Captain Tightpants got a job by LJC

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Captain Tightpants got a job

POSTED BY: LJC
UPDATED: Thursday, February 6, 2003 09:09
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Tuesday, February 4, 2003 5:55 AM

From the newswire: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20030204/tv_nm/telev
ision_fillion_dc_1

Entertainment - Reuters/Variety TV
'Firefly' Thesp Fillion Fills NBC Bill
Tue Feb 4, 2:38 AM ET

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By Josef Adalian

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - NBC has made a six-figure talent holding deal with former "Firefly" thesp Nathan Fillion (news).

The pact calls for Fillion to star in either a drama or comedy project for the network. Fillion and his reps, along with NBC executives, have already started looking at scripts that may be appropriate for the actor.

"Right now, my heart is set on comedy," Fillion said. "I'm looking forward to working in front of an audience, making people laugh. But I'm not terribly picky; I just want to work."

NBC snapped up Fillion not long after it became clear that producer Joss Whedon's "Firefly," canceled by Fox, would not be coming back on another network. Fillion had the lead role on the drama, playing the commander of an outlaw starship.

"Here's a guy who can do everything, from four-camera comedy like 'Two Guys and a Girl' to a drama like 'Saving Private Ryan' to an action show like 'Firefly,"' said Marc Hirschfeld, NBC's executive VP of casting, citing several of Fillion's most notable credits. "And he's one of those rare leading men who can do both comedy and drama."

Fillion's other feature credits include the lead in indie picture "Water's Edge" as well as roles in "Blast From the Past" and "Dracula 2000."

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So yay Nathan for 6 figures! Woo! Man's worth that and more. But still, now I am bummed, because no Firefly for a good long while...

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Tuesday, February 4, 2003 6:00 AM

HAPLO721

To steal for a second time a post made on the official Fox forums...

NBC hasn't decided on what kind of show to cast Nathan in. I might could help 'em out in that department. It's 500 years in the future, and there's this ship, see?...

Early: You ever been raped, Kaylee?
Kaylee: You know, it's funny you should mention that... ever heard of the Fox network?

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Tuesday, February 4, 2003 6:17 AM

LOSTANGEL

The only thing that concerns me is that with the new 6 figures, will that make the Cap'n too expensive if they do get the green light for Firefly?

I don't want to see any cast changes, the chemistry is the second half of what makes the cast work so well. (The first half is their incredible talent.)

______________________
Lost Angel

WASH: Psychic, though? That sounds like something out of science fiction.
ZOE: We live in a space ship, dear.
WASH: So?

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Tuesday, February 4, 2003 7:49 AM

SELNYC

Quote:
Originally posted by LJC:
From the newswire: 'Firefly' Thesp Fillion Fills NBC Bill
Tue Feb 4, 2:38 AM ET

By Josef Adalian

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - NBC has made a six-figure talent holding deal with former "Firefly" thesp Nathan Fillion (news).

The pact calls for Fillion to star in either a drama or comedy project for the network. Fillion and his reps, along with NBC executives, have already started looking at scripts that may be appropriate for the actor.

"Right now, my heart is set on comedy," Fillion said. "I'm looking forward to working in front of an audience, making people laugh. But I'm not terribly picky; I just want to work."

NBC snapped up Fillion not long after it became clear that producer Joss Whedon's "Firefly," canceled by Fox, would not be coming back on another network. Fillion had the lead role on the drama, playing the commander of an outlaw starship.

So yay Nathan for 6 figures! Woo! Man's worth that and more. But still, now I am bummed, because no Firefly for a good long while...

While this is indeed sad news, it is by no means the final nail in the coffin of [iFirefly.

Consider how many scripts are annually reviewed (and rejected) by the networks, then consider how few pilots are made from the accepted scripts (and rejected) and further consider how few shows actually get on the air (and get cancelled).

If you want further good news, consider NBC's recent track record; their success rests firmly with shows like ER, Frasier, and Friends, all of which are on their last legs. They have been having a horrific time just trying to maintain "must-see TV". I mean, have you seen the dreck they've been putting up on Thursday nights lately?

No, I think our boy Nathan will be available for Joss & the good people at ME when Fox realizes the breadth of their mistake, reruns all the Firefly episodes (including the unseen three) this summer to decent enough ratings and resumes production around August 2003.

Was it space monkeys?

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Tuesday, February 4, 2003 7:53 AM

CARDIE

His contract means that the next series he will do will be for NBC. He's legally bound to do that. If NBC wanted to get him in Firefly, they would simply have picked up Firefly and offered him a contingency deal for another series should Firefly be cancelled by them. This means that the earliest he could return to a resurrected Firefly would be after his new series gets on the air and has completed its run, probably at least two years.

