News round-up: Hulu developing hazing death doc; Crave orders Carolyn Taylor comedy; ITVS takes ‘Queens For The Night’ rights

Robert Greenblatt

Hulu developing hazing death doc

Hulu is in development on Death At Penn State, a limited series from Lionsgate Television exploring the dark side of fraternity life.

Based on an article from The Atlantic by Caitlin Flanagan, the series tells the story of Tim Piazza who fought for his life for 12 hours before his Beta Theta Pi brothers called emergency services.

The series hails from executive producer Robert Greenblatt and co-executive producer Jon Wu via The Green Room banner and writer/executive producer Joe Hortua, while Flanagan is attached as a non-writing EP. Kevin Bray will exec produce and direct, while The Atlantic will also serve in an executive producing capacity.

“I appreciate Lionsgate and Hulu for taking on the tragedy of Tim Piazza’s death due to a careless hazing incident at Penn State’s Beta Theta Pi fraternity in 2017. It resulted in one of the largest criminal indictments against a fraternity and its members in recent U.S. history.

“While hazing is illegal, there continue to be similar incidents around the country each year, and we want this to be a cautionary tale,” said Greenblatt.

Crave orders Carolyn Taylor comedy

Bell Media’s Crave has ordered a new comedy from Canadian actor and comedian Carolyn Taylor, best known as the star and co-creator of CBC’s comedy Baroness von Sketch Show.

The untitled 6 x 30-minute series hails from Catalyst, the Toronto-based development and funding company focusing on content created by women, and Blue Ant Studios as part of their strategic partnership to develop female-generated programming for the global marketplace. Blue Ant International oversees worldwide distribution, with the show set to debut on Crave in 2023.

The series follows Taylor’s unlikely quest to choreograph the perfect pairs figure-skating routine to be performed in front of an audience of skating stars and fans. What begins as a light-hearted challenge soon morphs into a real-life mission.

Despite having zero figure-skating knowledge or skill, Taylor manages to convince an A-list cast of skaters to help her achieve her dream, including two-time Olympic Gold Medallist Ekaterina Gordeeva and  Olympic Gold Medallist David Pelletier.

ITVS takes ‘Queens For The Night’ rights

ITV Studios has acquired exclusive global production rights to Tuesday’s Child’s upcoming primetime celebrity drag contest Queens For The Night in each territory it has a non-scripted production base, as well as distribution rights for the format and finished versions worldwide, excluding the UK. In the US, ITV America and Tuesday’s Child will co-produce.

Commissioned by ITV in the UK, Queens For The Night will launch as a special in Q4 2022, hosted by Lorraine Kelly, featuring Spice Girl and pop icon Melanie C on the judging panel and Coronation Street star Simon Gregson as one of six celebrities to undergo the ultimate drag makeover, mentored by some of the most successful Drag Queens in the business.

Mike Beale, MD, Global Creative Network, ITV Studios said “We’re very excited to be taking Queens For The Night out to global buyers at MIPCOM in Cannes next week. We know that the world of drag is a source of fascination worldwide and the energy it brings to viewers is hugely entertaining. Thanks to Tuesday’s Child for entrusting it to ITV Studios.”