Spike TV and FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) in association with Random House Television Productions and Castle Rock Entertainment, have joined forces to develop a script for a new original series based on the best-selling novel “Basket Case” by prominent author and journalist Carl Hiaasen.
Rob Reiner is set to direct and develop the script. Peter Gethers (“The Cat Who Went To Paris,” “Old Jews Telling Jokes”) and Jeffrey Levine (“Too Big to Fail”) will serve as executive producers and Alex Taub (“Hart of Dixie,” “Drop Dead Diva”) will write the series. Thom Beers, Craig Cegielski and Stefanie Berk serve as executive producers for FremantleMedia North America. Reiner and Liz Glotzer are executive producers for Castle Rock Entertainment.
“Corruption, murder, and laughs. I can’t think of a more satisfying combination. Carl Hiaasen strikes the perfect balance. I’m so looking forward to entering his twisted world,” said Reiner.
“It’s very cool to have Rob Reiner involved with ‘Basket Case,'” said Hiaasen. “Among writers of satire, ‘Spinal Tap’ stands as a work of genius. I’m excited to see what Rob will do with my twisted little novel.”
“We are thrilled to have sold our first scripted series to Spike,” said Gethers. “What makes it particularly gratifying is that, not only is the show based on the work of one of Alfred A. Knopf’s most beloved authors, we get to partner with Rob Reiner and Castle Rock. It’s a dream combination for us.”
The plot of “Basket Case” focuses on a great investigative reporter who has trouble dealing with authority, change, women, success, and most of all, corruption. The family-run newspaper he works for is sold to a giant, international conglomerate and after he savages the new and very powerful owner in a video on the paper’s website, he is demoted to the lowest position on the paper, the obituary desk. Obits, however, provide a new perspective into crime-ridden Miami and he soon learns that they are a unique window into suspicious deaths and weird goings on. Using an unusual team of friends, relatives, an ex-wife, newspaper misfits, and his beautiful new boss, he strives to regain his investigative credibility and a saner life.
