Broadcasting Telecasting (Jul-Sep 1963)

Eight pilots from Desilu for 1964-65 Desilu Productions is preparing eight pilots for the 1964-65 season, according to a report given at the company's annual stockholders meeting in Hollywood last week (see page 61). Jerry Thorpe, Desilu program vice president, reported that Lever Brothers, through J. Walter Thompson, and General Foods, through Young and Rubicam, are each financing two of the new Desilu half-hour pilots. ABC-TV is underwriting a fifth halfhour pilot for a series to be called Joe Sent Me. In addition, deals are near closing for three more half-hour pilots. One is to be underwritten by an unnamed advertiser and the other two are to be financed by networks, according to Mr. Thorpe. He identified two of these as comedies: The Red Buttons Show, to be produced by Don Appel, author-producer of the Broadway musical, "Milk and Honey," and Never Tease a Dinosaur, to be produced by Bob Sweeney with Dwayne Hickman starred. Also in the works are two onehour series which might go into production without the need for pilots. One is a 19th century saga to be produced by Charles Marquis Warren, creator of Gunsmoke. The other is Spellbound, a suspense series to be produced by Ralph Nelson. Federal Investigators by Warner Brothers, which is based on Miriam Ottenberg's book dealing with various branches of United States investigative agencies. Great Bible Stories is in color by MGM with Boris Sagal named last week to direct a first episode in what will be four, telling the story of Joseph and his brothers. Destry is a western by Revue Productions based on the "Destry Rides Again" motion picture. It will go on camera this fall with John Gavin in the star role and Howard Browne directing. Peyton Place by 20th-Century-Fox is to be filmed as a twice-weekly primetime, half-hour program. The hour series, The Spy, by Bing Crosby Productions is an espionage-type series which Dick Donovan will write and Collier Young probably produce in pilot form. Alexander the Great by Selmur is to be produced by Albert McCleery and written by Robert Pirosh. Travels with Charley in Search of America by Warner Brothers is based on the John Steinbeck novel with Mr. Steinbeck as script consultant (now in abeyance). Dragon's Ocean and Royal Bay are by Four Star. Both are adventure dramas. CBS-TV At CBS-TV, there are two large groups of comedy and drama. Comedy includes several half-hour series: Oh, Professor developed by Devry Freeman; Jones Boys, Sultan-Worth Productions with a fix-it shop as backdrop; a Goodson-Todman family situation vehicle that has Elaine May writing the script; My Son, Uki by Filmways about a witch doctor brought to the United States and The Nut House, by Jay Ward. In drama, a longer list of one-hour series, such as Iron Men (working title) packaged with Jim Arness and set on the Barbary Coast; The Reporter by Fred Coe's Rock Pony Productions with United Artists TV stars Robert Holden as a freelance journalist. The pilot is to be shot this summer and filming probably will be in New York. A Jackie Cooper project (also through UA-TV) will co-star Barbara Stanwyck. It will be filmed with a Southwest locale and be based on human interest stories about a Department of Agriculture county agent. The pilot will be filmed in September. John Stryker, also out of UA-TV (via Daystar), is written by Marion Hargrove, directed by Walter Grauman, pilot produced by Leslie Stevens. It is described as romantic espionage-adventure. The Big Blue, by Bing Crosby Productions, is written by Eugene Burdick co-author of "The Ugly American," with a South Pacific locale. The Magnificent Seven, by UA-TV, has a western background and is a 90-minute program. The House, by Bing Crosby Productions, is written by James Moser, based on legislative functions on the state level. The Third Angel, for which script and casting are underway, is associated with novelist Jerome Weidman with a theme dealing with a suburban (Westport) widow and her children. Mentioned also is a possible spinoff from East Side, West Side that starts on CBS-TV in the coming season. It will be produced by Herb Meadow and David Susskind and is about the rehabilitation of former convicts. Others are Ambassador at Large by Frank Schaffner's Gilchrist Productions; Gilligan's Island, UA-TV-Gladasya Productions, created by Sherwood Schwartz for which a script for the pilot episode has been completed. All Over Town, for which playright William Inge would write the opening script and as many as 10 episodes in the anthology that would have continuing characters in a small-town setting placed in the contemporary Midwest, is now in doubt because of Mr. Inge's apparent disinclination to continue with the series (At Deadline, Aug. 19). In the name talent musical variety area, a category that'll be well represented on CBS-TV schedule this fall, a Robert Goulet show is mentioned as a 1964-65 possibility. NBC-TV NBC-TV for 1964-65 has at least six programs under various stages of development through NBC Productions (Broadcasting, Aug. 19). They include the half-hour Kentucky's Kid about a horse trainer, played by Dennis Weaver, and an adopted Chinese child (Rocky Der in the role) for which a pilot was to be filmed this week; a onehour series Magic Touch about two brothers who run a photo agency; Yankee Rebel, built around joint UnionConfederate Indian fighting; an undisclosed dramatic vehicle and a half-hour situation comedy produced by Hubbell Robinson. In the broad category of half-hour comedy series are That Was the Week That Was, an American version of the British topical TV satire for which Leland Hayward Productions has the rights in this country and General Artists Corp. is packaging; Mr. Magoo in color and based on the UPA cartoon character for which a pilot has been made; three situation comedies by Revue Productions linked by common title 90 Bristol Court and by an interchange of situations and cast members and run as a 90-minute program (At Deadline, Aug. 19); Paul Lynde Show by Screen Gems, script by Bob Weiskopf and Bob Schiller; a script for a series by Red Buttons's producing firm and Please Don't Eat the Daisies by MGM-TV and based on Jean Kerr's best-seller. A one-hour comedy-variety series, Funny, Funny World has been proposed to NBC-TV by General Artists Corp. and Nick Manhoff. A half-hour human interest story, Flipper, filmed by MGM in color and based on a new MGM released movie that relates the adventures of a boy and a dolphin (Leon Benson is producer and director) is under consideration — the first episode to be filmed in Florida and the Bahamas in late September or mid-October. In drama, NBC-TV has a group of one-hour series under consideration such as an MGM production by John Newman who created Mr. Novak and Eleventh Hour. Grand Hotel, by MGM, is an anthology with a continuing character. Mr. Solo (also MGM) is a newly created secret service-internation 24 (LEAD STORY) BROADCASTING, August 26, 1963