CBS Sends Invitation for ‘Greek Wedding’
HOLLYWOOD (Variety) – CBS has finally sent an RSVP to “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” picking up a small-screen version of the smash indie film for midseason.
The network has officially ordered seven episodes of the half-hour comedy; that number could increase, however, as the series producers are in negotiations with CBS to bump the pickup to 13.
Just like the feature, the TV “Greek Wedding” will star Nia Vardalos as a woman whose life revolves around a traditional Greek family. The series will pick up as Vardalos’ character starts dating a non-Greek man behind her parents’ back.
Vardalos, who originated and starred in the one-woman stage show, which Tom Hanks’ Playtone Prods. banner turned into the feature picture, wrote the pilot with Marsh McCall (“Just Shoot Me”). McCall will executive produce, along with Vardalos’ manager Brad Gray and Rita Wilson, Hanks’ wife; Vardalos will serve as co-executive producer.
Wilson’s involvement has become the stuff of legends: the actress fell in love with the play and was instrumental in bringing her husband on board. The film, which cost about $5 million to make, has now grossed more than $110 million at the North American box office. It is poised to pass the $140 million haul of “The Blair Witch Project” to become the biggest-grossing indie film of all time.
Gray said that he was originally interested in the TV project because “it seemed like a wonderful CBS comedy. It seemed like it would complement their schedule very well. It has great warmth and is just very funny.”
Following the picture’s success, Gray is even more optimistic about the show’s chances.
“It’s become so popular around the country, it feels like there’s even more potential and an audience that’s been built around it,” he said.
CBS initially gave the project a hefty pilot commitment last October, and although the network didn’t pick up “Greek Wedding” for fall, it ordered an additional three scripts in late May.
Besides Vardalos, Michael Constantine and Lainie Kazan, who played Vardalos’ parents in the picture, are expected to reprise their characters in the series. Louis Mandylor is also likely to return as brother Nick. John Corbett, who played Vardalos’ fiance, is starring in FX’s upcoming series “Lucky.”
