June 23, 2009

By By Anthony Crupi

Just two months after unveiling its 2009-10 programming roster, MTV is adding a handful of new projects to its development slate, including a pilot based on the Michael J. Fox theatrical "Teen Wolf" and an animated series from Saturday Night Live head writer Seth Meyers.

MTV president of programming Tony DiSanto announced that seven additional titles were being thrown into the mix with the nine series that the network first unveiled in April, during its upfront presentation. Among the concepts being kicked around at MTV are the aforementioned "Teen Wolf" pilot, which the network is billing as a ?reinvention of the classic ?80s movie for today?s audience,? and Meyers? "The Awesomes," a half-hour animated strip about a gang of slacker superheroes.

Parent company Viacom has tapped SNL alumni in the past; last year, Nickelodeon landed Amy Poehler?s "The Mighty B!," slotting the cartoon in its Saturday morning line-up.

Also in the works are the "Greg the Bunny" spin-off "Warren the Ape," which chronicles the the adventures of a has-been celebrity hand puppet looking to clean up his act; "Hard Times," a coming-of-age story about a desperately unpopular 15-year-old boy; and "Patito Feo" (?Ugly Duckling?), an adaptation of the 2007 Argentine musical drama that became a smash hit throughout Latin America.

While details were sketchy, MTV is also cooking up an untitled sketch comedy show from multi-hyphenate Jamie Foxx. Meanwhile, the latest spin-off of "The Hills" is being mapped out, as "Survivor" producer Mark Burnett is lining up an unscripted series starring Audrina Partridge.

?The most exciting thing about creating content for MTV is that you can paint across a broad canvas,? said DiSanto. ?This allows us to play with different genres. MTV is always evolving, and we are spreading our creative wings even further with this slate.?

Since MTV took the wraps off its upfront slate, it has premiered two new series, the noon talk show (and TRL replacement) It?s On With Alexa Chung and the afternoon animated strip DJ and the Fro.

-- Nielsen Business Media

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