In what would be a blockbuster pairing of sitcom stars, Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton are in discussions to co-star in a comedy series, "Action News," to be created by writer-producers Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd for 20th Century Fox TV. As of Monday night, there was no deal in place for Grammer or Heaton, and the talks were ongoing, sources said. The project is said to be set at a local TV station and revolve around the reuniting of a male and female anchor team (Grammer, Heaton). Top showrunners Levitan and Lloyd planted their flag at 20th as writing and producing partners in July (HR 7/13). Sources said the studio intends to nail down deals with Grammer and Heaton before shopping the script to prospective buyers. The onscreen star power of Grammer and Heaton combined with Levitan and Lloyd virtually ensures a bidding skirmish among networks for the project. Representatives for 20th and the CAA-repped Grammer and Heaton declined comment on the project. Levitan created and executive produced the NBC comedy "Just Shoot Me" and more recently executive produced the Fox/20th Century Fox TV comedies "Stacked," "Oliver Beene" and "Greg the Bunny." Lloyd’s credits range from NBC’s "Wings" to last season’s CBS comedy "Out of Practice."
The Hollywood Reporter
I love Steve Levitan and Christopher Lloyd, but Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton bore me to tears. Yes the two of them have been on some of the longest running sitcoms on television that will live forever in syndication, but they are just so dull. The two of them together will skew older, don’t you think? The one thing on my side is except for The Mary Tyler Moore Show, TV newsroom shows fail. Don’t ask me why, they just do.
