TCA: A&E Announces Several Scripted Projects

By
( )
published

Complete Coverage: TCA Winter Press Tour 2012

A&E is developing a takeoff on the 1960's Psycho film as well as a show on serial killers, the network announced Friday during the Television Critics Association tour Friday.

Bates Motel, produced by Universal Television, will serve as a prequel to the popular Alfred Hitchcock thriller and will focus on Norman Bates' childhood through his teen years, according to the network.

Those Who Kill, based on the best selling work of Elsebeth Egholm, focuses on a police detective and a forensic psychiatrist who track down serial killers, said the network officials.

In addition, the network announce it will launch its new western-themed series Longmire this summer. The 10-episode series, based on the Walt Longmire Mystery novels by best-selling author Craig Johnson, stars Robert Taylor (The Matrix) as a no-nonsense sheriff of a Wyoming county. Longmire also stars Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica), Lou Diamond Phillips (Numb3rs), Bailey Chase (Damages), Cassidy Freeman (Smallville) and newcomer Adam Bartley.

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.