Peacock stokes 'Strokes'
Inside look at 'Mork,' 'Shirley,' 'Bewitched' also planned
Whatchoo talkin' about, NBC?
As part of its "Behind the Camera" franchise, Peacock is developing a
two-hour look at the drama surrounding the hit '80s NBC sitcom, "Diff'rent
Strokes." Greg Pincus is writing a script for the project, which is one of
several TV tales in the works at NBC.
NBC is also in early development on telepics focusing on the
behind-the-scenes drama of ABC hits "Mork & Mindy," "Laverne & Shirley" and
"Bewitched." NBC has previously produced telepics on ABC hits "Three's
Company" and "Charlie's Angels."
"The franchise has performed quite well for us," said NBC longform topper
Jeff Gaspin, who also heads alternative programming at NBC and is prexy of
Bravo. Most recent "Charlie's Angel" pic was just so-so in raw numbers,
"but when we got in the upscale demos for 'Angels,' it was off the chart,"
Gaspin added.
Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges have signed on as consultants on the
"Diff'rent Strokes" telefilm, which Gaspin said will tread cautiously when
dealing with many of the tragic events surrounding the sitcom -- including
the death of star Dana Plato.
"If you get it right, this is a cautionary tale about kids in Hollywood,"
he said. "We need to do it in a non-exploitative manner."