US Cable Upfronts 2011: USA Network

USA Network has unveiled a development slate comprising thirteen new, original projects. LA-based Jeff Watchell and NY-based Chris McCumber were upped to co-presidents of the NBCU-owned US cable network in March and this is the first large-scale programming news under their leadership.

New shows include Silent Partner, a legal drama from Leverage creator Chris Downey. Medical drama M. Deity, single-camera comedy On We Go and Big in Japan, a drama about a boy band reuniting twenty years after their last performance are among the other shows out of NBCU’s own Universal Cable Productions division. Nine of the thirteen projects are from the NBCU production division.

Other offering include ABC Studios’ one-hour drama The Special, about a cop with hypomania, Fox 21’s legal drama We the Jury and Fox Television Studios’ Regular Einstein, about a family of geniuses.

Announcing the slate, Wachtell said: “After five years as the #1 cable network, our development goal must be not only to do great new shows with original voices, but also to push the envelope of audience expectations. This new slate speaks to both of those objectives.”

“This powerful slate marks an evolution for USA as we aggressively expand the scope of our content,” said McCumber. “Developed strategically through our brand lens, this diverse roster represents the network’s introduction of more provocative, innovative original programming than ever before.”