Spike Orders Football-Themed Comedy Pilot

NEW YORK, December 19: The
male-skewing cable network Spike TV has ordered a comedy pilot from Varsity
Pictures and Lionsgate that explores the world of Midwestern college football.

Said to be in the vein of Animal
House, the half-hour pilot, Blue
Mountain State, will be produced
by Varsity's Brian Robbins (Norbit,
Varsity Blues, Smallville) and Sharla Sumpter-Bridgett and Lionsgate.
Robbins will direct the pilot, penned by Chris Romano and Eric Falconer.

Blue Mountain State follows three incoming freshmen at a college football
powerhouse university. The pilot goes into production in February.

—By Mansha Daswani