FOX Athens a Josh Schwartz show

[Fraz]

ATHENS: Josh Schwartz, the creator of THE O.C., brings us a new drama set in the New England community of Athens, where the rich outsiders and the local townies create a volatile environment where everything is possible in Athens, premiering on FOX.

[Fraz]

ATHENS (working title): JOSH SCHWARTZ, creator of "The O.C.," turns his attention to the dramas that arise between characters who are experiencing life as young adults. This series will explore the intertwined lives and loves of the fictional New England community of Athens, home to a prestigious university that acts as a dividing line between the rich outsiders who study and teach there, and the local townies who serve that population. Viewers will enter this world through the friendship of JED HALL, a young English professor, and ETHAN FROST, an 18-year-old freshman whose arrival changes the dynamics for everyone in Athens. Like Ryan and Seth on "The O.C.," Jed and Ethan will become unlikely partners in an alliance that will forever change them and the people of this town.

PRODUCTION COMPANY: Warner Bros. Television in association with Wonderland Sound and Vision
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Josh Schwartz, Bob DeLaurentis, McG, Stephanie Savage
WRITER: Josh Schwartz

[Fraz]

JANUARY TO JUNE 2005

MONDAY
8:00-9:00 ATHENS
9:00-10:00 24

[carsonbelle]

2 shows, 1 guy... not sure how that is going to play out. does not seem to lend itself to success, but who knows?

[azuline]

Josh is staying with The OC and hiring someone to run the day to day stuff for Athens. I guess maybe he'll write for both shows? Not much is known about Athens yet so it's all pretty much a mystery until we get more details.

[grhht]

This show sounds really interesting, though a bit like the O.C. with the class differences and two guys thing. But by setting it in a college town it should be a lot easier for them to introduce new characters and set up more couple permutations, which was sort of hard for them to do on the O.C.

[carsonbelle]

i agree, it should be fun to see how it develops and how much he will be writing for each show. i'm also excited to have a show start out with older people instead of having to crate some fake transition.

[oclover24]

Looks good. Who doesn't love Josh?

[Fraz]

Posted: Thurs., May 27, 2004, 9:27pm PT

Canucks duck deals during 'flat' week

Despite flurry of buying, locals not excited over projects

By BRENDAN KELLY


MONTREAL -- Ho-hum. That just about describes Canadian TV buyers' reaction to what Hollywood had to offer at this year's L.A. Screenings.
"It was a flat week," said Susanne Boyce, president of programming at Canuck web CTV.

"I think we could've been more pleasantly surprised," added Michael Taylor, VP at Craig Media, which was recently acquired by Chum.

The Canadians noted that the buzz shows tended not to be brand-new series but rather spinoffs like "CSI: NY," which went to CTV, and "Friends" offspring "Joey," which was snapped up by longtime "Friends" broadcaster Global.

Despite Boyce's lack of enthusiasm, CTV still bought a fair amount of programming, including ABC reality show "Wife Swap," from producer Michael Davies; producer Mark Burnett's autobiographical sitcom "Commando Nanny"; "The OC" creator Josh Schwartz's drama "Athens"; and Disney reality series "The Benefactor."

CTV also snared "Dr. Vegas," starring Rob Lowe; the Disney drama "Desperate Housewives"; the Paramount sitcom "Related by Family"; and ABC's series of Jessica Simpson specials (a natural for CTV since it airs and scores big ratings with Simpson reality show "The Newlyweds").

In addition, CTV picked up "Kevin Hill" from Disney, much-talked-about Warners drama "Veronica Mars" and the new "Law & Order: Trial by Jury."

Toronto-based broadcaster Chum grabbed "Summerland," from Paramount; sci-fi series "4400" (which will air on Chum's sci-fi web Space); Warners drama "Jack & Bobby"; reality show "America's Next Top Model," from CBS Intl.; the Ellen DeGeneres talkshow; and all of Hallmark's upcoming telepics.

Chum didn't need to buy in quantity because it renewed a slew of shows, including "7th Heaven," "Everwood," "Smallville" and "Monk."

"Overall, I wouldn't say it was spectacular," said Ellen Baine, VP of programming at Chum. "I don't think anyone was particularly excited. There was no huge standout. But it was a good year for WB and UPN -- they really stepped up to the plate."

Chum is also set to start running "Sex and the City" as a strip on its City-tv stations in Toronto and Vancouver.

[aeprincess9]

Athens seems too much like the OC to actually work. I don't want to see the same exact show twice.

[dsltc03]

i dont get the philosophy of not wanting to see the same shows on tv..


There are dozens of similar and stupid reality shows and people watch them, but god forbid a few shows similar to the OC come to the radar and everyone complains.

[Fraz]

If “The O.C.” is a re-imagining of “Beverly Hills, 90210”
set in the contemporary world of Orange County,
California, then ATHENS could be seen as a modern
“Melrose Place” set in a bustling college town in Vermont.
JOSH SCHWARTZ, creator and Executive Producer of the
season’s most talked-about drama, “The O.C.,” now turns
his attention to the dramas that arise between characters
who are experiencing life as young adults. Issues are
more complicated and relationships are more intense.
Newfound freedoms come with a price and it seems
like your whole life is at stake … because it is.

In the New England community of Athens, a prestigious
university acts as a dividing line between the rich outsiders
who study and teach there, and the local townies who
serve this population – and often end up in volatile
relationships with them.

At the center of the series is a unique friendship between
JED HALL, a young English professor, and ETHAN FROST,
an 18-year-old freshman whose arrival changes the
dynamics for everyone in Athens.

Jed, struggling with his writing, is coming to grips with losing LOLA, the love of his life, to FARMER, another professor at the university who seems driven to outdo Jed. All of this has driven Jed to self-destructive behavior, climaxing in a car crash that threatens to destroy his career for good.

Ethan is an arriving freshman who has a devastating secret. Once in Athens, he immediately is drawn to CHARLIE, a blue-collar girl who’s a fish out of water in the college town. Her father, FINN, owns the local bar and never wanted Charlie to be part of the erudite world of scholars. But she is drawn to it nevertheless, dating dangerous rich kid ALEX, who is secretly in a relationship with a seductive sophomore named BRIE.

These destructive romantic triangles threaten to expose Ethan's secrets and push him back into the nightmare of his past tragedy.

Like Ryan and Seth on “The O.C.,” Jed and Ethan will become unlikely partners in an alliance that will forever change them and the people of this town.

Even together, however, they may not be able to survive the many worlds that collide in ATHENS.

[MeganS06]

This sounds really good, so what some things are like the oc. I'm excited!

[Fraz]

I think the key roles that need strong actors are going to be
JED, ETHAN, CHARLIE, FINN.

I think casting will have to start soon.

I kinda got a Mystic Pizza feel or that film where the rich preppy burnt down the townie girl family dinner and had to go live with the local family to rebuild the place?

[dsltc03]

it sounds really good. I am definitly not getting a melrose place vibe. I think North Shore will be Fox's new "Melrose Place"

I wonder if Josh will get an experienced actor to play Ethan on do what he did with Ben McKenzie, get an unknown. The casting can make or break this show...