He'd be a fool not to snap up this offer. People's careers vanish in a second in Hollywood, and he's not going to pledge loyalty to a series without a home when he's getting this six-figure deal just to be available for an NBC series. He'll probably be getting six figures an episode after that.

At least we should be happy that the role of Mal made him a big star--it vindicates all the opinions around here.

Cardie

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Tuesday, February 4, 2003 9:09 AM

SOONERDAX

He was getting 6 figures for Firefly too.

There's one hell of a spectrum in the 6 figure range, though.

Fillionaire, Extraordinare

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Tuesday, February 4, 2003 9:15 AM

SOONERDAX

I found it...remember this?

Fri, Jun 8, 2001 11:52 AM PDT

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - “Two Guys and a Girl” regular Nathan Fillion has signed a one-year talent holding deal with 20th Century Fox Television, the studio that produced the now-canceled series, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Under the terms of the deal, which is estimated to be in the six figures, the studio will develop a product around Fillion or cast him in an existing series.

“Nathan is one of those rare finds -- a great looking leading man who can do both comedy and drama,” says Gary Newman, president of 20th Century Fox TV.

Fillion joined “Two Guys” in the show’s second season, guest-starring as Johnny, the ruggedly handsome boyfriend of Sharon (Traylor Howard). The guest spot soon turned into a regular role.

“We saw his potential three years ago and were fortunate to be able to see his talent mature on ‘Two Guys and a Girl,’” says Newman. “We are very excited to continue this relationship.”

Fillionaire, Extraordinare

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Tuesday, February 4, 2003 10:29 AM

BROWNCOAT1

May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one.

As I said on the official site and in the General section here, I am happy for Nathan. I am glad he has a shot at a series and that he will not have to wait for work.

Though it does not say his contract is exclusive or that NBC would prohibit him from working on other projects, I am hoping that Nathan will get the chance to play the part of Mal if Joss and ME can get Serenity back into the air.

"May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one."

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Tuesday, February 4, 2003 10:36 AM

LJC

Did some pondering while walking back from lunch, re: Nathan's NBC gig...

Getting a development deal doesn't necessarily mean that he's out of the picture completely re: "Firefly" returning. I mean, Scott Cohen got a network development deal after "10th Kingdom", but the shows they developed for him went under, and he still did "Gilmore Girls" as a recurring before getting his Showtime series.

We're coming up on pilot season--so my guess is, the network will look to cast him a pilot they have under development. But that pilot still has to sell. And even if it sells, they have to go to series--which could be 6-13 eps. Then those eps have to air and get good enough ratings for the back 9 to be picked up. The development deal is just a network ponying up the cash to call "dibs!" on casting--not a guarantee of a show on the fall schedule... or even as a winter replacement.

I still have hope that if Joss can pull off a series of movies, either for FX or straight-to-video, we'll have Serenity and her captain. Because time off to do movies might well be covered under a series contract.

And movies might well be a safer bet than another TV series for a few main reasons. 1) the standing sets already exist (which is the main cost of a new series--that's why shows try and amortise the cost over the course of the first season, and why shows have "bottle shows", i.e. cheap eps to balance out the expense of the pilot and pre-production development), 2) those sets could be re-assembled in a cheaper location, using less expensive production facilities, such as Vancouver, and 3) if the show did move to Vancouver or Toronto, it could possibly be eligible for tax breaks due to hiring Canadians (Nate and Jewel) which would help. Granted, it would mean losing a lot of the "Firefly" family (i.e. most likely their entire LA-based crew) and Joss, Ben, and Tim running the show via phone and fax from California.

But I still think it could happen. I've seen shows die and be resurrected over a year later ("Alien Nation", "Forever Knight" and "Due South" anyone?) before and manage to get their principals back. There's precedent. We just need to keep our chins up.

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Thursday, February 6, 2003 9:09 AM

TALLGRRL

Quote:
Originally posted by soonerdax:

He was getting 6 figures for Firefly too.

There's one hell of a spectrum in the 6 figure range, though.

Fillionaire, Extraordinare

I say good for him!
The majority of 'actors' in Hollywood aren't making one or even two figures for that matter, let alone SIX.
I raise a glass to Captain Tightpants, will take a peek at whate'er he gets cast in...and will hope that it's of good quality.
And if it's not? At least he's gettin' PAID.
I know that I would be partyin' like Jayne if someone offered me a six figure contract.
: )

TllGrrl
"Take me, Sir. Take me hard."

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