CW orders ‘Melrose Place,’ ‘The Beautiful Life’ and ‘The Vampire Diaries’
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As expected, the CW has given a greenlight to its ‘Melrose Place’ reboot, Ashton Kutcher’s model drama ‘The Beautiful Life’ and the ‘Twilight’-esque series ‘The Vampire Diaries.’
The network has also reportedly decided against ordering the ‘Gossip Girl’ spinoff, which had its informal debut during last week’s ‘Gossip Girl,’ and nixed renewing ‘Privileged.’ A rep for The CW, however, had no comment.
Here are the new show details:
‘The Beautiful Life’ revolves around two teenage models trying to acclimate to the cutthroat industry, one a stunning beauty with a secret past (Sara Paxton) and the other a handsome Iowa farmboy (Ben Hollingsworth). Mischa Barton also stars. Kutcher, Karey Burke, Mike Kelley and Carol Barbee executive produce. Katalyst Films is producing in association with CBS Television Studios and Warner Bros.
The ‘Melrose Place’ reboot takes place, this time, in ‘an elegant apartment building’ with Sydney Andrews (Laura Leighton) as its landlord. Tenants include the son of Dr. Michael Mancini (Thomas Calabro), a publicist, a chef, a medical student, a teacher and one teenage vixen (Ashlee Simpson-Wentz). When the series kicks off, a bloody body is found floating in the courtyard pool. Todd Slavkin and Darren Swimmer executive produce. Davis Guggenheim directed and executive produced the pilot. CBS Television Studios is producing.
Based on L.J. Smith’s book series, ‘The Vampire Diaries’ concerns star student Elena (Nina Dobrev), beautiful, popular and fascinated with the new boy in school, Stefan (Paul Wesley), who happens to be a centuries-old vampire. Too bad for Stefan his brother Damon (Ian Somerhalder), the evil of the two, has also taken a liking to Elena. Kevin Williamson, Julie Plec, Leslie Morgenstein and Bob Levy executive produce. Alloy Entertainment and Bonanza Productions are producing in association with Warner Bros. Television and CBS Television Studios.
— Denise Martin