for new projects.

However, anything new emerging out of the long passage of time since the shutdown is likely to be an entire rebooting of the franchise with a new cast – still perhaps set in DLM universe  - somewhere.  If we’re lucky some of the old cast will be brought in for a send off of the something new.