Brian
12-21-2003, 03:58 PM
Kelsey Grammer's Grammnet Prods. is bring the award-winning British format "The Sketch Show" to FOX. The network has ordered a pilot presentation for an American take on the series which won last year's BAFTA TV award for best comedy.
The format for "The Sketch Show" comes courtesy of Dan Patterson, who co-created "Whose Line Is It Anyway?," which made a successful transition from Channel 4 hit in Britain to moderate ratings success for ABC. The original "Sketch Show" producers at Avalon Television will executive produce the update along with Patterson, Grammer and Steve Stark, also of Grammnet.
"The Sketch Show" relies on a frenzy of comic shorts, many running a minute or less. The British version features a cast of revolving players who star in the stand-alone skits, shot both in studio and on locations. The American take is expected to remain close to that original format.
"What a refreshing way to do a comedy sketch show," Stark tells The Hollywood Reporter. "It is very much like 'Laugh-In' in terms of speed -- not a lot of time to get bored. It is just constant comedy."
Other credits for Grammnet include UPN's "Girlfriends" and Spike TV's "Gary the Rat."
The format for "The Sketch Show" comes courtesy of Dan Patterson, who co-created "Whose Line Is It Anyway?," which made a successful transition from Channel 4 hit in Britain to moderate ratings success for ABC. The original "Sketch Show" producers at Avalon Television will executive produce the update along with Patterson, Grammer and Steve Stark, also of Grammnet.
"The Sketch Show" relies on a frenzy of comic shorts, many running a minute or less. The British version features a cast of revolving players who star in the stand-alone skits, shot both in studio and on locations. The American take is expected to remain close to that original format.
"What a refreshing way to do a comedy sketch show," Stark tells The Hollywood Reporter. "It is very much like 'Laugh-In' in terms of speed -- not a lot of time to get bored. It is just constant comedy."
Other credits for Grammnet include UPN's "Girlfriends" and Spike TV's "Gary the Rat."