PARAMOUNT NETWORK GREENLIGHTS "68 WHISKEY" FROM IMAGINE TELEVISION STUDIOS AND CBS TELEVISION STUDIOS
Network Picks Up 10 One-Hour Episodes of New Scripted Comedic Drama Series
68 Whiskey Joins Massive Hit Yellowstone and Darren Star Series Emily in Paris
on Paramount Network's Growing Scripted Slate
Los Angeles, April 30, 2019 - Paramount Network today ordered 10 one-hour episodes of 68 Whiskey, a new, scripted comedic drama series from Imagine Television Studios and CBS Television Studios. Oscar(R)-winner Brian Grazer will serve as an executive producer along with Oscar(R)-winner Ron Howard, Imagine Television Group Chairman Francie Calfo (Empire, Genius), Imagine Television President Samie Kim Falvey and Emmy(R)-nominated Roberto Benabib (Weeds, The Brink, Ally McBeal), who is also set to write. Zion Rubin, the creator of the Israeli television series Charlie Golf One, from which 68 Whiskey has been adapted, will also executive produce, along with Efrat Shmaya Dror (United Studios of Israel) and Danna Stern (yes Studios).
68 Whiskey joins a scripted roster for Paramount Network headlined by Yellowstone, which returns for its second season on June 19 and was 2018's most-watched new cable series, ranking second across all of cable TV series for the year (5.1 million total viewers per episode), and the recently announced new Darren Star series, Emily in Paris starring Lily Collins, which will premiere in 2020.
"We're thrilled to work with Imagine Entertainment on 68 Whiskey and have the powerhouse team of Ron Howard, Brian Grazer and Roberto Benabib, who have an extraordinary track record in compelling and provocative storytelling, adapt it for an American audience," said Keith Cox, President, Development and Production, Paramount Network and TV Land. "I'm a huge fan of the Israeli series from which this series is based, and the unique mixture of drama and comedy infused throughout, and know 68 Whiskey will be a great complement to Yellowstone and Emily in Paris on Paramount Network's growing slate of scripted originals as we seek to create TV as exciting as movies."
"We are very pleased to be working with Kent, Keith and everyone at Paramount Network to bring 68 Whiskey to air. Roberto's unique comedic vision for this high-stakes, emotional and timely show promises audiences something fresh and exciting," said Ron Howard.
"I'm excited to have the opportunity to produce a series that echoes the dark irreverent films of the '70s and speaks to the dark irreverent insanity of the world today," said Roberto Benabib.
"As CBS Television Studios continues to expand its reach far beyond the broadcast construct, we are excited to have our first original series at Paramount Network and look forward to working with Keith and the team," said David Stapf, President, CBS Television Studios. "68 Whiskey is an exciting drama based on a highly successful international format, and we are proud to partner with Imagine and Paramount to bring it to American viewers."
68 Whiskey is a dark comedy following a multicultural mix of men and women deployed as Army medics to a forward operating base in Afghanistan nicknamed "The Orphanage." Together, they endure a dangerous and Kafkaesque world that leads to self-destructive appetites, outrageous behavior, intense camaraderie and occasionally, a profound sense of purpose.
About Imagine Television
Imagine Television was founded in 1986 by Brian Grazer and Ron Howard and is run by Imagine Television Group Chairman, Francie Calfo and Imagine Television President, Samie Kim Falvey. The company's productions have been honored with 195 Emmy Nominations and 30 Golden Globe nominations. Currently, Imagine is producing the series Why Women Kill for CBS All Access from Marc Cherry, Swagger for Apple from Kevin Durant and Reggie Rock Bythewood, and Wu-Tang: An American Saga on Hulu from The RZA and Alex Tse. Imagine Television also has two pilots in contention, Filthy Rich for Fox from Tate Taylor and Jessica Gao Comedy for ABC. Current programming includes Fox's award-winning series Empire, Netflix's Arrested Development, and NatGeo's Emmy(R) award-winning Genius anthology series, as well as Mars and Breakthrough. Earlier productions include Fox's Golden Globe and Emmy(R) award-winning Best Drama Series 24; NBC's Peabody Award winning series Friday Night Lights; Fox's Emmy(R) award winning Best Comedy Arrested Development; Fox's Shots Fired; Fox's Lie To Me; CBS's Shark; NBC's Miss Match; WB's Felicity; ABC's SportsNight; and HBO's From the Earth to the Moon, which won the Emmy(R) for Outstanding Mini-Series. Howard and Brian Grazer began their collaboration in 1985 with the hit film comedies Night Shift and Splash, and continue to run Imagine as Executive Chairmen. www.imagine-entertainment.com
About CBS Television Studios
CBS Television Studios is one of the industry's leading suppliers of programming for broadcast, basic and premium cable, and streaming platforms. The Studio's programming includes the phenomenally successful NCIS franchise; the critically acclaimed Star Trek: Discovery; Madam Secretary; Jane the Virgin; Crazy Ex-Girlfriend; the hit dramas Seal Team, FBI, Blue Bloods, Hawaii Five-0, MacGyver, Magnum P.I., The Code, Bull, Instinct and Elementary; the popular comedy series The Neighborhood; Man with a Plan; Fam; Charmed, Dynasty and In The Dark for The CW; the summer action-adventure series Blood & Treasure; and BH90210 for FOX.
The Studio also produces the Daytime Emmy Award-winning talk show The Talk, as well as the Emmy Award-nominated late night series The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and The Late Late Show with James Corden. For CBS All Access, the Studio produces The Good Fight; Strange Angel; the streaming service's first comedy series No Activity; Why Women Kill; Interrogation; The Twilight Zone; and the highly anticipated adaptation of Stephen King's bestselling novel, The Stand. Additionally, as part of the expansion of the Star Trek universe, the Studio produces Star Trek: Picard, featuring Sir Patrick Stewart reprising the role of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Star Trek: Short Treks, Star Trek: Lower Decks, which marked CBS All Access' foray into the animation landscape, as well as the untitled Star Trek animated series for Nickelodeon. The Studio's programming also includes series based on popular, viral segments from The Late Late Show with James Corden, Carpool Karaoke for Apple Music and Drop the Mic for TBS, as well as Dead to Me, Insatiable and Unbelievable for Netflix. Additionally, the Studio produces the comedy anthology series The Guest Book for TBS; Our Cartoon President and Your Honor for Showtime; Diary of a Female President for Disney+; as well as A Higher Loyalty, a miniseries based on former FBI Director James Comey's memoir.
About Paramount Network
Paramount Network is a premium entertainment destination that pushes the limits of story-telling with bold original scripted and non-scripted series. Inspired by over a century of cinema, Paramount Network is where today's brightest stars bring the experience of the big screen to every screen with stories that are immersive, inclusive, and deeply personal. A subsidiary of Viacom Inc., Paramount Network has a global reach of 234 million households across 117 countries. For up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs visit Paramount Network's press site at paramountnetwork.com/press and follow us on Twitter at @ParamountNetPR for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.
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