Smallscreen News

Sundance announces original non-fiction series “The Writers’ Room” for 2013

By April MacIntyre Jan 5, 2013, 23:02 GMT

Today the Sundance Channel announced the greenlight of new original non-fiction series “The Writers’ Room.” 

A collaborative effort between the Sundance Channel and Entertainment Weekly, the six episode half-hour series will take viewers where they have never been before—inside the writers’ rooms of the television shows that are defining pop culture today. The announcement was made today by Sarah Barnett, Sundance Channel General Manager. The series is slated to premiere during the second half of 2013.

From Sundance

“We know that much of today’s best entertainment is on television, but Sundance Channel and Entertainment Weekly want to know—who, what, when, where and why?!” stated Sarah Barnett. “Social media has given us a lot of information about what our audience is craving— and we are listening. They want insider knowledge and a deeper perspective-- this show will deliver that.”

"Television is today's most exciting medium, and writers are its heart and soul," said Jess Cagle, the editor of Entertainment Weekly. "We're looking forward to giving the Sundance Channel viewers and the EW audience an all-access pass to see how these brilliant minds create great characters and addictive stories."

“The Writers’ Room” will spotlight an array of scripted television shows-- from today’s pioneering cable dramas to the most critically acclaimed and popular network sitcoms. A magnetic series for passionate TV fans and pop culture enthusiasts, the roundtable talk show format will delve deep into the world of TV’s creative masterminds, fearlessly challenging them to divulge the inside scoop on their greatest choices, toughest decisions and biggest mistakes.

RelativityREAL will produce the series with Tom Forman serving as Executive Producer, and Marco Bresaz will executive produce for Sundance Channel.

"We're television producers ourselves, so we couldn't be more excited to finally show viewers how some of the best shows on TV get made. And trust us, we're going to show all of it: the good, the funny, and the sometimes messy process that is television," said Tom Forman, CEO, RelativityREAL.

Also announced: Hit docu-series “Push Girls” will be returning for a second season, “The Mortified Sessions,” also produced by RelativityREAL, was recently renewed for a second season, and five new series were put into development, each exploring aspects of our contemporary culture in fresh and relevant ways, all with extraordinary characters compelled to follow their own path.   The unscripted projects build on Sundance Channel’s overall programming slate which includes the network’s first wholly owned scripted drama series “Rectify,” and the Jane Campion mini-series “Top of the Lake.”