Eva Longoria strikes Universal Television deal

Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria has struck a first look development deal with Universal Television and will develop both scripted and unscripted series for the studio and its sister network NBC.

The deal was struck with Longoria’s UnbeliEVAble Entertainment production company and follows a deal to produce forthcoming NBC dating reality series Ready for Love, which is produced by UnbeliEVAble in association with Renegade 83 and Universal Television.

Longoria is currently executive producer on Devious Maids, the Latin-inspired novela for cable network Lifetime created by Desperate Housewives’ Marc Cherry.

Longoria has also previously had a number of scripted series in development; she developed an hour long drama for ABC about four single girlfriends raising a baby together as well as eight hour hour miniseries Aztecs for Starz about Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes.

The deal was struck by Paul Telegdy, president, alternative and late night programming, NBC Entertainment and Jennifer Salke, president, NBC Entertainment.

“Having Eva Longoria on our team is a huge advantage for our alternative programme development as we have pleasantly discovered in implementing her ideas for Ready for Love, which is shaping up as a terrific and upbeat series,” said Telegdy. “She is passionate, fully engaged and has keen instincts for putting together a winning formula for her shows that always bear her imprint.”

“We know that this new agreement with Eva Longoria is significant in continuing what has already been a productive relationship,” said Salke. “She has exceptional energy, vision, a prestigious name and the creative knack for finding compelling new concepts for our growing studio.”

Longoria added: “I am thrilled and excited to join Universal Television on what promises to be a wonderful and creative partnership, especially given all of the recent success at both the studio and the NBC network. The collaboration between UTV and my production company, UnbeliEVAble Entertainment, on our Ready for Love project has been extraordinary. Looking ahead it will be fun to find and develop unique scripted and non-scripted shows that excite television audiences.”