Keith Le Goy

President, International Distribution, Sony Pictures Television

What are some of your top properties for MIPTV?
Justified – one hour drama, 13 episodes
Drop Dead Diva – one hour comedic drama, 13 episodes (in season one)
Hawthorne – one hour drama/comedy, 10 episodes
The Dr. Oz Show – medical/wellness talk show – finished US print and format

Why will these programs appeal to buyers?
Justified – Starring acclaimed television and film star, Timothy Olyphant, Justified is a gripping drama based on the character Raylan Givens featured in several works by America’s foremost crime novelist Elmore Leonard, including Leonard’s 2001 short story "Fire in the Hole." Leonard’s tale centers on U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens, who was reared in the hill country of eastern Kentucky and who left at age 19 to become a U.S. Marshal. Now, years later, after shooting a gun thug in a Miami hotel and thereby incurring the wrath of his Marshals Service superiors, Raylan has been sent in punishment (and by fate?) to the one place which he vowed he would never return – Kentucky. Back in Kentucky, Raylan has to confront his past including dealing with his ex-wife and father. An eagerly anticipated drama and one of the most buzzworthy new shows of the season due to premiere on FX on 16th March, Justified is a gritty new drama already receiving plaudits for the exceptional performance of Timothy Olyphant.
Drop Dead Diva provides a new take on the complex issues of a woman’s identity today. Beautiful airhead and model wannabe, Deb, has a fatal car accident and miraculously returns to life in the body of brilliant plus-size attorney Jane. Now both personalities must learn to coexist in Jane’s frame in the ultimate hilarious showdown between brains and beauty. Described as “inspired, funny, smart, and tragic” when it premiered last summer in the US on Lifetime, the show was a top three series for the channel across key demos and established itself as an appointment to view series. Renewed for a second season on Lifetime, Drop Dead Diva very successfully combines emotionally compelling drama with healthy doses of humor.
Hawthorne – Jada Pinkett Smith stars as Christina Hawthorne, a compassionate and headstrong Chief Nursing Officer heading up a group of dedicated nurses at Richmond Trinity Hospital. Still coming to terms with losing her husband, Hawthorne tries to juggle her demanding career with her equally important role as a single parent, while finding time for herself without losing it. Hawthorne was renewed for a second season on TNT in the US and starring Jada Pinkett Smith, a leading Hollywood actress who enjoys global appeal, this show has been critically acclaimed. It’s a strong and consistent ratings performer and easily accessible that will work on schedules everywhere, particularly in primetime.

What are your goals and expectations for MIPTV?
Both dramas, Drop Dead Diva and Hawthorne, have been first year successes, renewed for second seasons in the US and sold throughout the world, so we think they will be a big draw to other buyers at the market. The state of drama remains healthy and our highly-anticipated series, Justified, for FX in the US, is attracting considerable buzz. We’re also selling Dr. Oz– which is a phenomenon in the US–as both a format and a print and in fact, we’ve already licensed it in 82 countries, so there is a tremendous amount of interest there as well.