New Ridley & Tony Scott Drama Headlines A&E Slate

NEW YORK: Coma, a multi-night television event from Ridley and Tony Scott, slated for a 2012 broadcast, is among the new programming highlights unveiled by A&E as it looks to capitalize on ratings increases in the first quarter of this year.

Coma, premiering on Memorial Day in May of 2012, is a modern-day spin on the novel by Robin Cook and the film by Michael Crichton. The medical thriller focuses on a doctor who discovers sinister events at her hospital.

For its "Real Life. Drama" remit, A&E has 11 returning franchises and will launch ten new shows by the end of 2011. Highlights include the returning Storage Wars and the eight-episode spin-off Storage Wars: Dallas. New series include the InLaws (working title) for Q3, about married couples and overbearing in-laws; Ship Happens (working title) for Q4 about competitive shippers; and Boar Hunters (working title), focused on a Texas family in the business of hog hunting.

Also, development is under way on some 40 original concepts. On the unscripted front there are Hands On, a game show from Michael Davies’ Embassy Row; Stuart Krasnow’s Family Bonding; Mark Burnett’s Profilers; Ryan Murphy’s Model Apartment, plus Cajun Blue and Duckmen. In terms of drama, projects in the works include Sony Pictures Television’s Big Mike with Greg Grunberg (Heroes); and a show from Warner Horizon Television and executive produced by Greer Shephard and Mike Robin based on Craig Johnson’s The Walt Longmire Mystery Novels.

"Last year marked an unprecedented seventh consecutive year of growth at A&E, the longest growth streak in cable," said Bob DeBitetto, president and general manager of A&E Network and BIO Channel. "Our new development slate remains true to our unique brand of authentic, dramatic and emotional storytelling, will ensure that we maintain our position as a premium entertainment network and drive our continued growth for the coming year."