Some Writer News from "Variety"

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'Life' sentence for Sackheim

'House' hyphenate staying in NBC U family

By JOSEF ADALIAN, MICHAEL SCHNEIDER

Daniel Sackheim is leaving "House" for "Life."

Hyphenate has inked a new two-year deal with NBC Universal Television Studio that calls for him to direct and exec produce the studio's new Peacock drama "Life." He's spent the last several seasons on the NBC U-produced Fox hit "House."

Sackheim has worked as a director on some of TV's biggest hits, with stints on "The X-Files," "NYPD Blue," "ER" and "Law & Order." He also helmed 2001 feature "The Glass House."

Rand Ravich wrote and exec produced the "Life" pilot and will continue in that role for the series, along with exec producer Far Shariat.

Elsewhere on the staffing front, 20th Century Fox TV has shored up the team for its new ABC drama "Women's Murder Club."

Scott Gemmill has joined the show as showrunner, exec producing alongside scribes Liz Craft and Sarah Fain.

Gemmill last season exec produced the CBS drama "Smith." His credits also include "ER," "JAG" and "Jonny Zero."

Also still on board, as nonwriting exec producers: Joe Simpson, Brett Ratner and James Patterson.

Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts, who were behind the short-lived but critically acclaimed WB entry "Pepper Dennis," are set as co-exec producers. Their other credits include "Wonderfalls" and "Roswell."

ABC stays with 'Road' creators

Appelbaum, Nemec sign new deal

By JOSEF ADALIAN

ABC Studios is staying in business with "October Road" creator-showrunners Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec, inking the duo to a seven-figure, multiyear overall deal.

"Road," a late midseason entry on the Alphabet sked, just snagged an order for a second season. Skein performed solidly behind "Grey's Anatomy" during its trial run and will relocate to Mondays when it returns in late fall or early winter.

Before creating "Road" with Scott Rosenberg, Appelbaum and Nemec were key writer-producers on "Alias," spending three seasons on the J.J. Abrams-created cult hit.

"We always knew how gifted they were as writers, but they've proven to be amazing creators and producers as well," said ABC Studios exec VP Julia Franz. "Extending our relationship with them in the form of a larger deal was a no-brainer."

Indeed, ABC Studios quietly reupped Appelbaum and Nemec before it knew whether "October Road" would be back for another season. Had the show not moved forward, studio planned to have the scribes focus on development.

"Now, some development might come, but the focus for us is going to be 'October Road,' " Appelbaum said.

Scribes are already prepping for season two of "Road," with production set to resume June 1. Appelbaum said he and Nemec are looking to re-energize the show after what will have been an extended hiatus.

"The six episodes last season were like the 'October Road' starter kit," he said. "We're looking to not come back gently but to really wow the audience."

While known for actioners such as "Alias" and "Fastlane," Nemec said the warm-and-fuzzyish "Road" didn't feel like too much of a stretch.

"It wasn't this big left turn for us," he said. "It's always the stuff we like to come back to: human reaction and interaction."

Storytelling for season two should be easier since the producers will now have at least 13 episodes to map out plots.

"We can really get under the skin of these characters without the stress of only having six episodes," Nemec said.

Endeavor-repped Appelbaum and Nemec have been working together for a decade, starting out their careers on the firstrun syndie skein "Fame L.A." Other credits include "Early Edition" and, in what was their first collaboration with Rosenberg, the Showtime drama "Going to California."

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