Bravo Greenlights First Two Scripted Pilots

‘The Joneses' and ‘Rita' in contention for fourth quarter of 2013

By Andrea Morabito -- Broadcasting & Cable, 12/4/2012 8:49:55 PM

Bravo has picked up its first two scripted pilots, to begin production in early 2013 as part of its strategy to expand its programming beyond unscripted fare.

Rita, from Fox Television Studios, and The Joneses, from ABC Studios, both focus on the dynamics of modern families. Bravo plans to debut its first original scripted series in the fourth quarter of 2013.

The Joneses, which is a remake of the 2009 indie film, follows a seemingly perfect family that has just moved to an upscale neighborhood and must hide the fact that they aren't a real family from their friends and neighbors. The series is from Liz Tigelaar (Life Unexpected) who will produce with Gary Fledger and Mary Beth Basile from Mojo Films and the feature's producers Echo Lake.

In an adaptation of the Danish format of the same name, Rita follows an outspoken private school teacher who is struggling to raise her three teenage children while dealing with the bureaucracy and overprotective parents at her school. Krista Vernoff is writer and executive producer with Mikkel Bondesen and Henrik Bastin serving as executive producers for Fuse Entertainment 2.0.