J.J. Abrams & Bad Robot Left Touchstone Television

[crunkcourt]

I found the following article on Variety.com

Abrams pacts with WB, Par
'Lost' creator ankles Touchstone

By JOSEF ADALIAN

In a surprise move that caught the small screen business off-guard Friday morning, "Alias" and "Lost" guru J.J. Abrams has ankled his longtime home at Touchstone Television to set up shop at Warner Bros. TV via a highly lucrative six-year pact.

Abrams and his Bad Robot shingle have also entered into a five-year film deal at Paramount. Buzz about that part of the Abrams equation had been going around town for months in the buildup to May's premiere of the Abrams-helmed "Mission: Impossible 3" and the news that Abrams was taking over Par's "Star Trek" franchise.

What nobody saw coming was the Abrams agreement with WBTV, which apparently didn't come together until early Friday morning. Indeed, as recently as Wednesday, the Abrams camp was in active talks with Touchstone about re-upping at the studio he has called home for the better part of a decade.

Reps for Abrams, WBTV and Par were remaining silent Friday about the deal. However, according to industry buzz--and Hollywood logic--the pact with WBTV is expected to vault Abrams in the top echelon of TV showrun-ners. Given the length of the agreement, that would put the net worth of the deal well into eight figures.

WBTV is already home to a murder's row of showrunners, including Jerry Bruckheimer, John Wells, Chuck Lorre, David Crane and Hank Steinberg. Studio's also home to Aaron Sorkin, whose most recent project--"Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip"--sparked a heated bidding war before landing at NBC.

Given Abrams' rep for loyalty, decision to leave Touchstone couldn't have been made lightly. He's spent his entire TV producing career at the Disney-owned studio, beginning with "Felicity," the Keri Russell hour he co-created for the WB.

He followed that up with "Alias" and "Lost" for ABC. Last season, he supervised the creation of another drama, "What About Brian," which some industryites believe was renewed for a second season in part to encourage Abrams to stay with Disney.

The good news for Touchstone is that Abrams will continue to serve as exec producer on "Lost" and "Brian," as well as his latest project for the studio, the ABC fall drama "Six Degrees." Studio prexy Mark Pedowitz cited that fact in a statement released Friday confirming Abrams' departure.

"We have enjoyed a long and successful partnership with JJ Abrams," Pedowitz said. "He is a talented creative force."

On the downside, the studio is losing access to one of its most creative minds. "Lost," for example, was just another script until Abrams (and Damon Lindelof) came on board and shaped it into the series it became.

And while "Alias" wasn't a monster hit, during ABC's darkest hours, it was practically the only bright light for the Alphabet.

For WBTV, landing Abrams has to be seen as a huge win. Studio adds another marquee name to its roster, while denying one of its biggest rivals a major star.

(Gabriel Snyder contributed to this report).

[Sulley]

Wow! Incredibly interesting. I'm a huge Abrams fan [Alias=favorite show ever]. This is huge. It's going to be harder to keep track of him now, what with Brian, Degrees, and whatever he's planning at WB. Also keeping a keen eye on his film credits with Paramount.

[NarniaDis]

WOW!!!

hope this means he can go on to create more GREAT shows!!!

[Sotiris]

J.J. Abrams may be coming back to Disney.

J.J. Abrams Seeking Record-Shattering Overall Megadeal
https://variety.com/2018/film/news/j-j- ... 203018338/

Bad Robot: Sizing Up the Field As Race To Land JJ Abrams’ Business Enters Home Stretch
https://deadline.com/2019/01/jj-abrams- ... 202536008/